Fleurya interrupta Gaudich., Urticaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Laportea interrupta (L.) Chew; Urtica interrupta L.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chamorro: palilolia

Chinese: hong xiao ma

English: Hawaiian wood-nettle, hen's nettle

Fijian: salato, salato ni koro, salato vutivali

Kwara‘ae: akoako fuluma

Marquesan: auokaoka, kenae, onaona, puera

Niuean: ogoogo, ongoongo

Other: nanggalat

Pohnpeian: shoh-mahl, soumwehl

Samoan: magisu, ogo ogo, ogoogo, ogoogo toto, ongoongo, ono ono, vao mageso

Tahitian: huriaeo, iriaeo, iriaio, urieo

Tongan: hogohogo, hongohongo, ngohongoho, nogonogo

Wallisian: mangeo

Yapese: yoyol

Habit:  herb

Description: 

Genus: "Usually annual herbs, the aerial branches and often the leaf blades with stinging or prurient hairs, the stipules comparatively small, connate into an axillary, bifid scale; leaves alternate, the blades chartaceous, ovate, 3-nerved from base and also pinnate-nerved distally, dentate or serrate, with linear cystoliths on upper surface; inflorescences axillary, composed of flower clusters combined into lax, bracteate, cymose panicles, these usually unisexual, the flowers often sharply reflexed; male flowers sessile or pedicellate, with 4 or usually 5 tepals, these ovate or lanceolate, subvalvate, the stamens 4 or usually 5, with long, reflexed filaments, the rudimentary ovary globose or subclavate; female flowers pedicellate, with 4 free tepals, these imbricate, unequal in pairs, the abaxial one sometimes hooded, the staminodes absent, the ovary straight, becoming oblique, the style apical but becoming lateral, the stigma subulate, obliquely ovate or linear, short-papillose, rarely trifid, persistent; achene small, obliquely ovoid, strongly laterally compressed, deflexed, pitted and verrucose, marginate, exserted from the slightly enlarged perianth, the seed with very little endosperm, the cotyledons broad, the fruiting pedicel long and winged"  (Smith, 1981; p. 215).

Species:  "Flower-clusters remote, combined into interrupted pseudo-spikes 3-30 cm long; lowest clusters usually on short side-shoots; male flowers: tepals 4, white or pink, with a green midvein, sparsely hairy; female flowers: pedicel widened above the articulation; tepals at first subequal, the 2 lateral (inner) ones considerably enlarged afterwards; stigmas 3, at first equal, central one later elongate; achene not recurved, tuberculate, 1 1/2-1 3/4 mm long.  Leaves ovate, subcordate, truncate or broadly cuneate at base, crenate-serrate or dentate, 2-12 cm by 1-8 cm, (dry) with numerous distinct cystoliths beneath; petiole 1/2-10 cm.  Erect or decumbent at base and rooting" (Backer & Bakhuizen van den Brink, 1965; p. 39).

"Small, un- or few-branched slightly fleshy herb, usually puberulent with more or less irritant hairs; stem 20-80 cm tall; leaves ovate-acuminate, 6-9 cm long, 5-6 cm wide, on slender petioles up to 8 cm long; blades rounded to subcordate at base; margins coarsely serrate.  Inflorescence axillary, pedunculate, spicate; flowers tiny, green, 4-merous; fruit a cordate achene" (Stone, 1970; p. 256).

Habitat/ecology:  "Uncommon in waste places and around houses" (Whistler, 1988; p. 38). "Waste places, road-sides, gardens, fields" (Backer & Bakhuizen van den Brink, 1965; p. 39).

