Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit., Lamiaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Reject, score: 11 (Go to the risk assessment).

Other Latin names:  Mesosphaerum pectinatum (L.) Kuntze; Nepeta pectinata L.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chamorro: mumutun ademelon, mumutun lahe, mumutun palaoan

English: comb bushmint, comb hyptis, mint weed, purple top, wild mint

Fijian: ndamoli, tamole ni veikau, tamoli ni papalagi, tamoli ni vavalangi, timothi ni vavalangi, wavuwavu

French: fausse menthe

Hindi: ban tulsia, ben tulsia

Maori (Cook Islands): miri tītā

Spanish: poleo

Yapese: pathpath

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Slender erect herbaceous subshrub with 4-angled puberulent stems; foliage aromatic if rubbed and crushed; leaves ovate or ovate-elliptic, cuneate to rounded (even subcordate) at base, acute or blunt at tip, puberulent or glabrescent dorsally, crenate-serrate, 2-9 cm long, 1-6 cm wide; flowers subsessile, white to pale violet, in cymules axillary to reduced leaves, subtended by linear pubescent bracts 1-3 mm long; calyx about 2 mm, enlarging in fruit to 4 mm; corolla 2.5 mm, lower lip darker; filaments somewhat pubescent; nutlets oblong, 1 mm long, black."  "Robust plants may reach up to 4 m tall" (Stone, 1970; p. 512).

Habitat/ecology:  In Hawai‘i, "naturalizes in low elevation, dry to mesic, disturbed habitats, especially along roadsides and in pastures and open fields, from sea level to 390 m" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 802).  In Fiji, "a vigorous and aggressive weed of agricultural, pastoral, and plantation lands, found in cultivated areas, wasteland, canefields, and coconut plantations, along roads, and on open hillsides"  (Smith, 1991; pp. 220-221). In New Guinea, "a weed of pastures, unpalatable to livestock and so able to increase under heavy grazing" (Henty & Pritchard, 1975; p. 104). In New Caledonia, "mauvaise herbe arrivée récemment et maintenant commune, surtout sur la côte Ouest" (MacKee, 1994; p. 68).

Propagation:  Seed, often by sticking in the fur of animals or transported by vehicles (Waterhouse, cited in Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; p. 169).

Native range:  Mexico and Caribbean to Peru; exact native range obscure; widely naturalized in the tropics (GRIN).

