Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze, Amaranthaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Threat only at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Gomphrena brasiliana L.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Brazilian joyweed, Joseph's coat, purple alternanthera

French: bouton blanc, marguerite à fleurs rouges

Tuamotuan: pua ura

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Scandent shrubs 1.5-4 m tall; stems many-branched, subglabrous below, strigose to pilose in upper parts. Leaves narrowly ovate, usually 3-8 cm long, 1-2.5 cm wide, more or less strigose, apex acute or acuminate, base cuneate to rounded, petioles usually 0.3-1 cm long, strigose. Flowers in axillary and terminal cylindrical racemes 1.5-2 cm long, peduncles usually 3-10 cm long, pubescent with appressed to spreading hairs, pedicels up to 2 mm long, bract ovate, ca. 3 mm long, apex acute or short-acuminate, midrib prominent, bracteoles longer than bract, more than " as long as flower, apex curved, conspicuously keeled with a prominent, irregularly dentate crest; sepals 5, subequal, lanceolate, 3-5 mm long, subglabrous to pubescent, 3-nerved, midnerve not excurrent; stamens 5, all fertile. Utricles 1.5-2 mm long" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 183).

Habitat/ecology:  In Hawai‘i, "a single collection made in 1973 at 300 m, ridge between Hālawa Iki and Lamaloa gulches, north side of Hālawa Valley, Moloka‘i, where it appears to be naturalized" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 183).

Propagation:  Seed and vegetatively. Can spread through discarded cuttings. The seeds appear to have the ability to remain dormant for a long period (Barbara Waterhouse, pers. com.).

Native range:  Mexico to Brazil and the West Indies (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 183).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Cook Islands Northern Cook Islands	Nassau Island	introduced cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2007)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	introduced cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2007)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 56)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 56)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 56)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1987) (voucher ID: BISH 558137) Taxon name on voucher: Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze
French Polynesia Society Islands	Bora Bora Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 56)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 56)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 56)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island	introduced cultivated	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1987) (pp. 27-28) Voucher cited: Fosberg 64927 (US)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 56)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 56)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 3)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 26) Voucher cited: Florence 2522
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 56)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 491495) Taxon name on voucher: Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tetiaroa Atoll	introduced cultivated	Sachet, M.-H./Fosberg, F. R. (1983) (p. 65)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tupai (Tubai) Island	introduced cultivated	Sachet, M.-H. (1983) (p. 16)
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 56)
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1985) (voucher ID: BISH 647786) Taxon name on voucher: Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze
French Polynesia Tubuai (Austral) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 56)
French Polynesia Tubuai (Austral) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1992) (voucher ID: BISH 644204) Taxon name on voucher: Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze
French Polynesia Tubuai (Austral) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 56)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 183)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R. (1995) (p. 14) Voucher cited: E. Funk 406 (BISH)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Vander Velde, Nancy (2003) (p. 60)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 9) Vigorously naturalizing.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 84)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 79)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Malakal Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 79)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 79)
Palau Rock Islands	Ngercheu Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 92) Carp Resort
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands	Pitcairn Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 56)
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands	Pitcairn Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Paulay, Gustav/Spencer, T./Oliver, Royce (1989) (p. 13) Voucher cited: Paulay, Spencer & Schuster 679 (US)
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands	Pitcairn Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1991) (voucher ID: BISH 641994) Taxon name on voucher: Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Colombia Colombia	Colombia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Ecuador (Mainland) Ecuador	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Guatemala Guatemala	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Nicaragua Nicaragua	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Perú Perú	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)

Comments:  Planted as an ornamental in Palau, naturalizing (Space et al., 2003).

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

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

References:

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1982. Voucher specimen #BISH 491495 (Florence, J. 2522).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1985. Voucher specimen #BISH 647786 (Fosberg, F.R. 64659).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1987. Voucher specimen #BISH 558137 (Florence 8554).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1991. Voucher specimen #BISH 641994 (Florence 11034).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1992. Voucher specimen #BISH 644204 (Florence 11170).

Florence, J. 2004. Flore de la Polynésie française, Vol. 2. Paris. IRE Editions, Publications Scientifiques, Collection Faune et Flore Tropicales 41. 503 pp.

Fosberg, F. R. 1997. Preliminary checklist of the flowering plants and ferns of the Society Islands. Ed. by David R. Stoddart. U. Cal. Berkeley.

Fosberg, F. R./Paulay, Gustav/Spencer, T./Oliver, Royce. 1989. New collections and notes on the plants of Henderson, Pitcairn, Oeno, and Ducie Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 329. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 18 pp.

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. 1987. Flora of Maupiti, Society Islands. The Smithsonian Institution. Atoll Research Bulletin 294:1-70.

McCormack, Gerald. 2007. Cook Islands biodiversity and natural heritage. On-line database.

Sachet, M.-H. 1983. Botanique de l'ile de Tupai, Iles de la Societe. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 276. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 26 pp. + photos.

Sachet, M.-H./Fosberg, F. R. 1983. An ecological reconnaissance of Tetiaroa Atoll, Society Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 275. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 67 pp. + photos.

Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate. 2004. Report to the Government of Niue and the United Nations Development Programme: Invasive plant species on Niue following Cyclone Heta. UNDP NIU/98/G31 - Niue Enabling Activity. 80 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.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2007. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

Vander Velde, Nancy. 2003. The vascular plants of Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. Smithsonian Institution, Atoll Research Bulletin No. 503:1-141.

Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R. 1995. Contributions to the Flora of Hawai‘i. IV. New Records and name changes. In: Evenhuis, Neal L. and Miller, Scott, E., eds. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 1994. Part 2: Notes. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers. 42:13-27.

Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. 1999. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawaii. Revised edition. Bernice P. Bishop Museum special publication. University of Hawai‘i Press/Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 1919 pp. (two volumes).

Welsh, S. L. 1998. Flora Societensis: A summary revision of the flowering plants of the Society Islands. E.P.S. Inc., Orem, Utah. 420 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 2000. Tropical ornamentals: a guide. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon. 542 pp.