Heterocentron subtriplinervium (Link & Otto) A.Braun & C.Bouche, Melastomataceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Threat only at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

English: pearl flower

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Erect, suffrutescent herbs or subshrubs; branches tetragonal, 1-2 m long. Leaves elliptic to ovate, 3-7 (-9.5) cm long, 1.4-4 cm wide, pinnately nerved, both surfaces sparsely to moderately appressed pubescent, apex acute to rarely obtuse or rounded, base of larger leaves acute to long-attenuate and decurrent on the petiole, petioles 4-15 (-21) mm long. Hypanthium 3-4 mm long in flower, sparsely covered with appressed or antrorsely spreading, barbellate hairs; calyx lobes 4-6 mm long in fruit, 2-3 mm wide at base, glabrous but tipped with a solitary hair; petals white, pink, or magenta, 6.5-8 mm long, 5.5-7 mm wide; anthers of larger stamens usually 3.5-4.5 mm long, connective prolonged 2.5-3 mm with an appendage 1.5-3 mm long, anthers of smaller stamens 2.5-3.5 mm long, connective prolonged ca. 0.25 mm. Fruiting hypanthium campanulate, 5-6 mm long, 4-6 mm wide, smooth to vaguely reticulate. Seeds ca. 0.5 mm long" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 909).

Habitat/ecology:  Wet sites in disturbed areas. Forms dense tangled understory growth.

Propagation:  "Prolific seeder, typical of melastomes. Birds spread seeds"  (Motooka et al., 2003).

Native range:  Southern Mexico and Guatemala.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		? (year unknown)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 909)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 909)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 909) Voucher cited: Topping s. n. (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 909)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Guatemala Guatemala	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)

Control: 

Chemical:  "Other melastomes are sensitive to hormone-type herbicides" (Motooka et al., 2003).

Additional information:  Information from the book "Weeds of Hawaii‘s Pastures and Natural Areas; An Identification and Management Guide" (Motooka et al., 2003). (PDF format).

Additional online information about Heterocentron subtriplinervium is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

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

References:

Motooka, Philip/Castro, Luisa/Nelson, Duane/ Nagai, Guy/Ching, Lincoln. 2003. Weeds of Hawaii‘s Pastures and Natural Areas; An Identification and Management Guide. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa. 184 pp.

Motooka, Philip/Ching, Lincoln/Nagai, Guy. 2002. Herbicidal Weed Control Methods for Pasture and Natural Areas of Hawaii. Cooperative Extension Service, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawai‘i. CTAHR free publication WC-8.

Neal, Marie C. 1965. In Gardens of Hawaii. Bernice P. Bishop Museum Special Publication 50, Bishop Museum Press. 924 pp.

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

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).