Barleria cristata L., Acanthaceae

Click on an image for links to BIGGER PICTURES

Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: jia du juan

Chuukese: forget

English: Philippine violet, bluebell, bluebell barleria, crested Philippine violet

Fijian: tombithi

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "Erect branching shrubs 6-10 dm tall; stems pubescent with both long and short appressed hairs.  Leaves dark green on upper surface, lower surface pale green, elliptic to narrowly ovate, 2.5-10 (-19) cm long, sparsely strigillose, especially on the veins, apex attenuate, petioles 0.2-1 (-3.5) cm long.  Flowers subtended by 2 greenish white to white, linear, spinose bracts with conspicuous veins, 8-15 mm long, pedicels 0-1 mm long; outer 2 calyx lobes enlarged, ovate, becoming chartaceous with age, the veins green and conspicuous, ca. 10 mm long at anthesis, enlarging to 15-25 mm long in fruit, spiny-margined, the inner 2 lobes linear, ca. 7 mm long, margins entire; corolla violet, pink, or white, funnelform, 5-5.7 cm long.  Capsules ellipsoid, 1.4-1.7 cm long, glabrous and glossy at maturity."  (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 168-170).

Habitat/ecology:  In Hawai‘i, "cultivated..., now naturalized in dry habitats" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 168-170).  In Fiji, "cultivated in villages and gardens and sparingly naturalized along roadsides from near sea level to about 100 m"  (Smith, 1991; p. 125).  On Christmas Island (Indian Ocean), cultivated and naturalized in gardens, roadsides and disturbed areas (Swarbrick, 1997; p. 105).  In China (native), "roadsides, slopes, along streams, in xeric vegetation; below 100-2600 m"  (Flora of China online).

Propagation:  Stolons (Swarbrick, 1997; p. 105).

Native range:  India and Myanmar to southern China (Staples & Herbst, 2005; pp. 82-83).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 255)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 255)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Saipan	Saipan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 255)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Murilo (Mwiriné) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H./Oliver, R. L. (1993) (p. 26) Voucher cited: Evans 1144 (US)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Namoluk (Nómwunuuk) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 255)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Namoluk (Nómwunuuk) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Marshall, Mae/Fosberg, F. R. (1975) (p. 46) Voucher cited: Marshall 57 (US)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Puluwat (Pwonowót) Atoll	introduced invasive	Manner, H. I./Mallon, E. (1989) (p. 59) Voucher cited: Manner & Mallon 245 (GUAM) Rare
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H./Oliver, R. L. (1993) (p. 26) Vouchers cited: Fosberg 60209 (US, BISH), Fosberg 60210 (US, BISH)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy (2010) (p. 11)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 255)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Glassman, S. F. (1952) (p. 102) Vouchers cited: Kanehira 1579 (NY), Takamatsu 890 (BISH)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced cultivated	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 64) Vouchers cited: N.L.H. Krauss 1892b (BISH), F. Sohl 85 (NY, PTBG), M. Takamatsu 890 (BISH)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2001) (voucher ID: PTBG 38741) Taxon name on voucher: Barleria cristata L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ovalau Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (p. 125) Voucher cited: Smith 7491 Sparingly naturalized.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (p. 125) Voucher cited: Bierhorst F158 Sparingly naturalized.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (p. 125) Vouchers cited: DA 7422, DA 16457, DA 16466, DA 12288 Sparingly naturalized.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence, D.H. Lorence & W.L. Wagner 9508 (PAP) Ornementale en haie, subspontanée.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: M.-H. Sachet 1939 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 6942 (PAP)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island	introduced cultivated	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1987) (p. 63)
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		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 1)
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		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 1)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 19) Vouchers cited: Fosberg 6927, Florence 2587b
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 1)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 2587 (PAP), J. Florence 2587b (PAP) Naturalisée. Ornementale commune à Tahiti.
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rapa Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced cultivated	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 533) Voucher cited: Stone 4982 (GUAM)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 255)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 168-170)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 168-170)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank L./Bartlett, Randal T. (2002) (p. 1) West Maui. Vouchers cited: Oppenheimer H30003 (BISH), Oppenheimer H30005 (BISH), Oppenheimer & J. Kunna H40009 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Starr, Forest/Starr, Kim/Loope, Lloyd L. (2006) (p. 31) Voucher cited: Starr 050517-5 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 168-170) Voucher cited: Yoshinaga s.n. (BISH)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Jaluit (Jãlwõj) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 255)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kwajalein (Kuwajleen) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 255)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kwajalein (Kuwajleen) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Whistler, W. A./Steele, O. (1999) (p. 98) Not seen on this survey and may no longer be present.
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced cultivated	Thaman, R. R./Fosberg, F. R./Manner, H. I./Hassall, D. C. (1994) (p. 78) Voucher cited: Fosberg 58797 (US)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 8) Vouchers cited: Däniker 1685, MacKee 12544, MacKee 20664, MacKee 28510
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 37) Vouchers cited: CHR 169938, CHR 169939 Persisting from cultivation.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 255)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 58)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1967) (voucher ID: BNM 51) Taxon name on voucher: Barleria cristata L.
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced cultivated	Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral R. (2005) (p. 83)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced cultivated	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 479) Rather widely cultivated for ornamental purposes, but so far not known to produce seeds in the Philippines.
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced cultivated	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 50)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Ha‘ano Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2001) (voucher ID: PTBG 234) Taxon name on voucher: Barleria cristata

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	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
China China	Hong Kong	introduced cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 251)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 18) Cultivated only
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)

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 cultivated	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 105)
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1993) (p. 16)
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves/Lavergne, Christophe (2004) (p. 344)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves/Lavergne, Christophe (2004) (p. 344)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Barleria cristata, please let us know.