Dentella repens (L.) J.R. Forst., Rubiaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Oldenlandia repens L.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chamorro: borduegas

Chinese: xiao ya cao

English: dentella

I-Kiribati: te uteute n Imatang

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Dwarf herbs, creeping, much branched, rather fleshy; branches flattened to angled, glabrous or puberulent, often rooting at nodes. Leaves subsessile to shortly petiolate; petiole to 1 [-4] mm; blade drying stiffly papery, oblong-lanceolate, oblanceolate, or spatulate, 4-7 [-10] x 1-2 [-4] mm, glabrous or sparsely hirtellous at least along margins and principal veins, base cuneate to acute, margins flat, apex obtuse to acute; secondary veins not visible; stipules triangular, ca. 1 mm, entire to erose. Flowers solitary at forks of branchlets or rarely along stems, subsessile or with pedicel to 1 [-2] mm. Calyx with ovary portion subglobose, ca. 1 x 1-1.5 mm, densely papillose-villous with flattened trichomes; limb 1-1.2 mm, deeply lobed; lobes narrowly triangular. Corolla white or pale yellow, 3-8 [-12] mm, glabrous outside, sparsely villous inside throat; lobes triangular-ovate, 1-2 mm, acute. Fruit compressed globose, 3-5 x 3-5 mm, densely villous with multicellular, transparent, flattened, bulbous-tipped trichomes; seeds 0.3-0.5 mm"  (Flora of China online).

"Creeping low herb; leaves elliptic or oblong or oblanceolate but short, acute at both ends, 1-nerved, 1 cm long, 4 mm wide, on petiole 3 mm long; stipules ovate-subrotund; stems somewhat 4-angled; pedicels 1-2 mm long; calyx 2-3 mm; corolla about 1 cm long, tube yellowish, limb white (lobes each with a basal small purplish spot); throat pilose; fruit 3-4 mm, glabrous or beset with glassy hairs (these hollow), with many small angular seeds.  The flowers are often borne between branches in the V-shaped fork and are nearly sessile." (Stone, 1970; pp. 542-543).

Habitat/ecology:  "A tropical weed" (Stone, 1970; pp. 542-543).  In China (native), "wet sites in fields; sea level or higher"  (Flora of China online).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  "This herb is native to New Caledonia or somewhere else in Melanesia, but is now widespread in the Pacific as a weed of open sunny places" (Whistler & Steele, 1999; p. 63). China, Taiwan, southeast Asia, Australia; naturalized elsewhere (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H./Oliver, R. L. (1993) (p. 56) Vouchers cited: Herbst & Falanruw 6696 (US), Raulerson 19152 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island	introduced	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 64)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Puluwat (Pwonowót) Atoll	introduced invasive	Manner, H. I./Mallon, E. (1989) (p. 59) Voucher cited: Manner & Mallon 190 (GUAM)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H./Oliver, R. L. (1993) (p. 56) Voucher cited: Fosberg & Sared 60315 (US, BISH, POM, NY, L)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy (2010) (p. 23) Voucher cited: Lorence 7853 (PTBG) Naturalized
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1996) (voucher ID: PTBG 21140) Taxon name on voucher: Dentella repens
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced invasive	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 128) Vouchers cited: D.H. Lorence 8063 (PTBG), D.H. Lorence 8106 (PTBG), D.H. Lorence 9551 (COM, NY, PTBG, US) Naturalized
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1997) (voucher ID: PTBG 28105) Taxon name on voucher: Dentella repens Forst. f.
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1997) (voucher ID: PTBG 28675) Taxon name on voucher: Dentella repens Forst. f.
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Ulithi Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 264)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Adventice
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (pp. 542-543) Voucher cited: Stone 4091 (GUAM)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 264)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Abemama Atoll	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Imada, Clyde T. (2004) (p. 76) Voucher: Imada 2003-158 (BISH 697769)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Butaritari Atoll	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Imada, Clyde T. (2004) (p. 77) Voucher: Imada 2003-48 (BISH 697663)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Makin Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Imada, Clyde T. (2004) (p. Observed at Makin airstrip.)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Tarawa Atoll	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Imada, Clyde T. (2004) (p. 74) Voucher: Imada 2003-19 (BISH 697634)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Jaluit (Jãlwõj) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 264)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Jaluit (Jãlwõj) Atoll	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1962) (p. 35) Vouchers cited: Fosberg 39458 (US), Fosberg 41397 (US)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kili (Kõle) Atoll		Vander Velde, Nancy (year unknown)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kwajalein (Kuwajleen) Atoll	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A./Steele, O. (1999) (p. 63) Vouchers cited: Fosberg 41420, Fosberg 48017, Herbst 8885, Herbst 8942, Herbst 9017, Whistler 11242
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 264)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll	introduced	Vander Velde, Nancy (2003) (p. 118) Rare, possibly now extirpated.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Angaur Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 264)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 59) Voucher: Lorence 9843 (PTBG, BNM)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2008) (voucher ID: PTBG 136) Taxon name on voucher: Dentella repens
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1990) (voucher ID: BNM 10187) Taxon name on voucher: Dentella repens L.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Malakal Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 59) Voucher: Lorence 9719 (PTBG, BNM, NY, US)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Malakal Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2008) (voucher ID: PTBG 12) Taxon name on voucher: Dentella repens
Palau Palau (main island group)	Peleliu Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 264)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Peleliu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 59) Voucher: Lorence 9764 (PTBG, BNM)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Peleliu Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2008) (voucher ID: PTBG 56) Taxon name on voucher: Dentella repens
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 492) In open waste places in and about towns at low and medium altitudes.

