Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze, Amaranthaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Reject, score: 13 (Go to the risk assessment).

Other Latin names:  Alternanthera dentata (Moench) Stuchlik ex R. E. Fr.; 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 (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	introduced cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy (2010) (p. 12)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 56)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 56)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 56)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced cultivated	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) Voucher cited: J. Florence 8554 (PAP) Ornementale, subspontanée.
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 Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2004) (voucher ID: PTBG 44724) Taxon name on voucher: Alternanthera brasiliana
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Bora Bora Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 56)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Bora Bora Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 56)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
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	Maupiti (Maurua) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 56)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 56)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: F.R. Fosberg 63567 (PAP)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 3)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
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	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 2522 (PAP) Naturalisée. Assez commune, souvent cultivée en pots.
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 Island	introduced cultivated	Sachet, M.-H. (1983) (p. 16)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tupai Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 56)
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
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 Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 56)
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 5743 (PAP), J. Florence & W.R. Sykes 11170 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1992) (voucher ID: BISH 644204) Taxon name on voucher: Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 56)
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Starr, Forest/Starr, Kim (2011) (p. 23) East Maui. Voucher cited: Starr & Starr 080219-05 (BISH)
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 (Belau ) (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 (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 79)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Malakal (Ngemelachel) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 79)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Malakal (Ngemelachel) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 13)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Ngercheu Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 92) Carp Resort
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Ngercheu Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 13) Carp Resort
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 79)
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	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence & S. Waldren 11034 (PAP) Naturalisée
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands	Pitcairn Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1991) (voucher ID: BISH 641994) Taxon name on voucher: Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis (‘Uvea) Island	introduced cultivated	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2007) (p. 30)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	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)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

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

Control:  If you know of control methods for Alternanthera brasiliana, please let us know.