Anodendron paniculatum A.DC., Apocynaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Anodendron manubriatum Merr.; Echites paniculatum Roxb.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Andamanese bowstring plant

French: liane parachute

Habit:  vine

Description:  Liana to 20 m.  "The species is characterized by terminal or axillary panicles up to 15 cm long, each bearing small white or yellowish tubular flowers; and by large fruits (paired follicles or 'pods' up to 16 cm long, 3 cm wide, black when ripe) containing small flattened seeds (1-2 cm long, 0.6-0.8 mm wide), each attached to a long white silky coma (or 'tuft') 5-9 cm long"  (Meyer, 2007; p. 10).

Habitat/ecology:  "In its native range...in evergreen or secondary forests up to 1700 m elevation.  During our 2005-2006 plant surveys, we found A. paniculatum locally naturalized in the secondary and primary rainforests of Tahiti from 50-600 m elevation in the center of the island (Lake Vaihiria and Mataiea Valley to the south, Papenoo Valley to the north, more than 12 km from the [Harrison smith botanical Garden]), on roadsides, riverbanks, steep slopes and small plateaus, smothering the canopy of non-native and native trees"  (Meyer, 2007; p. 10).

Propagation:  Wind-dispersed seed (Meyer, 2007; p. 10).

Native range:  India, Bangladesh, Burma, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Philippines) and Malesia (Indonesia, Malaysia)  (Meyer, 2007; p. 10).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2007) (pp. 10-11)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced cultivated	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2007) (p. 10)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2007) (pp. 10-11)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	native	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2007) (pp. 10-11)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2007) (pp. 10-11)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2007) (pp. 10-11)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2007) (pp. 10-11)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2007) (pp. 10-11)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
India (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Andaman Islands	Andaman Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
India (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Nicobar Islands	Nicobar Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Mascarene Islands Mascarene Islands (Mauritius, La Reunion, Rodrigues)	Mascarene Islands	introduced cultivated	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2007) (p. 10)

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

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

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

Other Latin names:  Anodendron manubriatum Merr.; Echites paniculatum Roxb.

References:

Meyer, Jean-Yves. 2007. The snake-like climber Anodendron paniculatum (Apocynaceae), a "new" invasive liana in the rainforests of Tahiti (Pacific Ocean). In: Aliens 24/25:10-11.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2009. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.