Heliotropium foertherianum Diane & Hilger, Boraginaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Evaluate; score: 4 (Hawaii-Pacific Weed Risk Assessment for Tournefortia argentea)

Other Latin names:  Argusia argentea (L. f.) Heine; Messerschmidia argentea (L. f.) I.M. Johnst.; Tournefortia argentea Linnaeus filius

Common name(s): [more details]

English: East Indian velvetleaf, beach heliotrope, tahinu, tree heliotrope, tree-heliotrope

Hawaiian: tahinu

Niuean: toihune t&amacron;ne

Samoan: la'au pepe, moegāpepe, tausuni, tausunu (probable misspelling of tausuni)

Tongan: touhuni

Unknown: tausuni, te ren, touhuni

Various: tausuni

Habit:  shrub/tree

Description:  Tournefortia (genus): "Shrubs, sometimes vines or treelets. Lvs usu alternate (rarely opposite). Infl terminal, coiled racemes (or panicles) of cymes; bracts absent. Flws bisexual; sep 5, free or basally joined; cor salver- or funnel-shaped, limb 5-lobed, back of lobes often keeled; stam 5, included in cor tube; style terminal, entire, or absent, stigma conical or shield-shaped. Frt a drupe, entire or 4-lobed, usu separating into 2 or 4 sections. Seed 1 or 2 per section." A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 199)

As Tournefourtia argentea Linnaeus filius: "Evergreen treelet usu to 15(-35)' tall; crown domed, trunk curved or gnarled, bark corky. Lvs crowded at bran ends, appearing whorled, sessile or nearly so; blades oblanceolate to obovate, 4-8" &mult; 1.3-3.5" , brittle-fleshy, both sides silky-hairy, base gradually tapering. Infl a panicle of coiled cymes, stalk to 6" long. Flws sessile, <0.2" long, crowded, 2-ranked; cor white, limb 5-lobed. Frt white, ±fleshy, ca 0.25" ⌀, glabrous. Seeds usu 2." (A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 199)

As Messerschmidia argentea: "Widely branching shrub or small tree up to 4 m. or more tall, young growth brittle and densely whitish--or buff--pubescent. Leaves alternate, clustered near ends of branches, obovate to spatulate, obtuse or acute, base wedge-shaped, entire, up to 20 cm. long and 8 cm. wide, densely silvery hairy. Flowers small, very numerous, white, sessile, in large, branching, long-pedunculate, scorpioid-cymose clusters; fruit round, four-parted, about 7 mm. in diameter." (Plants of Tonga, pp. 229-230)

Habitat/ecology:  "Tree heliotrope [PIER ed.: Heliotropium foertherianum as Tournefortia argentea L. f.] is native to all tropical seashores of the Indian and Pacific Oceans and sometimes occurs in inland saline habitats on sandy or limestome soils. . . . It is adapted to saline, nutrient-poor sand or limestone soils, salt spray and strong prevailing winds, and exposure to intense sunlight with high reflection from the ground and ocean surfaces." (A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 199) (note: but NOT native to Hawaii [GRIN])

Of "Messershmidia argentea (L.f.) Johnst." on Niue: "Its frequency and habitat are almost the same [PIER ed.: as Heliotropium anomalum], for it grows just above the Pemphis acidula band." (Sykes, 1970, p. 52)

Of Tournefortia argentea L. f. on Ta'u (American Samoa): "Occasional on the seaward edge of littoral forest." (Botanical Inventory of Ta'u Unit, p. 44)

In Tonga: "seaward margin of coastal forest fringe"; "along outer margin of seaside thicket"; "in thicket just above upper tidal limit along beach"; "[r]ather frequent near shore throughout Tonga." (Plants of Tonga, p. 230)

In Vanuatu: "Seashore." (Remarkable plants of Vanuatu. p. 48.)

Propagation:  "Generally propagated from seed, the tree is fast-growing, easy to care for, and pest free." (A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 199)

Native range:  "Native to tropical Asia, Madagascar, tropical Australia, and Polynesia . . . . (Manual of Flowering Plants of Hawaii, Wagner et al. 1999)." (Midway Atoll Vascular Plant Checklist, p. 36)

"Eastern Africa; Southeast Asia through Malesia and eastern Polynesia; to Marshall Islands and Kiribati in Micronesia" (Agroforestry Guides for Pacific Islands, p. 58)

Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, China, Japan, Taiwan, India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Pacific Islands (Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Northern Mariana Islands, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Fiji, New Caledonia, Niue, Samoa, Tonga) (GRIN)

Of "Messershmidia argentea (L.f.) Johnst.": "A widespread coastal plant in tropical Asia, Australia, and the Pacific islands east to Henderson Island." (Sykes, 1970, p. 52)

Of Tournefortia argentea L. f.: "ranging from Mauritius to southeastern Polynesia" (Botanical Inventory of Ta'u Unit, p. 44)

