Fleurya interrupta Gaudich., Urticaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Threat only at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Laportea interrupta (L.) Chew

Common name(s): [more details]

English: hen's nettle

Fijian: salato, salato ni koro, salato vutivali

Kwara‘ae: akoako fuluma

Marquesan: auokaoka, kenae, onaona, onaona, puera

Niuean: ogoogo, ongoongo

Other: nanggalat

Samoan: ogoogo, ogoogo, ongoongo, vao mageso

Tahitian: huriaeo, iriaeo, iriaio, urieo

Tongan: hogohogo, hongohongo, nogonogo

Wallisian: mangeo

Yapese: yoyol

Habit:  herb

Description: 

Genus: "Usually annual herbs, the aerial branches and often the leaf blades with stinging or prurient hairs, the stipules comparatively small, connate into an axillary, bifid scale; leaves alternate, the blades chartaceous, ovate, 3-nerved from base and also pinnate-nerved distally, dentate or serrate, with linear cystoliths on upper surface; inflorescences axillary, composed of flower clusters combined into lax, bracteate, cymose panicles, these usually unisexual, the flowers often sharply reflexed; male flowers sessile or pedicellate, with 4 or usually 5 tepals, these ovate or lanceolate, subvalvate, the stamens 4 or usually 5, with long, reflexed filaments, the rudimentary ovary globose or subclavate; female flowers pedicellate, with 4 free tepals, these imbricate, unequal in pairs, the abaxial one sometimes hooded, the staminodes absent, the ovary straight, becoming oblique, the style apical but becoming lateral, the stigma subulate, obliquely ovate or linear, short-papillose, rarely trifid, persistent; achene small, obliquely ovoid, strongly laterally compressed, deflexed, pitted and verrucose, marginate, exserted from the slightly enlarged perianth, the seed with very little endosperm, the cotyledons broad, the fruiting pedicel long and winged"  (Smith, 1981; p. 215).

Species:  "Flower-clusters remote, combined into interrupted pseudo-spikes 3-30 cm long; lowest clusters usually on short side-shoots; male flowers: tepals 4, white or pink, with a green midvein, sparsely hairy; female flowers: pedicel widened above the articulation; tepals at first subequal, the 2 lateral (inner) ones considerably enlarged afterwards; stigmas 3, at first equal, central one later elongate; achene not recurved, tuberculate, 1 1/2-1 3/4 mm long.  Leaves ovate, subcordate, truncate or broadly cuneate at base, crenate-serrate or dentate, 2-12 cm by 1-8 cm, (dry) with numerous distinct cystoliths beneath; petiole 1/2-10 cm.  Erect or decumbent at base and rooting" (Backer & Bakhuizen van den Brink, 1965; p. 39).

"Small, un- or few-branched slightly fleshy herb, usually puberulent with more or less irritant hairs; stem 20-80 cm tall; leaves ovate-acuminate, 6-9 cm long, 5-6 cm wide, on slender petioles up to 8 cm long; blades rounded to subcordate at base; margins coarsely serrate.  Inflorescence axillary, pedunculate, spicate; flowers tiny, green, 4-merous; fruit a cordate achene" (Stone, 1970; p. 256).

Habitat/ecology:  "Uncommon in waste places and around houses" (Whistler, 1988; p. 38). "Waste places, road-sides, gardens, fields" (Backer & Bakhuizen van den Brink, 1965; p. 39).

In Fiji, occurs "from near sea level to about 525 m as a weed of villages, roadsides, waste places, pastures, and cultivated areas, sometimes being found along forest trails or on hillsides" (Smith, 1981; pp. 215-216).  In Hawai‘i, "an uncommon garden weed" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1299).  In Niue, "seen only occasionally in plantations and waste places" (Sykes, 1970; p. 210).  In New Guinea, "a plant of partial shade; a weed of gardens and house-yards, and sometimes in cocoa and rubber plantations; not aggressive and only numerous where other weeds have been suppressed. Mostly at low altitudes, but found to 700 m" (Henty & Pritchard, 1975; p. 156). In Tonga, "an occasional weed of plantations" (Yuncker, 1959; p. 102).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Although it "now has a very wide distribution, from Africa to Japan and China and eastward to Queensland and into the Pacific as far as Hawai‘i, its native area is questionable; probably southeastern Asia is a reasonable guess.  It...was almost certainly an inadvertent aboriginal introduction throughout the Pacific portion of its range." (Smith, 1981; pp. 215-216)  "An aboriginal introduction to Polynesia" (Whistler, 1988; p. 38). Fosberg et al. (1979; p. 60) list as native to Micronesia.