In Fiji, occurs "from near sea level to about 525 m as a weed of villages, roadsides, waste places, pastures, and cultivated areas, sometimes being found along forest trails or on hillsides" (Smith, 1981; pp. 215-216).  In Hawai‘i, "an uncommon garden weed" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1299).  In Niue, "seen only occasionally in plantations and waste places" (Sykes, 1970; p. 210).  In New Guinea, "a plant of partial shade; a weed of gardens and house-yards, and sometimes in cocoa and rubber plantations; not aggressive and only numerous where other weeds have been suppressed. Mostly at low altitudes, but found to 700 m" (Henty & Pritchard, 1975; p. 156). In Tonga, "an occasional weed of plantations" (Yuncker, 1959; p. 102).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Eastern and southeastern Asia, Australia; naturalized elsewhere (GRIN). Although it "now has a very wide distribution, from Africa to Japan and China and eastward to Queensland and into the Pacific as far as Hawai‘i, its native area is questionable; probably southeastern Asia is a reasonable guess.  It...was almost certainly an inadvertent aboriginal introduction throughout the Pacific portion of its range." (Smith, 1981; pp. 215-216)  "An aboriginal introduction to Polynesia" (Whistler, 1988; p. 38). Fosberg et al. (1979; p. 60) list as native to Micronesia.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ofu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1990) Vouchers cited: Garber 1001, Garber 1013
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ofu Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1945) (p. 36) Vouchers cited: Garber 1001 (BISH), Garber 1013 (BISH)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		Whistler, W. A. (1990) Vouchers cited: Garber 576, Harris 261, Harris 320
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1945) (p. 36) Vouchers cited: Garber 576 (BISH), W. Harris 320 (BISH), W. Harris 261 (BISH)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1990) (voucher ID: PTBG 10370) Taxon name on voucher: Laportea interrupta
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1993) (voucher ID: PTBG 26896) Taxon name on voucher: Laportea interrupta
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Setchell, William Albert (1924) (p. 99)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1992) (voucher ID: PTBG 43952) Taxon name on voucher: Laportea interrupta
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1992) (voucher ID: PTBG 48403) Taxon name on voucher: Laportea interrupta
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 60)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Laportea interrupta (C. Linnaeus) W.-L. Chew. Adventice
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Laportea interrupta (C. Linnaeus) W.-L. Chew. Adventice
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Chuuk Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 92)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 60)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 60)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Glassman, S. F. (1952) (p. 82) Voucher cited: Kanehira 789 (NY)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	native	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 139) As Laportea interrupta (L.) Chew. Voucher cited: A. Dores 164 (BISH, NY, PTBG)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2003) (voucher ID: PTBG 46152) Taxon name on voucher: Laportea interrupta
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 60)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Kandavu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 215-216) Voucher cited: DA 2969
Fiji Fiji Islands	Mbengga Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 215-216) Voucher cited: Weiner 72-7-14C
Fiji Fiji Islands	Moala Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 215-216) Voucher cited: Milne 109
Fiji Fiji Islands	Nairai Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 215-216) Voucher cited: Milne 156
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ovalau Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 215-216) Voucher cited: Smith 7480
Fiji Fiji Islands	Taveuni Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 215-216) Vouchers cited: Gillespie 4704, DA 8393, DA 5739
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 215-216) Vouchers cited: DA 14364, Bierhorst F202
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 215-216) Vouchers cited: DA 14194, Greenwood 147, Gillespie 2577, Smith 7244
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Eiao Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 222-224)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Eiao Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Laportea interrupta (C. Linnaeus) W.-L. Chew. Voucher cited: J. Florence & M. Teikiteetini 9365 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 222-224)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Laportea interrupta (C. Linnaeus) W.-L. Chew. Adventice
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Laportea interrupta (C. Linnaeus) W.-L. Chew. Adventice
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Mohotani (Mohotane, Mohotane) Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 222-224)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Mohotani (Mohotane, Mohotane) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Laportea interrupta (C. Linnaeus) W.-L. Chew. Adventice
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 222-224)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Laportea interrupta (C. Linnaeus) W.-L. Chew. Voucher cited: J. Florence 6694 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1988) (voucher ID: PTBG 11517) Taxon name on voucher: Laportea interrupta
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Tahuata (Tuhuata) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Tahuata (Tuhuata) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: D.H. Lorence & L. Dunn 8988 (PAP) Adventice. Locally common, naturalized.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Tahuata (Tuhuata) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2003) (voucher ID: PTBG 39369) Taxon name on voucher: Laportea interrupta
French Polynesia Society Islands	Bora Bora Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 222-224)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Bora Bora Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Laportea interrupta (C. Linnaeus) W.-L. Chew. Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Mehetia (Mahetia, Meetia) Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 222-224)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Mehetia (Mahetia, Meetia) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Laportea interrupta (C. Linnaeus) W.-L. Chew. Voucher cited: J. Florence 10322 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 222-224)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Laportea interrupta (C. Linnaeus) W.-L. Chew. Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 222-224)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Laportea interrupta (C. Linnaeus) W.-L. Chew. Voucher cited: J. Florence 10476 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 222-224)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Laportea interrupta (C. Linnaeus) W.-L. Chew. Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tetiaroa Atoll		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 149)
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Tubuai Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Laportea interrupta (C. Linnaeus) W.-L. Chew. Adventice
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	native	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 256) Vouchers cited: Stone 4388 (GUAM), Stone 4415 (GUAM)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 60)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced	Wester, Lyndon (1992) (p. 151)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawaiian Islands	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1299) Adventive.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced	Wester, Lyndon (1992) (p. 151)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Tarawa Atoll		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Jaluit (Jãlwõj) Atoll	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 60)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kili (Kõle) Atoll		Vander Velde, Nancy (year unknown)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Maré	introduced	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 137) Voucher cited: Schmid 2753 (NOU)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Îles Ouvéa (Ouvea Atoll)	introduced	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 137) Voucher cited: Däniker 2032
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 137) Vouchers cited: Vieillard 1228, Franc 2080
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced	Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 38)
Papua New Guinea Bougainville Islands	Bougainville Island		Foreman, D. B. (1971) (p. 62)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	native	Henty, E. E./Pritchard, G. H. (1975) (p. 156) Mostly at low altitudes but found to 700 m.
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 163)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced invasive	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 75) In cultivated areas, chiefly in disturbed soil in and about towns at low altitudes; a weed, probably introduced.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1989) (voucher ID: PTBG 11620) Taxon name on voucher: Laportea interrupta
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Western Samoa Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 38)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 92)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	native	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 84)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Tofua Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 79) Voucher cited: Scarth-Johnson 46
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 79) Voucher cited: Soakai 641
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Tafahi Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 102) Voucher cited: Hürlimann 561
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 79) Voucher cited: Crosby 167
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Burkill, I. H. (1900) (p. 55)
Tuvalu Tuvalu (Ellis) Islands	Nui Atoll		Woodroffe, C. D. (1985) (p. 11) Vouchers cited: Woodroffe 195 (CHR), Woodroffe 133 (CHR)
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis and Futuna Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 38)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Western Australia
Australia Australia (continental)	Northern Territory	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) "Disturbed, moist places of dense forests, streams; 600-1000 m". SW Yunnan
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	uncertain if introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 53) Weed of uncertain origin
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Disturbed, moist places of dense forests, streams; 600-1000 m.
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Maldives Maldive Islands	Addu Atoll		Spicer, R. A./Newberry, D. MacC. (1979) (p. 13)
Maldives Maldive Islands	Malè Atoll		Fosberg, F. R. (1957) (p. 16)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Fleurya interrupta, please let us know.