Hemigraphis alternata (Burm.f.) T.Anderson, Acanthaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Low risk (based on second screen), score: 1 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Hemigraphis colorata (Blume) Hallier fil.; Ruellia alternata Burm. f.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: cemetery plant, metal leaf, metallic plant, purple waffle plant, red ivy, red-flame ivy

Marshallese: kinwoj, utilojan

Other: pouanili-ouindi

Samoan: suipi

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Creeping perennial herb, entirely purplish except the whitish (but purple-streaked) corollas; leaves bronzy-purple above, reddish-purple beneath, ovate, subcordate, serrate-crenate, 2-8 cm long, on petioles nearly as long as the blades; spikes erect, 2-3 cm long bracteate, bracts purple, crowded, 1 cm long, overlapping, calyx purple, lobes 5, narrow, less than 1 cm long; corolla 2 cm long; capsule slender; seeds 4-20"  (Stone, 1970; pp. 534-535).

Habitat/ecology:  Shade-tolerant species, capable of growing and invading beneath forest overstories.  In Fiji, "cultivated in settlements and villages and sparingly naturalized along trails from near sea level to perhaps 200 m elevation" (Smith, 1991; pp. 120-121).  In Niue, adventive "in several places on the Terraces on the west side, large mats being seen in disturbed, open forest"  (Sykes, 1970; p. 38).

Propagation:  Cuttings.

Native range:  Indonesia; cultivated and naturalized elsewhere in the tropics (GRIN). Used ornamentally as a ground cover.

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	Ta‘u Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 45)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		Whistler, W. A. (1990) Vouchers cited: Yuncker 9215, Whistler 1353
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1945) (p. 63) Voucher cited: Yuncker 9215 (BISH)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1939) (voucher ID: BISH 127558) Taxon name on voucher: Hemigraphis alternata (Burm.f.) T.Anderson
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1974) (voucher ID: BISH 417942) Taxon name on voucher: Hemigraphis alternata (Burm.f.) T.Anderson
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1990) (voucher ID: PTBG 10401) Taxon name on voucher: Hemigraphis alternata
American Samoa Swain's Island	Swain's Island	introduced cultivated	Whistler, W. A. (1983) (p. 7) Reported to be present by a reliable source.
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 35)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1959) (voucher ID: BISH 127557) Taxon name on voucher: Hemigraphis alternata (Burm.f.) T.Anderson
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Aitutaki Atoll	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 75)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 80)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 86)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 92)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 67)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Kapingamarangi Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 256)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced cultivated	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 64)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Mamanuthas Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (pp. 120-121) Sparingly naturalized.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ovalau Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (pp. 120-121) Voucher cited: Smith 7672 Sparingly naturalized.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ovalau Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1953) (voucher ID: BISH 127558) Taxon name on voucher: Hemigraphis alternata (Burm.f.) T.Anderson
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (pp. 120-121) Voucher cited: Bierhorst F127 Sparingly naturalized.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (pp. 120-121) Vouchers cited: Greenwood 983A, DA 12121, St. John 18920 Sparingly naturalized.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1938) (voucher ID: BISH 127562) Taxon name on voucher: Hemigraphis alternata (Burm.f.) T.Anderson
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced cultivated	St. John, Harold (1988) (p. 24) Voucher cited: Fosberg 11169 (BISH)
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Taravai Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: M.-H. Sachet 2182 (PAP) Cultivée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2004) (voucher ID: PTBG 42531) Taxon name on voucher: Hemigraphis alternata (Burm. f.) T. Anders
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 21) Voucher cited: H.M. Smith 127a
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1967) (voucher ID: BISH 127554) Taxon name on voucher: Hemigraphis colorata (Bl.) Hallier f.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1962) (voucher ID: BISH 127555) Taxon name on voucher: Hemigraphis colorata (Bl.) Hallier f.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 21) Voucher cited: Sachet & Maclet 2087
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 2600 (PAP) Devient subspontané.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves/Lavergne, Christophe (2004) (p. 336)
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 5646 (PAP) Naturalisée sur un talus.
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves/Lavergne, Christophe (2004) (p. 336)
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced cultivated	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (pp. 534-535) Voucher cited: G.E.S. 343
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 256)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (year unknown) (voucher ID: BISH 127573) Taxon name on voucher: Hemigraphis alternata (Burm.f.) T.Anderson
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 171)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Vander Velde, Nancy (2003) (p. 58)
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced cultivated	Thaman, R. R./Fosberg, F. R./Manner, H. I./Hassall, D. C. (1994) (p. 80)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced cultivated	Heine, Heino (1976) (p. 30) Vouchers cited: Barrau in MacKee 20022, MacKee 21756
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 38) Voucher cited: CHR 169941
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 5)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 5)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Yuncker, T. G. (1943) (p. 109) Voucher cited: Yuncker 9964 (BISH) "Occasional along roadsides and in waste areas".
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 11)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 256)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 16, 85)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1950) (voucher ID: BISH 420287) Taxon name on voucher: Hemigraphis alternata (Burm.f.) T.Anderson
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 16, 81)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim (2010) (p. 19) Voucher cited: Lorence 8183 (PTBG)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 19)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1998) (voucher ID: PTBG 28552) Taxon name on voucher: Hemigraphis alternata (Burm. f.) T. Anderson
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Malakal (Ngemelachel) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 16, 81)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 16, 81)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 7) Voucher: Flynn 6921 (PTBG, US, SAMOA)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves/Lavergne, Christophe (2004) (p. 336)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1972) (voucher ID: BISH 83898) Taxon name on voucher: Hemigraphis alternata (Burm.f.) T.Anderson
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2002) (voucher ID: PTBG 314) Taxon name on voucher: Hemigraphis alternata
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 7)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 5) Voucher cited: Buelow 202
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 7)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 1) Voucher cited: Soakai 728, Soakai 788, Soakai 828
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 7)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 1) Voucher cited: Soakai 1051
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis (‘Uvea) Island	introduced cultivated	Morat, Ph./Veillon, J.-M. (1985) Morat & Veillon, 1985, cited in Meyer, 2007
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis (‘Uvea) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1968) (voucher ID: BISH 36631) Taxon name on voucher: Hemigraphis alternata (Burm.f.) T.Anderson
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis and Futuna Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 5)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 48) Cultivated only

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced cultivated	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 115)
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island	introduced	Stoddart, D. R./Taylor, J. D., eds. (1971) (p. 158) Vouchers cited: Stoddart 811 (K, US), Wiehe 1615 (MAU), Rhyne 746 (US)
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Whistler, W. Arthur (1996) (pp. 25, 32)
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1995) (voucher ID: PTBG 37894) Taxon name on voucher: Hemigraphis alternata (Burm. f.) T. Anderson
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves/Lavergne, Christophe (2004) (p. 345)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Comments:  Will grow and reproduce under low light conditions.

A lot of it seen on the trail leading up the hill to Robert Louis Stevenson's grave, Samoa, apparently escaped from the gardens on the estate; naturalized elsewhere as well (Space & Flynn, 2002). Naturalized and spreading in Tonga (Space & Flynn, 2001).

Control:  If you know of control methods for Hemigraphis alternata, please let us know.