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	Ofu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1990) Vouchers cited: Garber 1001, Garber 1013
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		Whistler, W. A. (1990) Vouchers cited: Garber 576, Harris 261, Harris 320
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 60)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Chuuk Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 92)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 60)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 60)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Glassman, S. F. (1952) (p. 82) Voucher cited: Kanehira 789 (NY)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 60)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Kandavu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 215-216) Voucher cited: DA 2969
Fiji Fiji Islands	Mbengga Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 215-216) Voucher cited: Weiner 72-7-14C
Fiji Fiji Islands	Moala Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 215-216) Voucher cited: Milne 109
Fiji Fiji Islands	Nairai Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 215-216) Voucher cited: Milne 156
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ovalau Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 215-216) Voucher cited: Smith 7480
Fiji Fiji Islands	Taveuni Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 215-216) Vouchers cited: Gillespie 4704, DA 8393, DA 5739
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 215-216) Vouchers cited: DA 14364, Bierhorst F202
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 215-216) Vouchers cited: DA 14194, Greenwood 147, Gillespie 2577, Smith 7244
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Eiao Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 222-224)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 222-224)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Motane (Mohotane, Mohotani) Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 222-224)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 222-224)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Bora Bora Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 222-224)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Mehetia (Mahetia, Meetia) Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 222-224)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 222-224)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 222-224)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 222-224)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tetiaroa Atoll		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 149)
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Tuamotu Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 92)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	native	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 256) Vouchers cited: Stone 4388 (GUAM), Stone 4415 (GUAM)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 60)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced	Wester, Lyndon (1992) (p. 151)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawaiian Islands	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1299) Adventive.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced	Wester, Lyndon (1992) (p. 151)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Jaluit (Jãlwõj) Atoll	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 60)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kili (Kõle) Atoll		Vander Velde, Nancy (year unknown)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Maré	introduced	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 137) Voucher cited: Schmid 2753 (NOU)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Îles Ouvéa (Ouvea Atoll)	introduced	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 137) Voucher cited: Däniker 2032
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 137) Vouchers cited: Vieillard 1228, Franc 2080
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced	Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 38)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Palau Islands (main island group)	native	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim (1998) (p. 39)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	native	Henty, E. E./Pritchard, G. H. (1975) (p. 156)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 163)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Western Samoa Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 38)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 92)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	native	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 84)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Tofua Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 79) Voucher cited: Scarth-Johnson 46
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 79) Voucher cited: Soakai 641
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Tafahi Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 102) Voucher cited: Hürlimann 561
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 79) Voucher cited: Crosby 167
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Burkill, I. H. (1900) (p. 55)
Tuvalu Tuvalu (Ellis) Islands	Nui Atoll		Woodroffe, C. D. (1985) (p. 11) Vouchers cited: Woodroffe 195 (CHR), Woodroffe 133 (CHR)
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis and Futuna Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 38)

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. (2007)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Taiwan Taiwan	Taiwan Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)

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

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

References:

Backer, C. A./Bakhuizen van den Brink, R. C. 1965. Flora of Java, Vol. 2. N.V. P. Noordhoff, Groningen, The Netherlands. 641 pp.

Burkill, I. H. 1900. The flora of Vavau, one of the Tonga Islands, with a short account of its vegetation by Charles Steele Crosby. Lin. Jour. Bot. 35:20-65.

Florence, J. 1997. Flore de la Polynésie française, Vol. 1. Paris. Editions de l'Orstom, Institut Français de Recherche Scientifique pour le Développement en Coopération, Collection Faune et Flore Tropicales 34. 393 pp.

Fosberg, F. R. 1997. Preliminary checklist of the flowering plants and ferns of the Society Islands. Ed. by David R. Stoddart. U. Cal. Berkeley.

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

Glassman, S. F. 1952. The flora of Ponape. Bishop Mus. Bull. 209: 1-152.

Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. 1988. Flora of the Solomon Islands. Research Bulletin No. 7. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Honiara. 203 pp.

Henty, E. E./Pritchard, G. H. 1975. Weeds of New Guinea and their control. 2nd edition. Department of Forests, Division of Botany, Botany Bull. No. 7. Lae, Papua New Guinea. 180 pp.

Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. 1979. A geographical atlas of world weeds. John Wiley & Sons, New York. 391 pp.

Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim. 1998. Checklist of the plants of Palau. Unpublished checklist. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Hawai‘i. 40 pp.

MacKee, H. S. 1994. Catalogue des plantes introduites et cultivées en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 164 p.

Merlin, M./Kigfas, A./Keene, T./Juvik, J. 1996. Giddi nge gakiiy nu Wa‘ab: Plants, People and Ecology in Yap State. Program on Environment, East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, 121 pp.

Smith, Albert C. 1981. Flora Vitiensis nova: a new flora of Fiji. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii. Volume 2. 810 pp.

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

Swarbrick, John T. 1997. Weeds of the Pacific Islands. Technical paper no. 209. South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 124 pp.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2007. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

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

Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. 1999. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawaii. Revised edition. Bernice P. Bishop Museum special publication. University of Hawai‘i Press/Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 1919 pp. (two volumes).

Welsh, S. L. 1998. Flora Societensis: A summary revision of the flowering plants of the Society Islands. E.P.S. Inc., Orem, Utah. 420 pp.

Wester, Lyndon. 1992. Origin and distribution of adventive flowering plants in Hawai‘i. In: Stone, Charles P.; Smith, Clifford W. and Tunison, J. Timothy. Alien plant invasions in native ecosystems of Hawaii: Management and Research. University of Hawaii, Cooperative National Park Research Studies Unit, Honolulu. University of Hawaii Press. .

Whistler, W. A. 1984. Annotated list of Samoan plant names. Economic Botany 38:464.489.

Whistler, W. A. 1988. Checklist of the weed flora of western Polynesia. Technical Paper No. 194, South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 69 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 1990. The weeds of Manu‘a [unpublished checklist]. 18 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 1992. Flora of Tonga [unpublished checklist]. 107 pp.

Woodroffe, C. D. 1985. Vegetation and flora of Nui Atoll, Tuvalu. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 283. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 18 pp. + maps, photos.

Yuncker, T. G. 1945. Plants of the Manua Islands. Bishop Mus. Bull. 184. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 73 pp.

Yuncker, T. G. 1959. Plants of Tonga. Bishop Museum Bull. 220. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 343 pp.