Acalypha lanceolata Willd., Euphorbiaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Acalypha boehmerioides Miq.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: ma ye tie xian cai

Maori (Cook Islands): māngiongio, puapua

Niuean: magiho, mangiho, ongoongo

Samoan: ogoogo, ogoogo, ogoogo, ogoogo pa‘epa‘e, ogoogo pa‘epa‘e, ogoogo sina, ogoogo sina, ogoogo tea, ogoogo tea

Tongan: hogohogo, hongohongo, ngohongoho

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Erect monoecious herb 10-100 cm in height. Stems longitudinally grooved, appressed-pubescent. Leaves alternate, simple, blade ovate 1-8 x 0.8-5 cm, acute to acuminate at the apex, rounded at the base; margins coarsely serrate; surfaces densely pubescent, gland-dotted; petiole 0.5-5 cm long. Inflorescence of 1-4 axillary spikes 5-30 mm long. Flowers unisexual, apetalous, the lower ones female, upper ones male. Male flowers minute, less than 0.5 mm in diameter, clustered; stamens 8. Female flowers subtended by a pubescent, sheathing, cup-shaped bract 1.5-3 mm long with a serrate margin; styles 3, divided into filiform stigmas. Fruit a pubescent, 3-lobed schizocarp 1-2 mm long, splitting into 3 one-seeded segments." (Whistler, 1995; p. 4).

Habitat/ecology:  "Uncommon to occasional in disturbed places" (Whistler, 1995; p. 4). In New Guinea, "a weed of cultivation, roadsides and house-yards, often in partly-shaded places. At low altitudes, not often common" (Henty & Pritchard, 1975; p. 96).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Old World tropics. A ancient introduction as far eastward as Samoa or perhaps the Cook Islands. (Whistler, 1995; p. 4).

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 1014, Whistler 3449
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ofu Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1945) (p. 47) Voucher cited: Garber 1014 (BISH)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Olosega Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1999) (voucher ID: PTBG 267) Taxon name on voucher: Acalypha lanceolata
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		Whistler, W. A. (1990) Vouchers cited: Harris 7, Harris 74, Yuncher 9280, Whistler 1301, Whistler 1371
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1945) (p. 47) Vouchers cited: Yuncker 9280 (BISH), W. Harris 7 (BISH), W. Harris 74 (BISH)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2001) (voucher ID: PTBG 34606) Taxon name on voucher: Acalypha lanceolata Willd.
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1990) (voucher ID: PTBG 9133) Taxon name on voucher: Acalypha lanceolata
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		McCormack, Gerald (2011)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island		McCormack, Gerald (2011)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Miti‘aro Island		McCormack, Gerald (2011)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		McCormack, Gerald (2011)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Fais Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 132)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Fais Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Evans, M. (1969) (p. 8) Voucher cited: Fosberg 46666 (US)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Ulithi Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 132)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 132)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Butaritari Atoll		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1972) (voucher ID: PTBG 31375) Taxon name on voucher: Acalypha lanceolata Willd.
New Guinea (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea) New Guinea Island	New Guinea Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 84) Voucher cited: CHR 169838
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 17)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1943) (p. 73) "An occasional weed along roadsides and in plantations".
Palau Palau (main island group)	Angaur Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 132)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Angaur Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 103)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Angaur Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 66) Voucher: Lorence 9733 (PTBG, BISH, BNM, NY, US, TAMU)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Angaur Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2008) (voucher ID: PTBG 26) Taxon name on voucher: Acalypha lanceolata
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 132)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Kayangel (Ngcheangel) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 132)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Kayangel (Ngcheangel) Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 8) Voucher: Lorence 9799 (PTBG, BNM)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Kayangel (Ngcheangel) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2008) (voucher ID: PTBG 92) Taxon name on voucher: Acalypha lanceolata
Palau Palau (main island group)	Peleliu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 106)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	invasive	Henty, E. E./Pritchard, G. H. (1975) (p. 96) At low altitudes, not often common.
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Western Samoa Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 17)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Ha‘apai Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 21) Vouchers cited: Soakai 663, Soakai 659
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 21) Voucher cited: Soakai 945
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Niuatoputapu Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 163) Voucher cited: Hürlimann 396
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 21) Voucher cited: Crosby 149 (2)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 163) Cited: Crosby.

