Coix lacryma-jobi Linnaeus, Poaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  More information needed, score: 4 (Go to the risk assessment)

Common name(s): [more details]

Bikol: barubaióko, bintíkai, koldásan, tigbí, tigbíkai

Bontoc: atákai

Cebuano: adlái, aglái, alimúdias, damáu, katigbí, lamúdias, paiás, paliás, pintáka, tidbí

Chamorro: bilen

Chinese: yi mi, yi yi

Chuukese: fetin umuno

English: Job's tears, adlay, adlay millet

Fijian: sila

Filipino: bilen

French: larmes de Job, larmilles

Hawaiian: ‘ohe‘ohe, kūkaekōlea, pū'ohe'ohe, pūpū kōlea

Ibatan: abúkai, agágai

Ifugao: kibaoung

Iloko: atákai

Japanese: hato-mugi, juzudama, zyudu-dama

Korean: julmu

Kwara‘ae: sila

Maori (Cook Islands): poepoe

Niuean: tagataga, tangatanga

Palauan: demairush, demairuuch, pa nga ruiz, tauiir, taviir

Pampangan: balantákan

Pohnpeian: rosario

Samoan: sagasaga, sagisagi, sanasana, sanasana Samoa

Spanish: Santa Juana, camandula, lágrima de nossa senhora, lágrimas de Job, lágrimas de San Pedro, lagrima de San Pedro

Subanen: liás

Tagalog: kudlásan, tigbí

Tahitian: poepoe

Tongan: hana, hana tuikahoa

Habit:  grass

Description:  "Robust annuals; culms 100-300 cm tall, many-branched.  Sheaths loose, terete, striate, glabrous; ligule membranous, 1.5-2 mm long, margins erose and minutely fringed; blades 10-50 cm long, 20-50 cm wide, glabrous but rather coarse. Inflorescences numerous, terminal and axillary, each consisting of separate pistillate and staminate racemes, cupules borne on long stout peduncles from axis of upper leaves, white or bluish, bony, lustrous, globose-ovoid, 5-15 mm long; upper pistillate floret fertile, lemma scale-like, 3-5-nerved; palea reduced to a small scale; staminodia 3; staminate raceme 3-5 cm long, the spikelets 7-10 mm long, glumes equal to the spikelet in length, coriaceous-membranous, broadly lanceolate, glabrous, smooth, lemma membranous, lanceolate, 3-nerved, glabrous, palea similar in shape and texture to lemma, 2-nerved.  Caryopsis broadly ellipsoid to subglobose, 2.5-5 mm long."  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1517).

Description from GrassBase.

Habitat/ecology:  In Hawai‘i, "naturalized and common along streams and ditches, but also found on slopes in disturbed mesic forest, 0-610 m" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1517).  In Fiji, "common...from sea level to about 900 m.  It occurs in damp places, along edges of streams, crest clearings, waste places and along roadsides." (Smith, 1979; p. 388). In New Caledonia, "peut-être d'introduction pré-européenne. Peu planté à présent; largement répandu et parfois commun en lieux humides" (MacKee, 1994; p. 58). "Occasional to common in wetlands, wetland crops, and roadside ditches" (Whistler, 1988; p. 49).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Tropical Asia, naturalized throughout the tropics and probably an early introduction to the Pacific.  "An aboriginal introduction to Western Polynesia" (Whistler, 1988; p. 49).

