Cuphea racemosa (L. f.) Spreng., Lythraceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Lythrum racemosum L. f.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: white cuphea

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Annual herb to ca. 50 cm tall, becoming somewhat woody at the base, stems reddish, with glandular hairs.  Leaves opposite, simple, obovate, elliptic, or oblong, to ca. 6 cm long, lower surface with some glandular hairs, margins with fine white hairs.  Flowers in terminal racemes; floral tube with a distinct hump at the base and dark red longitudinal stripes, covered with glandular hairs; corolla white with a pink stripe at the base of each petal, petals 6, ca. 1.5 mm long; stamens 11.  Fruit a capsule, ovoid, ca. 4 mm long, seeds 4."  (McMullen, 1999; p. 253).

Habitat/ecology:  Moist uplands in the Galápagos Islands (McMullen, 1999; p. 253).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  South America (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)

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)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Cuphea racemosa, please let us know.