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	uncertain if introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 9) Weed of uncertain origin
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced invasive	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 102)
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Cocos (Keeling) Islands	Cocos (Keeling) Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Cocos (Keeling) Islands	Cocos (Keeling) Islands	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1993) (pp. 37, 38) On both main atoll and North Keeling Island.
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Cocos (Keeling) Islands	Cocos (Keeling) Islands	native	Williams, D. G. (1994) (p. 22)
Maldives Maldive Islands	Malè Atoll		Fosberg, F. R. (1957) (p. 23) "Locally comon in dense weedy sod back of beach". Voucher cited: Fosberg 36871 (US)

Additional information:
Additional online information about Acalypha lanceolata is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Acalypha lanceolata as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Acalypha lanceolata may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. 2009. A checklist of the total vascular plant flora of Singapore: native, naturalised and cultivated species. Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, National University of Singapore. 273 pp.

Fosberg, F. R. 1957. The Maldive Islands, Indian Ocean. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 58. Pacific Science Board, National Academy of Sciences, Washington. 37 pp.

Fosberg, F. R./Evans, M. 1969. A collection of plants from Fais, Caroline Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 133. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 15 pp.

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce. 1979. A geographical checklist of the Micronesian dicotyledonae. Micronesica 15:1-295.

Henty, E. E./Pritchard, G. H. 1975. Weeds of New Guinea and their control. 2nd edition. Department of Forests, Division of Botany, Botany Bull. No. 7. Lae, Papua New Guinea. 180 pp.

McCormack, Gerald. 2011. Cook Islands Biodiversity Database, Version 2007.2. Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga.

National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.). 1999. Voucher specimen #PTBG267(Tim Flynn 6606).

National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.). 2001. Voucher specimen #PTBG34606(David H. Lorence 8547).

National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.). 2008. Voucher specimen #PTBG26(David H. Lorence 9733).

National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.). 2008. Voucher specimen #PTBG92(David H. Lorence 9799).

Orchard, Anthony E., ed. 1993. Flora of Australia. Vol. 50, Oceanic islands 2. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.

Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie. 2009. Report to the Republic of Palau: 2008 update on Invasive Plant Species. USDA Forest Service, Hilo, Hawai‘i. 227 pp.

Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar. 2003. Report to the Republic of Palau on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 174 pp.

Swarbrick, J. T. 1997. Environmental weeds and exotic plants on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean: a report to Parks Australia. 101 pp. plus appendix.

Swarbrick, John T. 1997. Weeds of the Pacific Islands. Technical paper no. 209. South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 124 pp.

Sykes, W. R. 1970. Contributions to the flora of Niue. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Bulletin 200, Wellington. 321 pp.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2011. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

Whistler, W. A. 1988. Checklist of the weed flora of western Polynesia. Technical Paper No. 194, South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 69 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 1990. Ethnobotany of the Cook Islands: The plants, their Maori names, and their uses. Allertonia 5(4):347-424.

Whistler, W. A. 1990. The weeds of Manu‘a [unpublished checklist]. 18 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 1991. The ethnobotany of Tonga: The plants, their Tongan names, and their uses. Bishop Museum Bulletin in Botany 2. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 155 pp. ISBN 0-930897-57-9.

Whistler, W. A. 1992. Flora of Tonga [unpublished checklist]. 107 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 2000. Plants in Samoan culture: The ethnobotany of Samoa. Isle Botanica. 234 pp. ISB: 0-9645426-6-8.

Williams, D. G. 1994. Vegetation and flora of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 404. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 29 pp.

Yuncker, T. G. 1943. The flora of Niue Island. Bishop Mus. Bull. 178. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 126 pp.

Yuncker, T. G. 1945. Plants of the Manua Islands. Bishop Mus. Bull. 184. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 73 pp.

Yuncker, T. G. 1959. Plants of Tonga. Bishop Museum Bull. 220. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 343 pp.

Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong. 2011. Flora of China (online resource).