Suriana maritima L., Surianaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Evaluate; score: 2 (Hawaii-Pacific Weed Risk Assessment for Suriana maritima)

Other Latin names:  (no species-level synonyms found)

Common name(s): [more details]

English: bay-cedar

Fijian: ngingia

Tongan: ngingie

Ulithian: wao

Habit:  shrub/tree

Description:  "Shrub or small tree up to 3 m. or more tall, the younger parts and leaves finely pubescent. Leaves alternate but closely spaced, simple, linear-spatulate, very shortly acutish, gradually narrowed to short petiole, up to about 3 cm. long and 3-5 mm. wide. Flowers yellow, in subterminal, racemose clusters, petals about 8 mm. long; capsule five-parted, pubescent." (Plants of Tonga, p. 154)

"As it sparingly occurs in Fiji, Suriana maritima is found. . .as a shrub or small tree 1-4 m. high, sometimes with a trunk to 8 cm. in diameter. A short, gray, often glandular indument covers most parts of the plant. The sessile, congested leaves have narrowly obovate-oblong blades usually 15-30 &mult; 2-5 mm. The inconspicuous inflorescences bear flowers scarcely 1 cm. long, with lemon-yellow petals shorter than the calyx lobes. The brownish, inconspicuous drupes are concealed by the persistent calyx. Flowers and fruits have been noted beteen [sic] August and February." (Flora Vitiensis nova, vol 3, p. 488)

Habitat/ecology:  "Habitat: Beaches and sandy coastal thickets, it is not found inland; highly salt-resistant and drought-tolerant." (Buckley 2015)

"Like the Coconut Palm, the seeds of Bay Cedar (although very much smaller) can germinate on distant beaches after spending long periods in saltwater. . . ." (Buckley 2015)

In Tonga, "forming thicket near beach"; "in sandy soil just above high-tide limit"; "in thin soil on rocky cliff"; "on coral sand, coast"; "[c]ommon in strand thickets on most of the islands of Tonga." (Plants of Tonga, p. 154)

"As it sparingly occurs in Fiji, Suriana maritima is found near sea level on sandy calcareous beaches or on rocky cliffs as a shrub or small tree. . . ." (Flora Vitiensis nova, vol 3, p. 488)

Propagation:  (no propagation information known by PIER)

Native range:  "The bay cedar [PIER ed.: Suriana maritima] is endemic to south Florida, the Caribbean, Central America, and the Bahamas. . . ." (Gilman 1999)

Impacts and invaded habitats:  (no invaded habitats or impacts known by PIER; please let us know if you know of such information we should add here)

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Saipan	Maniagassa Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Aitutaki Atoll		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Federated States of Micronesia Federated States of Micronesia	Fassarai Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Federated States of Micronesia Ulithi	Mwagmwog		Lessa, William A. (1977) (p. 160) specimen cited: Mogmog I., Lessa No. 16, 1947; det . M. Neal. "USES IN ULITHI A shrub used for house posts, adze handles , frames for lobster nets, canoe struts, bars connecting outrigger booms to the float, and firewood. Its bark has medicinal uses, as in the treatment of mathekh il si, or stomach pains due to either a spirit , bad food, intestinal worms, or agressive thoughts."
Fiji Fiji Islands	Fiji Islands		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Fulanga Island		Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 488)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Kambara Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Kandavu Island		Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 488) as "Kandavu Lailai islet off the Lautoka coast"
Fiji Fiji Islands	Navutu-i-ra Island		Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 488)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Nayau Island		Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 488)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vatulele Island		Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 488)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Wailagi Lala (Wailangilala) Atoll		Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 488) as "Wailangilala Island"
Fiji Fiji Islands	Yacata Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Yathata Island		Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 488)
French Polynesia French Polynesia Islands	French Polynesia Islands		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Kiribati Kiribati	Bangai		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Marshall Islands Marshall Islands	Aikini Islet		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Bikini (Pikinni) Atoll		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kwajalein (Kuwajleen) Atoll		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Wotho (Wõtto) Atoll		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Aur Atoll	native	St. John, Harold (1951) (p. 283)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Wotje (Wõjjã) Atoll		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Pacific Polynesia	Polynesia (U.S.-administered islands)		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Palau Koror	Arimasuku Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Palau Rock Islands (Chelbacheb)	Ngemelis Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea offshore islands	Gabugabutau Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands	Pitcairn Islands		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Samoa Samoa	Samoa		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Nu‘ulua Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Lifuka Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 154) Voucher cited: 15982; also, source: Harvey; ref. doesn't say whether native or not
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	‘Uoleva Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 154) "Common in strand thickets on most of the islands of Tonga."
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 154) Voucher cited: 15594; ref. doesn't say whether native or not
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 154) Voucher cited: 15193; ref. doesn't say whether native or not
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Niuatoputapu Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 154) Voucher cited: Hüaut;rlimann 628; ref. doesn't say whether native or not
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava'u (nearby islets)		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 154) Source: Crosby; ref. doesn't say whether native or not

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)		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	GRIN (year unknown) Southern Mexico: "Campeche, Quintana Roo, Veracruz, Yucatan"

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Caribbean Islands Caribbean Islands	Caribbean Islands	native	GRIN (year unknown) "Caribbean: Anguilla ; Antigua and Barbuda ; Cayman Islands ; Cuba ; Dominica ; Dominican Republic ; Grenada ; Guadeloupe ; Haiti ; Jamaica ; Martinique ; Montserrat ; Puerto Rico ; Virgin Islands (British) ; Virgin Islands (U.S.)"
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	native	GRIN (year unknown)

Comments:  ". . .it [PIER ed.: Suriana maritima] it sparingly occurs in Fiji. . . ." (Flora Vitiensis nova, vol 3, p. 488)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Suriana maritima, please let us know.