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 invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 45)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1993) (voucher ID: PTBG 41749) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 35)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Agrigan (Agrihan) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 240)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Agrigan (Agrihan) Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 39) Voucher cited: Fosberg 31594 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Alamagan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 240)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Alamagan Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 39) Vouchers cited: Falanruw 1907 (US), Fosberg 31718 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Alamagan Island	native	Ohba, T. (1994) (p. 62) Voucher cited: CBM-BS-58859
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Maug Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 240)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Maug Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 39) Voucher cited: Falanruw 2248 (US, BISH)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Maug Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1984) (voucher ID: BISH 666190) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 240)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 39) Voucher cited: Fosberg 31395 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1984) (voucher ID: BISH 635262) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1984) (voucher ID: BISH 1000033) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1981) (voucher ID: PTBG 23172) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1981) (voucher ID: PTBG 23173) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 240)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Denslow, Julie S./Nelson, Duane (2000) (p. 6) Voucher: BMW 5811 (BISH, BRI, GUAM)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1950) (voucher ID: BISH 655725) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1966) (voucher ID: BISH 655726) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (2000) (voucher ID: BISH 687695) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1966) (voucher ID: PTBG 23175) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Sarigan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 240)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Sarigan Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 39) Voucher cited: Evans 2345 (US, BISH, Fo, NY)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Sarigan Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1966) (voucher ID: BISH 655729) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island	introduced	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 59)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 594867) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Saipan	Saipan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 240)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Saipan	Saipan Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1950) (voucher ID: BISH 655727) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Saipan	Saipan Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1950) (voucher ID: PTBG 23174) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Aitutaki Atoll	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 7)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 7)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1991) (voucher ID: BISH 665101) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 7)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Miti‘aro Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Miti‘aro Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 7)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 7)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Floreana Group	Floreana Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Isabela Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008) Observed in survey, no herbarium record.
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Pinzón Group	Pinzón Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santiago Group	Santiago Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Koro Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (pp. 220-221) Voucher cited: Tothill 575
Fiji Fiji Islands	Lakemba Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (pp. 220-221) Voucher cited: Garnock-Jones 836
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ovalau Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (pp. 220-221) Voucher cited: DA 5686
Fiji Fiji Islands	Taveuni Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (pp. 220-221) Voucher cited: DA 5724
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (pp. 220-221) Voucher cited: DA 10508
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Mbalavu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (pp. 220-221) Voucher cited: Garnock-Jones 1013
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Mbalavu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1977) (voucher ID: BISH 421387) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (pp. 220-221) Vouchers cited: Greenwood 1015, DA 9512, DA 10944, DA 11035, Weiner 256, DA 3940, Simmonds 51, Smith 7227, DA 3363, DA 10581, Meebold 16788, St. John 18915
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1957) (voucher ID: BISH 34026) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1957) (voucher ID: BISH 34027) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1932) (voucher ID: BISH 150570) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1953) (voucher ID: BISH 150571) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1938) (voucher ID: BISH 150572) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1973) (voucher ID: BISH 448643) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 128) Vouchers cited: Whistler & Guerin 17, Florence 3339
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 3339 (PAP), W.A. Whistler & M. Guérin 17 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1981) (voucher ID: BISH 491112) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1981) (voucher ID: PTBG 37289) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 512)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 240)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (year unknown) (voucher ID: BISH 15061) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1963) (voucher ID: BISH 150603) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1918) (voucher ID: BISH 150617) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 436412) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 649514) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1966) (voucher ID: BISH 660043) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 1000197) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 802)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 802)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank (2007) (p. 25) Vouchers cited: Oppenheimer H100639 (BISH, PTBG), Oppenheimer H120649 (BISH, PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 802)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wysong, Michael/Hughes, Guy/Wood, K. R. (2007) (p. 5) Voucher cited: Wysong 498 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 802) Voucher cited: Wilder s.n. (BISH)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 381) Mauvaise herbe arrivée récemment et maintenant commune, surtout sur le côte Ouest.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 68) Vouchers cited: MacKee 2441, Denizot s.n. s.loc., MacKee 15181, MacKee 15302, Botton in Schmid 3346 (NOU), Cherrier in MacKee 35238, MacKee 40334, Cherrier in MacKee 40537, MacKee 40606
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Angaur (Ngeaur) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 240)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Angaur (Ngeaur) Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1978) (voucher ID: BNM 1235) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 13, 85)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1978) (voucher ID: BNM 10165) Taxon name on voucher: Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	introduced invasive	Henty, E. E./Pritchard, G. H. (1975) (p. 104) So far established only in a few lowland localities.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 7)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 20) Voucher cited: Whistler 2439
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 7)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Ha‘ano Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 10)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Lifuka and Foa Islands	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 10)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	‘Uiha Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 10)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 10)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 20) Voucher cited: Buelow 762
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 10)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 10)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 93)
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis (‘Uvea) Island	introduced invasive	Orapa, Warea (2005)

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)	Queensland	introduced invasive	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 169)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	El Salvador (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 189)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
French Territory of Mayotte Mayotte Islands	Mayotte Island	introduced invasive	Comité français de l'Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature en France (2013) Naturalisée, potentiellement envahissant.

Comments:  On Hawai‘i State noxious weed list. A noxious weed in Fiji. Very prevalent in Samoa (Space & Flynn, 2002) and becoming so in Tonga (Space & Flynn, 2001).

Control:  If you know of control methods for Hyptis pectinata, please let us know.