Leonurus japonicus Houtt., Lamiaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Reject, score: 9 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Leonurus artemisia (Lour.) S. Y. Hu; Leonurus heterophyllus Sweet; Leonurus sibiricus auct. pl.; Stachys artemisia Lour.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: yi mu cao

English: Chinese motherwort, honeyweed, motherwort

Maori (Cook Islands): vavai tara

Tuamotuan: titona

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Herbs annual or biennial. Taproots with dense, fibrous rootlets. Stems erect, 30-120 cm, retrorse strigose, nodes and angles densely strigose. Petiole of stem leaves 0.5-3 cm, narrowly winged at apex; lower stem leaf blades ovate, base broadly cuneate, 3-palmatipartite; lobes oblong-rhombic to ovate, 2.5-6 x 1.5-4 cm, pinnately divided, adaxially strigose, abaxially pilose, glandular; mid stem leaf blade rhombic, palmatipartite, lobes oblong-linear, base narrow cuneate. Verticillasters 8-15-flowered, 2-2.5 cm in diameter; floral leaves subsessile, linear to linear-lanceolate, 3-12 x 2-8 mm, entire or dentate; bracteoles spiny, shorter than calyx, ca. 5 mm, appressed puberulent. Flowers sessile. Calyx tubular-campanulate, 6-8 mm, appressed puberulent; teeth broadly triangular, 2-3 mm, apex spinescent. Corolla white or reddish to purplish red, 1-1.2 cm, villous; tube ca. 6 mm, inconspicuously scaly annulate inside; upper lip straight, concave, oblong, ca. 7 x 4 mm, margin entire, ciliate; lower lip slightly shorter, base sparsely scaly; middle lobe obcordate, base constricted, margin membranous, apex emarginate; lateral lobes ovate. Filaments sparsely scaly. Nutlets brownish, oblong, triquetrous, ca. 2.5 mm, base cuneate, apex truncate, smooth (Flora of China Online).

"In a recent note, Harley & Paton (2001)* pointed out that the name L. sibiricus, used for a widespread ruderal weed, must correctly be applied to a different species.  Although the Russian botanical literature noted this decades ago and took up the name L. japonicus, taxonomists elsewhere have continued to use L. sibiricus inappropriately.  The name L. sibiricus has been widely used in Hawaiian and Pacific botanical literature and the correction is here noted" (Staples et al., 2003).

*Harley, R. & A. Paton.   2001.  Leonurus japonicus Houtt. (Labiatae): the correct name for a common tropical weed.  Kew Bull.  56:243-244.

Habitat/ecology:  In China (native), "Sunny areas; 0-3400 m"  (Flora of China Online).  In Hawai‘i, "naturalized in relatively dry areas, especially pastures, 40-600 m elevation" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 803-804).  In Niue, "locally fairly common now in waste places in and near the villages"  (Sykes, 1970; p. 103). In Tonga, "occasional as a dooryard and waste-area weed" (Yuncker, 1959; p. 234). In New Caledonia, "répandu comme mauvaise herbe, surtout aux îles, mais rarement abondante" (MacKee, 1994; p. 68).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Temperate and tropical Asia, widely naturalized elsewhere (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Aitutaki Atoll	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 75)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Aitutaki Atoll		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1969) (voucher ID: BISH 81937) Taxon name on voucher: Leonurus sibiricus L.
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. 87) Voucher: Flynn 7041 (PTBG, BISH, US)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1928) (voucher ID: BISH 150646) Taxon name on voucher: Leonurus sibiricus L.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2002) (voucher ID: PTBG 365) Taxon name on voucher: Leonurus japonicus Houtt.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 92)
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. 98) Voucher: Flynn 7048 (PTBG)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Miti‘aro Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2002) (voucher ID: PTBG 370) Taxon name on voucher: Leonurus japonicus Houtt.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 150647) Taxon name on voucher: Leonurus sibiricus L.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 150648) Taxon name on voucher: Leonurus sibiricus L.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 128) Voucher cited: H.M. Smith 123
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1967) (voucher ID: BISH 150645) Taxon name on voucher: Leonurus sibiricus L.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 128) Voucher cited: Leland et al. 17
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1909) (voucher ID: BISH 150643) Taxon name on voucher: Leonurus sibiricus L.
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Niau Atoll	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 10195 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Niau Atoll		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1990) (voucher ID: BISH 642079) Taxon name on voucher: Leonurus sibiricus L.
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Takapoto Atoll	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rimatara (Rimitara) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 5559 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 553161) Taxon name on voucher: Leonurus sibiricus L.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 803-805)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 803-805)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 803-805)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wysong, Michael/Hughes, Guy/Wood, K. R. (2007) (p. 5) Voucher cited: Wysong 754 (BISH). The plants that were found were pulled.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 803-805) Voucher cited: Faurie 891 (BISH)
New Caledonia Îles Bélep (Belep Islands)	Île Pott	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 68) Voucher cited: Veillon 3748
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Lifou	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 68) Voucher cited: Sarasin 827 (Z), MacKee 5202
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Maré	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 68) Voucher cited: Sarasin 515 (Z)
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (p. 218)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 68) Vouchers cited: Grunow s.n. s.loc. (W), Schlechter 14898, Franc 1372 s.loc., Däniker 16 (Z), MacKee 11858
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1992) (voucher ID: BISH 654880) Taxon name on voucher: Leonurus sibiricus L.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 68) Voucher cited: Déméné in MacKee 19735
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 103) Vouchers cited: CHR 169932, CHR 169933
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1943) (p. 103) Voucher cited: Yuncker 9683 (BISH) "Occasional along roadsides and in waste areas".
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. Voucher specimen submitted for determination.) Voucher: BMW 7076 (BISH, CHR, BRI)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 241) As Leonurus sibiricus L.
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced invasive	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 412) Widely scattered in waste places in and about towns; certainly introduced.
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Ha‘ano Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1959) (voucher ID: BISH 41182) Taxon name on voucher: Leonurus sibiricus L.
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Ha‘ano Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2001) (voucher ID: PTBG 232) Taxon name on voucher: Leonurus japonicus
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Ha‘apai Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 38) Voucher cited: Soakai 308
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (p. 218)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 38) Vouchers cited: Lawrence 338, Soakai 398, Soakai 939 (EI)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 234) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15423
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1967) (voucher ID: BISH 22275) Taxon name on voucher: Leonurus sibiricus L.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1959) (voucher ID: BISH 41263) Taxon name on voucher: Leonurus sibiricus L.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1959) (voucher ID: BISH 41358) Taxon name on voucher: Leonurus sibiricus L.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1953) (voucher ID: BISH 150641) Taxon name on voucher: Leonurus sibiricus L.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1979) (voucher ID: BISH 618347) Taxon name on voucher: Leonurus sibiricus L.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 38) Vouchers cited: Lawrence 61, Soakai 166, Soakai 621
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 234) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15119
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1958) (voucher ID: BISH 41305) Taxon name on voucher: Leonurus sibiricus L.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1953) (voucher ID: BISH 150640) Taxon name on voucher: Leonurus sibiricus L.

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Sunny areas; 0-3400 m. Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang.
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 236) In wasteland, along roadside or near villages.
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979)
Japan Japan	Japan		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979)
North Korea North Korea	North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South Korea South Korea	South Korea (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Malaya
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 54) var. albiflorus (Migo) Y.C. Zhu, cultivated only
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Sunny areas; 0-3400 m.
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist 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
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Leonurus japonicus, please let us know.