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. (2011)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2011) Wet sites in fields; sea level or higher. Guangdong, Hainan, Xinjiang, Yunnan.
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	uncertain if introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 33) Weed of uncertain origin
Taiwan Taiwan	Taiwan Island	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2011) Wet sites in fields; sea level or higher. Guangdong, Hainan, Xinjiang, Yunnan.

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island		Topp, J. M. W. (1988) (p. 8)
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. Arthur (1996) (p. 29)

Additional information:
Additional online information about Dentella repens is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Dentella repens as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Dentella repens may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.). 1990. Voucher specimen #BNM10187(Otobed, D. P-10187).

Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. 2009. A checklist of the total vascular plant flora of Singapore: native, naturalised and cultivated species. Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, National University of Singapore. 273 pp.

Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. 2011. Base de données botaniques Nadeaud de l'Herbier de la Polynésie Française (PAP). (online resource).

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. 1962. Vascular plants recorded from Jaluit Atoll. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 92. Pacific Science Board, National Academy of Sciences, Washington. 39 pp.

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H./Oliver, R. L. 1993. Flora of Micronesia. Part 5. Bignoniaceae--Rubiaceae. Smithsonian Contrib. Bot. 81: 1-135.

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce. 1979. A geographical checklist of the Micronesian dicotyledonae. Micronesica 15:1-295.

Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. 2010. Checklist of the vascular plants of Pohnpei with local names and uses. Allertonia, in press. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Hawai‘i. 146 pp.

Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy. 2010. Checklist of the plants of Kosrae. Unpublished checklist. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Hawai‘i. 26 pp.

Manner, H. I./Mallon, E. 1989. An Annotated list of the vascular plants of Pulawat Atoll. Micronesica 22:23-63.

Merrill, Elmer D. 1923. An enumeration of Philippine flowering plants, vol. 3 [reprint]. Bureau of Printing, Manila. 628 pp.

National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.). 2008. Voucher specimen #PTBG12(David H. Lorence 9719).

National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.). 2008. Voucher specimen #PTBG56(David H. Lorence 9764).

National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.). 2008. Voucher specimen #PTBG136(David H. Lorence 9844).

Raulerson, L. 2006. Checklist of Plants of the Mariana Islands. University of Guam Herbarium Contribution 37:1-69. .

Space, James C./Imada, Clyde T. 2004. Report to the Republic of Kiribati on invasive plant species on the islands of Tarawa, Abemama, Butaritari and Maiana. Cont. no. 2003-006 to the Pac. Biol. Surv. USDA Forest Service and Bishop Museum, Honolulu. 103 pp.

Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie. 2009. Report to the Republic of Palau: 2008 update on Invasive Plant Species. USDA Forest Service, Hilo, Hawai‘i. 227 pp.

Stone, Benjamin C. 1970. The flora of Guam. Micronesica 6:1-659.

Topp, J. M. W. 1988. An annotated check list of the flora of Diego Garcia, British Ocean Territory. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 313. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 21 pp.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2011. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

Vander Velde, Nancy. 0. Nancy Vander Velde, pers. com.

Vander Velde, Nancy. 2003. The vascular plants of Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. Smithsonian Institution, Atoll Research Bulletin No. 503:1-141.

Whistler, W. A./Steele, O. 1999. Botanical survey of the United States of America Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) Islands. Prepared for Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education and the U. S. Army Environmental Center. 111 pp.

Whistler, W. Arthur. 1996. Botanical survey of Diego Garcia, Chagos Archipelago, British Indian Ocean Territory. Isle Botanica. 49 pp.

Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong. 2011. Flora of China (online resource).