Escallonia rubra var. macrantha (Hook. & Arn.) Reiche, Escalloniaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  yes

Risk assessment results:  Evaluate, score: 4 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Stereoxylon rubrum Ruiz & Pav.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: redclaws

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "A 4-10 foot tall shrub with hairy, gladular shoots and inflorescence axes; broadly elliptic to obovate leaves 1-3 inches long and up to 1.75 inches wide, the margins serrate, the upper side glossy dark green, the underside gland-dotted; and racemes or panicles of bright rose red flowers 0.63 inches in diameter"  (Staples & Herbst, 2005; p. 350).

"Densely branched shrub up to 2-(4) m high; twigs with stalked glands, and densely clothed in short, simple erect hairs, striate, viscid; older branches with grey, peeling bark. Leaves on younger branches but persisting on older wood, elliptic to broadly elliptic or broadly obovate, 2.5-9 x 1.5-4.5 cm, mostly acute, rarely some obtuse, serrate, tapering to short petiole, glabrous and shining above, aromatic; lower surface somewhat dull, pale green, with gland dots and conspicuous veins. Inflorescences terminal, small, loose, paniculate. Calyx densely glandular, usually also with simple hairs; lobes c. 3 mm long, triangular, glandular. Corolla red or pink, 12-18 mm in diameter; petals erect, forming a tube c. 6-10 mm long; limbs 3-5 mm long, spreading. Ovary disc narrowly conic; style 7-10 mm long. Capsule obovoid, 3-5 mm long"  (Healy & Edgar, 1980; p. 622).

Habitat/ecology:  "In the wild, E. rubra is a seacoast species quite tolerant of windshear and salt spray.  Ideal conditions include full sun and a porous, well-drained, neutral to acidic soil that is kept continually moist"  (Staples & Herbst, 2005; p. 350).  In New Zealand, "rocky cliffs, banks, forest margins, wasteland, generally near the sea"  (Healy & Edgar, 1980; p. 622).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Chile; cultivated elsewhere (GRIN). Southern Brazil and Uruguay  (Staples & Herbst, 2005; p. 350).

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	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Parker, James L./Parsons, Bobby (2012) (p. 60) Voucher cited: J. Parker & R. Parsons BIED64 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island		Bishop Museum (U.S.A. Hawaii. Honolulu.) (1933) (voucher ID: BISH 641727) Taxon name on voucher: Escallonia rubra var. macrantha (Hook. & Arn.) Reiche
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawaiian Islands	introduced cultivated	Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral R. (2005) (p. 350) "Thrive only at elevations above 2,500 feet".
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island		Bishop Museum (U.S.A. Hawaii. Honolulu.) (1995) (voucher ID: BISH 639505) Taxon name on voucher: Escallonia rubra var. macrantha (Hook. & Arn.) Reiche

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 622)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Chile (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (Oregon)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Escallonia rubra var. macrantha, please let us know.