Bischofia javanica Blume, Phyllanthaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 7 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Andrachne trifoliata Roxb.; Bischofia trifoliata (Roxb.) Hook.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: qiu feng

English: Javanese bishopweed, Javanese bishopwood, bischofia, bishopwood, java-cedar, koka, needlebark

Fijian: koka, koka ndamu, tea, tongatonga, tongo, tongotongo

Kwara‘ae: oli oli

Maori (Cook Islands): koka, nato

Niuean: koka

Samoan: ‘o‘a, o‘a

Tagalog: toog

Tongan: koka

Wallisian: koka

Habit:  tree

Description:  "A large glabrous tree up to 22 m tall, with a shady oval crown and a deep green foliage, turning red before falling.  The thick bark is dark grey to brown, smooth or rough.  Leaves are alternate, trifoliate with large and leathery, elliptic, and acuminate leaflets that are 10-15 cm long and 4-7 cm wide.  Leaves have a petiole of 7-20 cm length and toothed margins.  Flowers are greenish-yellow and c. 3 mm in diameter.  The fruit is a brown, orange, reddish or blue-black, globose drupe of 9-10 mm diameter with three indehiscent cells, each containing 1-2 seeds of c. 5 mm length and 3 mm width.  The tree is dioecious, and female trees produce large quantities of handing fruits"  (Weber, 2003; p. 70).

"Spreading trees 5-30 m tall, with colorless latex; branches terete.  Leaflets 3, ovate to oblong-ovate, 6-12 cm long, 3-7 cm wide, margins crenulate-serrulate, apex caudate cuspidate, base cuneate, petioles 8-16 cm long.  Staminate panicles 9-18 cm long, pistillate ones looser and less branched, sometimes reduced to racemes; sepals cream-colored to pale green or pale yellow.  Fruit pinkish to dull red and orangish brown, globose, 8-16 mm in diameter" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 601-602).

Habitat/ecology:  "Forests, tropical hammocks.  Native habitats of this tree are shady ravines in evergreen, mixed deciduous and swamp forests.  The tree is fast growing and suckers easily from roots.  In dry places, it grows as a stunted tree or shrub of 4-6 m height.  Where invasive, the tree establishes dense stands, casting dense shade and crowding out native trees, displacing them and altering the vegetation structure.  Seedlings establish well under shady forest canopies and grow rapidly into the canopy if a gap occurs.  Once established, the tree will become abundant throughout the understorey"  (Weber, 2003; p. 70).

In Hawai‘i, planted and naturalized (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 602). In Fiji (native), "found from near sea level to an elevation on 900 m in forest or on its edges, in thickets, or on grassy slopes" (Smith, 1881; p. 495).

Propagation:  Bird-dispersed seeds (Staples, Herbst & Imada, 2000; p. 21)

