Cestrum diurnum L., Solanaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

Chamorro: tentanchinu, tintán China, tinta‘n China, tintan China

English: Chinese inkberry, day cestrum, day jessamine, day queen, day-blooming cestrum, inkberry

Fijian: thauthau

Hawaiian: mākāhala

Maori (Cook Islands): ariki-va‘ine

Spanish: dama de día, galán de día, rufiana, saúco tintóreo

Tongan: vaitohi

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "Glabrous branching shrub to 2.5 m tall, leaves elliptic-oblong or oblong-ovate, obtuse, mostly 5-10 cm long and to 2.5 cm wide, medium green, not glossy, paler beneath, short-petiolate; cymes combined in racemes in axils and terminal; flowers subsessile, about 1-1.5 cm long, calyx green, 5-toothed, corolla white, with flowers subsessile, about 1-1.5 cm long, calyx green, 5-toothed, corolla white, with 5 short rounded reflexed lobes (rarely 6); stamens 5 (rarely 6), included; style filiform, stigma capitate and almost or slightly exserted; berry purple to black, ovoid, juicy (purplish), few-seeded, with the calyx persistent at base"  (Stone, 1970; p. 516).

Habitat/ecology:  "Day jasmine grows in gardens, roadsides, fencerows, pastures, vacant lots, and abandoned farmland in Puerto Rico (Liogier 1995). The species is particularly associated with pasture fencerows because its seeds are deposited there by birds, vegetative competition is controlled by grazing, and day jasmine is rarely eaten by cattle. There is no mention in the literature of the types of natural forest stands where day jasmine grows within its native range. However, because the species is intolerant of heavy shade and quickly disappears when overtopped by forest, it can be inferred that day jasmine is an opportunist that invades disturbed areas and quickly completes its life cycle ahead of encroaching forest. The species may grow as individual plants or in thickets. Day jasmine will grow in areas receiving from about 800 to 3000 mm of precipitation, but most aggressively colonizes areas that receive from about 1400 to 2400 mm of precipitation. It tolerates soils of all textures, apparently from all parent materials, but is most common in limestone areas (Florida Exotic Plants Council 2001). Day jasmine does not prosper on exposed subsoil nor grow on swampy ground. The plant is salt tolerant if not exposed to heavy salt spray or overwash from storms (Florida Exotic Plants Council 2001)"  (Wildland shrubs of the United States and its territories).

Moist and wet forests and open areas. Common in Guam on mixed or limestone soils.  In Tonga, "cultivated and an occasional escape" (Yuncker, 1959; p. 240).  In Hawai‘i, cultivated and naturalized"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1254).

Propagation:  Seed, dispersed by birds.

Native range:  West Indies  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1254).

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	Ta‘u Island	cultivated	Yuncker, T. G. (1945) (p. 62) Voucher cited: Yuncker 9277 (BISH)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1939) (voucher ID: BISH 181631) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 33)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1959) (voucher ID: BISH 181636) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1974) (voucher ID: BISH 418132) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Northern Mariana Islands	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 102) "Forest edges"
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 7) Voucher: Flynn 7024 (PTBG, BISH, US)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2002) (voucher ID: PTBG 357) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 181551) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 244)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (pp. 35-36) Voucher cited: DA 16446, H.B.R. Parham 306
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1969) (voucher ID: BISH 33916) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 271) Voucher cited: Moore 319
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 271) Vouchers cited: Setchell & Parks 481, Florence 4500, Florenece 4587, BRY 26327
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 4500 (PAP), J. Florence 4587 (PAP), J. Florence 5492 (PAP) Ornementale peu commune.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 554443) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 558026) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Manihi Atoll	introduced	Sachet, M-H. (1983) (p. 36) Voucher cited: Brooks & Brooks 41 (BISH)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 516) Vouchers cited: Stone 3777 (GUAM), Stone 4508 (GUAM), Stone 4986 (GUAM)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 244)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 95)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 181612) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1916) (voucher ID: BISH 181614) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1911) (voucher ID: BISH 181615) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1918) (voucher ID: BISH 181616) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1964) (voucher ID: BISH 181621) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1965) (voucher ID: BISH 402068) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1965) (voucher ID: BISH 402078) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1965) (voucher ID: BISH 567799) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 649485) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1965) (voucher ID: BISH 660838) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 1000179) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1966) (voucher ID: PTBG 22754) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1965) (voucher ID: PTBG 22755) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1254)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1254)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1254)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1906) (voucher ID: BISH 181632) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1931) (voucher ID: BISH 181635) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1921) (voucher ID: BISH 181633) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 181634) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1979) (voucher ID: BISH 428330) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1985) (voucher ID: BISH 608929) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Lifuka Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 240) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15710 Occasional escape.
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Lifuka Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1953) (voucher ID: BISH 181628) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Lifuka and Foa Islands	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 71)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 59)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1969) (voucher ID: BISH 29677) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1959) (voucher ID: BISH 41309) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1959) (voucher ID: BISH 699003) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 10) Vouchers: Flynn 6859 (PTBG), Flynn 6863 (PTBG)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 240) Voucher cited: Yuncker 16138 Occasional escape.
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1953) (voucher ID: BISH 181629) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum L.
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2001) (voucher ID: PTBG 258) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2001) (voucher ID: PTBG 260) Taxon name on voucher: Cestrum diurnum
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Futuna Island	introduced cultivated	Morat, Ph./Veillon, J.-M. (1985) Morat & Veillon, 1985, cited in Meyer, 2007

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 25) Cultivated only

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)	United States (other states)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013) Texas
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Comments:  Invasive on Mangaia, Cook Islands (Space & Flynn, 2002).

Initially became widespread on Guam, but now more of a localized problem, possibly indicating local limiting factors (Margie Falanruw, pers. com.).

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

Control: 

Physical:  "Seedlings and saplings can be hand pulled or dug out".

Chemical:  "Larger plants are cut and the cut stumps treated with herbicide.  Effective herbicides are picloram, triclopyr plus imazapyr, or 2,4-D plus picloram.  Triclopyr can be used as a basal stem treatment"  (Weber, 2003; p. 99).