Citharexylum caudatum L., Verbenaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

English: fiddlewood, juniper berry

Spanish: pendula de sierra

Habit:  tree

Description:  "Large shrubs or small trees up to 20 m tall; branches nearly terete, glabrous.  Leaves somewhat leathery, oblong to obovate or elliptic-oblanceolate, 7-16 cm long, 3.5-5 cm wide, glabrous, upper surface glossy, lower surface dull, apex rounded or obtuse, base cuneate, petioles green, 1-2 cm long.  Flowers in narrow, elongate-recurved racemes 4-10 cm long, pedicels usually 2-5 mm long; calyx campanulate, ca. 3 mm long, the rim unlobed and truncate in fruit; corolla white.  Fruit purplish black, oblong-globose, ca. 5-8 mm long"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1317).

(See also Invasive Plants of the World (Weber, 2003), p. 111.)

Habitat/ecology:  This evergreen shrub to small tree forms dense thickets in wet habitats. It has many characteristics in common with Citharexylum spinosum (Smith, 1985; p. 188).  In Hawai‘i, "cultivated and now naturalized and rapidly spreading via bird dispersal"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1317); displacing existing vegetation in mesic to humid lowland forests and other non-cropland"  (Motooka et al., 2003).

"A rapidly spreading species that forms dense thickets and crowds out native vegetation due to the dense canopies. Seedlings of native plants are unable to grow under stands of this species. Seeds are dispersed by birds and are able to germinate in low light conditions. The plant spreads also vegetatively as stems touching the ground become rooted." (Invasive Plants of the World (Weber, 2003), p. 111)

Propagation:  "Prolific seeder, spread by birds"  (Motooka et al., 2003).

"Seeds are dispersed by birds and are able to germinate in low light conditions. The plant spreads also vegetatively as stems touching the ground become rooted." (Invasive Plants of the World (Weber, 2003), p. 111)

Native range:  Mexico and Central America to northern South America and the West Indies (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1317).

Impacts and invaded habitats:  Invaded habitats: "Mountain slopes, forests and forest edges, disturbed sites." (Invasive Plants of the World (Weber, 2003), p. 111)

"Invasive in natural areas and not native to the area" in Hawaii. (Invasive Plants of the World (Weber, 2003), pp. 111, 10)

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Oppenheimer, Hank L. (2003) (p. 26) Vouchers cited: Oppenheimer H70137 (BISH, PTBG), Starr & Martz 010801-2 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Starr, Forest/Starr, Kim/Loope, Lloyd L. (2004) (p. 28) Voucher cited: Starr & Starr 020225-2 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Starr, Forest/Martz, Kim/Loope, Lloyd L. (1999) (p. 14) East Maui. Voucher cited: Starr & Martz 980402-49
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1317, 1895)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	Hong Kong	native cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 229)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Comments:  Invasive in Hawaii. (Invasive Plants of the World (Weber, 2003), pp. 111, 10)

Control:  "Specific control methods for this species are not available. Seedlings and small plants can be hand pulled. Larger stems are cut and the cut stumps treated with herbicide." (Invasive Plants of the World (Weber, 2003), p. 111)

Chemical:  2,4-D or triclopyr should be effective. (no source cited)