Impacts and invaded habitats:  "Dr. William Hillebrand reported tree heliotrope [PIER ed.: Heliotropium foertherianum as Tournefortia argentea L. f.] in cultivation in the [PIER ed.: Hawaiian] Islands during his residency (ca. 1851-1871).⁶³⁵ In 1917, J. F. Rock knew of single trees in Honolulu and Hale'iwa, O'ahu, and a few trees at Kahului, Maui. ¹²⁴⁸ Since then it has become naturalized on beaches throughout the archipelago." (A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 199)

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
American Samoa American Samoa Islands	American Samoa Islands		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ofu Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 44) Vouchers cited: Garber 639; Whistler 3214, 7768
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Maug Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Northern Mariana Islands		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Cook Islands Cook Islands	Cook Islands		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Cook Islands Northern Cook Islands	Nassau Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Cook Islands Northern Cook Islands	Penrhyn (Tongareva) Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Chuuk Islands		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Federated States of Micronesia Federated States of Micronesia	Carim Islet		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Federated States of Micronesia Federated States of Micronesia	Fassarai Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Federated States of Micronesia Mortlock Group	Moch Islet		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Federated States of Micronesia Mortlock Group	Saponoch Islet		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Federated States of Micronesia Woleai Atoll	Falalap		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Ifalik (Ifaluk) Atoll		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Fiji Islands		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
French Polynesia Bora Bora	Motu Tevairoa		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
French Polynesia French Polynesia Islands	French Polynesia Islands		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Ana‘a Atoll		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Raro‘ia Atoll		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Vanavana (Vana Vana) Atoll		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Kiribati Kiribati	Kiribati (Republic of)		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Tarawa Atoll		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Marshall Islands Marshall Islands	Airukiraru Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Marshall Islands Marshall Islands	Bikajle Islet (Bigatyelang Island)		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Marshall Islands Marshall Islands	Enewetak Atoll		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Marshall Islands Marshall Islands	Marshall Islands		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Marshall Islands Marshall Islands	Namdrik Atoll		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	New Caledonia (island)		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Niue Niue	Niue Island		Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 52) reference didn't state explicitly whether this taxon was considered native; dVouchers cited: CHR 169741, CHR 169742, CHR 169743
Niue Niue	Niue Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Pacific Pacific	Oceania		Ramon, Laurence/Sam, Chanel (2015) (p. 48)
Pacific Pacific	Polynesia		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 230) "Tournefortia argentea L. f. in Hemsley's list."
Pacific Polynesia	Polynesia (U.S.-administered islands)		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Palau Hatohobei Group	Helen Reef		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Palau Hatohobei Group	Tobi Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Palau Koror	Ngaiangas		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Palau Islands (main island group)		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Urukthapel (Gaiangas) Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Palau Rock Islands (Chelbacheb)	Ngkesiil Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Palau Sonsorol Group	Sonsorol Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands	Pitcairn Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands	Pitcairn Islands		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Samoa Samoa	Samoa		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Western Samoa Islands		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Guadalcanal Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Nendo Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	New Georgia Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Lifuka Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 230) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15712; "Tournefortia argentea L. f. in Hemsley's list."
Tonga Tonga Islands	Hakautu'utu'u Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Outliers		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 230) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15538; "Tournefortia argentea L. f. in Hemsley's list."
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 230) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15130; "Tournefortia argentea L. f. in Hemsley's list."
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 230) Source: Crosby; "Tournefortia argentea L. f. in Hemsley's list."
Tuvalu Tuvalu (Ellis) Islands	Tuvalu Islands		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
United States (other Pacific offshore islands) Palmyra Atoll	Cooper Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Aniwa Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Êfaté (Efete) Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Erromango Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Espirito Santo Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Hiou		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Malakula (Malekula) Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Mota Lava (Saddle) Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Pentecôte (Pentacost) Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanua Lava Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)		Ramon, Laurence/Sam, Chanel (2015) (p. 48)
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis and Futuna Islands		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Asia Asia	Asia (southern)		Ramon, Laurence/Sam, Chanel (2015) (p. 48)
Asia Asia	Asia (tropical)		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 230) "Tournefortia argentea L. f. in Hemsley's list."
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 230) "Tournefortia argentea L. f. in Hemsley's list."
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 230) "Tournefortia argentea L. f. in Hemsley's list."

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Indian Ocean islands Indian Ocean islands	Indian Ocean islands		Ramon, Laurence/Sam, Chanel (2015) (p. 48)
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka	Sri Lanka		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Caribbean Islands Caribbean Islands	Puerto Rico		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)

Comments:  Present in Hawaii (Alien plant invasions in native ecosystems in Hawaii, p. 200; p. 212); ". . . in Hawai'i naturalized and common in coastal areas of Kure, Midway, and Pearl and Hermes atolls, Lisianski, Laysan, French Frigate Shoals, and all of the main islands except Kaho'olawe (Manual of Flowering Plants of Hawaii, Wagner et al. 1999)." (Midway Atoll Vascular Plant Checklist, p. 36)

Used/recommended for various purposes in the Pacific Islands (Agroforestry Guides for Pacific Islands, pp. 49, 90, 163)

Native to certain Pacific Islands (Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Northern Mariana Islands, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Fiji, New Caledonia, Niue, Samoa, Tonga) (GRIN)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Heliotropium foertherianum, please let us know.