Native range:  "India, central China, and Malesia eastward into the Pacific, possibly as far east as Samoa, Tonga, and Niue" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 601).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ofu Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1980) (p. 159)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ofu Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1945) (p. 46) Abundant on all of the islands.
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ofu Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2001) (voucher ID: PTBG 35338) Taxon name on voucher: Bischofia javanica Blume
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Olosega Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1980) (p. 159)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Olosega Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1945) (p. 46) Abundant on all of the islands.
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Olosega Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2001) (voucher ID: PTBG 35372) Taxon name on voucher: Bischofia javanica Blume
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Olosega Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2001) (voucher ID: PTBG 37081) Taxon name on voucher: Bishofia javonica Blume
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1980) (p. 159)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1945) (p. 46) Abundant on all of the islands. Vouchers cited: Garber 613 (BISH), W. Harris 289 (BISH)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Aunu‘u Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1980) (p. 159)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1980) (p. 159)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Setchell, William Albert (1924) (p. 78)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1965) (voucher ID: PTBG 16375) Taxon name on voucher: Bischofia javanica
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2000) (voucher ID: PTBG 42739) Taxon name on voucher: Bischofia javanica
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	native	McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Koro Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (p. 495) Voucher cited: Smith 1058
Fiji Fiji Islands	Lakemba Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (p. 495) Voucher cited: Garnock-Jones 861
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ovalau Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (p. 495) Voucher cited: Horne 395
Fiji Fiji Islands	Rambi Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (p. 495) Voucher cited: Horne s.n.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Taveuni Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (p. 495) Voucher cited: Gillespie 4670
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (p. 495) Vouchers cited: DF 994 (S1551/1), DA 12004
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (p. 495) Vouchers cited: Greenwood 345, Degener 14990, Gillespie 4266, Tothill 750, DF 1001 (S1551/3), Degener 15218, DF 984 (Damanu 175), DF 1002 (S1551/4), Seemann 417, DA 14988, Parks 20260, Greenwood 345A, DA 10038, DA 53, MacDaniels 1044, DA L.13265 (Berry 26), Smith 7223
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	native	Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 42)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	native	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 10383 (PAP)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	native	Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 42)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 602)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 602)
Japan (offshore islands) Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands	Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands	introduced invasive	Toyoda, Takeshi (2003) (p. 282)
Japan (offshore islands) Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands	Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands	introduced	Kato, Hidetoshi (2007)
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1983) (voucher ID: PTBG 31443) Taxon name on voucher: Bischofia javanica
Niue Niue	Niue Island	native	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 86) Voucher cited: CHR 169719
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Palau Islands (main island group)	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 133)
Papua New Guinea Bougainville Islands	Bougainville Island		Foreman, D. B. (1971) (p. 35)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (pp. 418-419) Common in forests along streams at low and medium altitudes, ascending to 1,500 m.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Ha‘apai Islands	native	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 21) May be aboriginal introduction. Vouchers cited: Yuncker 15715, Yuncker 15856, Hotta 4170 (cf. 4171)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Lifuka Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 161) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15715
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Nomuka Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 161) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15856
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 21) May be aboriginal introduction. Vouchers cited: Parks 16013, Parks 16057, Parks 16132, Hurlimann 134, Yuncker 15313, Sykes 135, Buelow 1805, Whistler 7453
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 161) Vouchers cited: Yuncker 15313, Hülimann 164
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 21) May be aboriginal introduction. Vouchers cited: Moseley, Setchell & Parks 15206, Moseley, Setchell & Parks 15259, Moseley, Setchell & Parks 15352, Hurlimann 313, Hurlimann 677, Yuncker 15042, Hotta 4528, Sykes 7
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 161) Vouchers cited: Yuncker 15042, Hülimann 313, Hülimann 677
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1989) (voucher ID: PTBG 3908) Taxon name on voucher: Bischofia javanica
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Niuafo‘ou Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 21) May be aboriginal introduction. Voucher cited: Buelow 2014
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Niuatoputapu Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 21) May be aboriginal introduction. Voucher cited: Kirch 237
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Tafahi Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 21)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 21) May be aboriginal introduction. Vouchers cited: Harvey s.n., Crosby 160, Yuncker 16122, Buelow 915
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 161) Voucher cited: Yuncker 16122
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

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)	Queensland	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Evergreen forests, open valley woodlands, widely planted on stream banks, cultivated in gardens and along avenues; below 800 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang.
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 177) In forests.
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Japan Ryukyu Islands	Ryukyu Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 18) Cultivated only
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Evergreen forests, open valley woodlands, widely planted on stream banks, cultivated in gardens and along avenues; below 800 m.
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Comments:  Reported to be a major invasive in the Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands, Japan (Dr. Julie Denslow, pers. com.).

Planting of this species is prohibited in Miami-Dade County, Florida (U.S.) (Hunsberger, 2001).

Control:  "Female trees should be removed first to prevent seed dispersal.  Seedlings may be hand pulled, older trees treated basally with a triclopyr herbicide mixed with an oil diluent"  (Weber, 2003; p. 70).