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		Whistler, W. A. (1990) Vouchers cited: Yuncker 9283, Whistler 1361, Whistler 3310
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1945) (p. 25) Voucher cited: Yuncker 9283 (BISH)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 90)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Anon. (1988) (p. 1)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Setchell, William Albert (1924) (p. 113)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 34)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 34)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Saipan	Saipan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 34)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 34)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy (2010) (p. 10) Naturalized
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 34)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Glassman, S. F. (1952) (p. 126) Voucher cited: Glassman 2412 (US)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced invasive	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 55) Vouchers cited: F.R. Fosberg 58528 (BISH), S.F. Glassman 2412 (BISH), M. Hunt 1 (NY, PTBG), N.L.H. Krauss 1897c (BISH), L. Stemmermann 3436 (BISH), C.Y.C. Wong 52 (BISH) Naturalized
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 34)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1968) (voucher ID: BNM 134) Taxon name on voucher: Coix lacryma-jobi L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Matuku Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 388-389)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Moala Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 388-389)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ngau Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 388-389)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ovalau Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 388-389)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Taveuni Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 388-389)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 388-389) Vouchers cited: Tothill F.428, DA 3500
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Mbalavu Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 388-389)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 388-389) Vouchers cited: Smith 4289, Gillespie 4308, DA 9725, DA 13017, DA 7880, DA 9508, DA 8092, DA 731, DA 882, DA 3524, DA 8462, DA 10492, Parks 20240, DA L.12541
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced	St. John, Harold (1988) (p. 7)
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	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: D.H. Lorence & W.L. Wagner 6219 (PAP) Adventice
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	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 4254 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 332) Voucher cited: Fosberg 61210
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence & R. Tahuaitu 11667 (PAP), F.R. Fosberg 61210 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1987) (p. 11) Naturalized
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 332) Voucher cited: H.M. Smith 183
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 332) Vouchers cited: Florence 2281, BRY 25363
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 332) Voucher cited: Florence 5236
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 5236 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 332) Voucher cited: Florence 5236
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 2881 (PAP), P. Morat 6394 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 5751 (PAP), J. Florence & W.R. Sykes 11185 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rimatara (Rimitara) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 6139 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Tubuai Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced cultivated	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 240) Voucher cited: Stone 5018 (GUAM), G.E.S. 188
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 34)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1517-1518)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1517-1518)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1517-1518)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1517-1518)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1517-1518) Voucher cited: Bryan s. n. (BISH)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 380) Largement répandue et parfois commune en lieux humides.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive abo. intro.	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 58) Voucher cited: Vieillard 1467
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 380) Largement répandue et parfois commune en lieux humides.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	introduced invasive abo. intro.	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 58)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 238) Voucher cited: CHR 168803
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 49)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Yuncker, T. G. (1943) (p. 25) Voucher cited: Yuncker 10207 (BISH) "Occasionally planted about dwellings".
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 34)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 34)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1970) (voucher ID: BNM 133) Taxon name on voucher: Coix lacryma-jobi L.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 34)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Peleliu (Beliliou) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 34)
Papua New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago	Bismarck Archipelago		Peekel, P. G. [translated by E. E. Henty] (1984) (p. 44)
Papua New Guinea Bougainville Islands	Bougainville Island		Foreman, D. B. (1971) (p. 25)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)		Henty, E. E. (1969) (p. 53)
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 invasive	Merrill, Elmer D. (1925) (p. 29) Throughout the Philippines in the settled areas at low and medium altitudes, in most or all islands and provinces; common.
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands	Pitcairn Island	introduced invasive	St. John, H. (1987) (p. 23) Voucher cited: Fosberg & B. Christian 11207
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands	Pitcairn Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Western Samoa Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 49)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 90)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced invasive	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 59)
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 67) "Occasional throughout Tonga"
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 67) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15659
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 98) Vouchers cited: Ilolahia 120, Soakai 632
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 67) Vouchers cited: Yuncker 15230, Hürlmann 114
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 98) Vouchers cited: Soakai 760, Soakai 886
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 67) Voucher cited: Yuncher 16032
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Burkill, I. H. (1900) (p. 61)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 90)

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)	New South Wales	introduced invasive cultivated	National Herbarium of New South Wales (2013) Mostly as a garden escape.
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 93)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 93)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 93)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Streams, marshy valleys, moist fields, by houses, often cultivated. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Yunnan, Zhejiang.
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 329) In wet places.
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Japan Japan	Japan		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 93)
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 192)
South Korea South Korea	South Korea (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 93)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 28) Naturalised
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 93)
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Streams, marshy valleys, moist fields, by houses, often cultivated.
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
French Territory of Mayotte Mayotte Islands	Mayotte Island	introduced invasive	Comité français de l'Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature en France (2013)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Agalega Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Stoddart, D. R. (1983) (p. 131)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Frégate Island		Robertson, S. A./Todd, D. M. (1983) (p. 57) Voucher cited: Todd 54
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Coix lacryma-jobi, please let us know.