Acnistus arborescens (L.) Schldl., Solanaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Evaluate, score: 2 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Atropa arborescens L.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: hollowheart

Spanish: palo de gallina

Habit:  shrub/tree

Description:  "A shrub or a small tree with corky-like bark, commonly 3-6 m. tall; leaves elliptic to oblong, mostly 5-15 cm. long, 3-5.5 cm. wide, acute or obtuse, attenuate at the base, glabrous or nearly so above, densely tomentose-floccose with branched or simple multicellular hairs below, sometimes glabrate; petioles 1-1.5 cm. long; flowers numerous, in axillary fascicles; pedicels 1.5-2.5 cm. long; calyx chartaceous, light brown, 2.5-4 mm. long, glabrous, the lobes short and rounded, about 1 mm. long, sometimes truncate; corolla white, 8-11 mm. long, glabrous within, glabrous or puberulent externally, the tube 4.5-6.5 mm. long, the lobes 3-5 mm. long, spreading and acute; stamens exserted; filaments 4-5.5 mm. long; anthers 2-2.5 mm. long, apiculate; style 9-11 mm. long; berry orange or yellow, 5-6 mm. in diameter, globose, pulpy; seeds reticulate-foveate"  (Gentry and Standley, 1974; 24(10/1-2) p. 4).

Habitat/ecology:  In Guatemala (native), "damp or wet thickets, 1,360 m"  (Gentry and Standley, 1974; 24(10/1-2) p. 4).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Mexico, Central and South America (GRIN).

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	Kaua‘i Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (year unknown) (voucher ID: PTBG 2936) Taxon name on voucher: Acnistus arborescens
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island		Bishop Museum (U.S.A. Hawaii. Honolulu.) (year unknown) (voucher ID: BISH 500217) Taxon name on voucher: Acnistus arborescens

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)	introduced cultivated	Randall, R. P. (2007) (p. 19)
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	Gentry, Johnnie L., Jr./Standley, Paul C. (1974)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	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)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Acnistus arborescens, please let us know.