Calathea crotalifera S.Watson, Marantaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk; score: 8 (Hawaii-Pacific Weed Risk Assessment for Calathea crotalifera)

Other Latin names:  (no synonyms in GRIN); Calathea insignis Petersen and Calathea insignis Petersen ex Eggers (illeg.); Calathea quadratispica Woodson; Calathea sclerobractea K. Schum.; Phyllodes insigne (Petersen) Kuntze; Phyllodes insignis (Petersen) Kuntze

Common name(s): [more details]

English: rattleshake shaker, rattlesnake ginger, rattlesnake plant, yellow rattleshaker

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Large herb 5-8' tall. Lvs 3-6; peti green, pulvinus yellow-green, glabrous, 2.5-7" long; blades ovate, 12-35" x 6-21", upper side deep green, often lighter along midvein, underside gray-green, base rounded. Infl 2-5 per shoot, rectangular, laterally flattened, 5-9.5" x 1.75-2.75"; bracts 16-36, 2-ranked, shaped like rattlesnake rattle, yellow, yellow-green, orange, or bronze. Flws yellow to yellow-orange." (A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 700)

Habitat/ecology:  "sea level to 5,000', usually in open or disturbed habitats" (A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 700)

Propagation: 

Native range:  "Calathea crotalifera has a wide distribution from southern Mexico to Argentina. . . ." (A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 700)

"...native to Mexico, Central America, and South America." (Hawaiian Plants and Tropical Flowers)

Impacts and invaded habitats:  "...in Hawaii, Rattlesnake Plant has escaped from cultivation and now grows wild in some wet to mesic (moderately wet) areas." (Hawaiian Plants and Tropical Flowers)

If you know of other invaded habitats or impacts, please let us know.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawaiian Islands	introduced invasive cultivated	Kinsey, T. Beth (year unknown) "Here in Hawaii, Rattlesnake Plant has escaped from cultivation and now grows wild in some wet to mesic (moderately wet) areas."
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)

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)	Central America	native	Kinsey, T. Beth (year unknown) accessed 20180903
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	Kinsey, T. Beth (year unknown) accessed 20180903
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
India India	India (Republic of)		efloraofindia (year unknown) accessed 20180903
South America South America	South America	native	Kinsey, T. Beth (year unknown) accessed 20180903

Comments:  in Hawaii (A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 700)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Calathea crotalifera, please let us know.