Brucea javanica (L.) Merr., Simaroubaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Brucea amarissima (Lour.) Desv. ex Gomes; Brucea sumatrana Roxb.; Gonus amarissimus Lour.; Rhus javanica L.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: ya dan zi

English: Java brucea, Macassar kernels

Habit:  shrub/tree

Description:  "Shrubs or small trees. Young branches, petioles, and inflorescences yellow tomentose. Leaves 20-40 cm; leaflets 3-15; petiolule 4-8 mm; blades ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 5-10(-13) x 2.5-5(-6.5) cm, base broadly cuneate or nearly rounded, usually somewhat oblique, margin serrate, apex acuminate, both surfaces villous, especially along veins and abaxially. Panicles 15-25(-40) cm in males, ca. half as long in females. Flowers small, dark purple, 1.5-2 mm in diam. Male flowers: pedicel slender, ca. 3 mm; sepals densely puberulent, 0.5-1 x 0.3-0.5 mm; petals sparsely puberulent or nearly glabrous, 1-2 x 0.5-1 mm; filaments subulate, ca. 0.6 mm; anthers ca. 0.4 mm. Female flowers: pedicel ca. 2.5 mm; sepals and petals same as in males; stamens rudimentary. Druparia 1-4, free, oblong-ovoid, 6-8 x 4-6 mm, gray-black when ripe; exocarp reticulately wrinkled when dry; endocarp hard bony. Seeds yellow-white, ovoid, thinly membranous, with copious oil, terribly bitter"  (Flora of China).

"An often simple-stemmed shrub or small tree 1-4 m high.  Its leaves, up to 50 cm long, have 9 or 11 leaflets (3-15 elsewhere) with blades predominantly ovate, up to 14 x 5 cm, and coarsely serrate.  The attractive small flowers have the sepals and petals rich purple and the gynoecium pale green, with purple-tinged styles.  The drupes (usually 1-3 per flower maturing) change from green through blue and at maturity become purple or black"  (Smith, 1985; p. 487).

Habitat/ecology:  In Fiji, "locally naturalized at elevations from near sea level to about 300 m in light forest, thickets, or coconut plantations, or on the edges of clearings"  (Smith, 1985; p. 487).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  "Ceylon through southeastern Asia to southern China and Taiwan and throughout Malesia to northern Australia; introduced into Ponape, Fiji and perhaps elsewhere.  It has apparently escaped from cultivation in Fiji and is now well naturalized at least on Taveuni"  (Smith, 1985; p. 487).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 487)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 125) Most likely introduced.
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced invasive	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 136) As Brucea amarissima (Lour.) Gomes. Vouchers cited: F.R. Fosberg 58525 (BISH), D.H. Lorence 9560 (COM, NY, PTBG), L. Stemmermann 2930 (BISH) Naturalized
Fiji Fiji Islands	Taveuni Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 487) Vouchers cited: Smith 8182, DA 8907, DA 15851, DA 11508
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 487) Voucher cited: 13227
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced cultivated	Imada, Clyde T./Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral R. (2013) Harold L. Lyon Arboretum
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	native	Raulerson, L./Rinehart, A. F./Falanruw, M. C. (1996) (p. 35)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	native	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 4) Voucher: Lorence 9888 (PTBG, BNM, BISH, NY, US)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1978) (voucher ID: BNM 1401) Taxon name on voucher: Brucea javanica (L.) Merr.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1991) (voucher ID: BNM 9495) Taxon name on voucher: Brucea javanica (L.) Merr.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2008) (voucher ID: PTBG 181) Taxon name on voucher: Brucea javanica (L.) Merr.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Palau Islands (main island group)	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 125) Most likely introduced.
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)

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)	Australia (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Western Australia
Australia Australia (continental)	Northern Territory	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
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) Open shrubby forests in foothills; below 100-1000 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Yunnan.
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 197) In thickets and thin forests.
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	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)	native	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 20) Vulnerable
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Open shrubby forests in foothills; below 100-1000 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)

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. (2013)
India (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Nicobar Islands	Nicobar Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Brucea javanica, please let us know.