Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)

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Leonurus japonicus
Houtt., Lamiaceae
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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Threat only at high elevations?  no

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

Other Latin names:  Leonurus sibiricus L.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Chinese motherwort, honeyweed, motherwort, Siberian motherwort

Maori (Cook Islands): vavai tara

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Annual or short-lived perennial herbs; stems 4-angled and furrowed, 5-15 dm long, puberulent to glabrate.  Leaves variable, lower ones broadly ovate to deltate in outline, 5-11 cm long, 4-6.5 cm wide, deeply palmately lobed, upper leaves gradually reduced in size and with fewer and smaller lobes, those of the inflorescence linear, unlobed, both surfaces puberulent, petioles 2-4 cm long.  Flowers sessile, in dense verticillasters, bracteoles linear, up to ca. 7 mm long, spinose; calyx turbinate, 4-5 mm long, enlarging to 6-7 mm long in fruit, glabrous to sparsely puberulent, the teeth subulate; corolla white, pink or reddish, 10-15 mm long, puberulent, upper lobe obovate, pubescent on outer side.  Nutlets brown, ellipsoid, ca. 2 mm long"  (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 803-804).

Habitat/ecology:  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 Asia, now widely naturalized in the tropics and subtropics.

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 (2007)
Cook Islands
Southern Cook Islands
Mangaia Island introduced
invasive
Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 87)
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
Ma‘uke Island   McCormack, Gerald (2007)
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 (2007)
Cook Islands
Southern Cook Islands
Miti‘aro Island introduced
invasive
Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 98)
Cook Islands
Southern Cook Islands
Rarotonga Island   McCormack, Gerald (2007)
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   Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1909) (voucher ID: BISH 150643)
Taxon name on voucher: Leonurus sibiricus L.
French Polynesia
Tuamotu Archipelago
Niau Atoll   Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1990) (voucher ID: BISH 642079)
Taxon name on voucher: Leonurus sibiricus L.
French Polynesia
Tubuai (Austral) Islands
Rurutu Island   Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 553161)
Taxon name on voucher: Leonurus sibiricus L.
French Polynesia
Tubuai (Austral) Islands
Tubuai (Austral) Islands introduced
invasive
Smith, Albert C. (1991) (p. 218)
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
Wydong, 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.)
Specimen collected: BMW 7076 (BISH, CHR, BRI)
Palau
Palau (main island group)
Koror Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 241)
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‘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
Tonga Islands
Tonga Islands   Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 93)
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. (2007)
China
China
China (People's Republic of) native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala (Republic of)   Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (pp. 211-212)
Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia (Republic of)   Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (pp. 211-212)
Japan
Japan
Japan (country)   Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (pp. 211-212)
North Korea
North Korea
North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of) native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
South Korea
South Korea
South Korea (Republic of) native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Malaysia
Malaysia
Malaysia (country of) native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan Island   Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (pp. 211-212)
Thailand
Thailand
Thailand (Kingdom of) native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam (Socialist Republic of) native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
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) (pp. 211-212)

Additional information:  Additional online information about Leonurus japonicus is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

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

References:

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1909. Voucher specimen #BISH 150643 (B.Leland 17).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1928. Voucher specimen #BISH 150646 (Graham, J. 1).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1929. Voucher specimen #BISH 150647 (Wilder, G.P. 705).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1929. Voucher specimen #BISH 150648 (Parks, H.E. 22300).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1953. Voucher specimen #BISH 150640 (Yuncker, T.G. 15119).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1953. Voucher specimen #BISH 150641 (Yuncker, T.G. 15423).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1958. Voucher specimen #BISH 41305 (Lawrence, E. 61).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1959. Voucher specimen #BISH 41182 (Soakai, E. 308).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1959. Voucher specimen #BISH 41263 (Lawrence, E. 338).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1959. Voucher specimen #BISH 41358 (Soakai, E. 398).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1967. Voucher specimen #BISH 22275 (Bristol, M.L. 1901).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1967. Voucher specimen #BISH 150645 (Smith, H.M. 123).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1969. Voucher specimen #BISH 81937 (Stoddart, D.R. 2313).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1979. Voucher specimen #BISH 618347 (N.L.H.Krauss 1619).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1983. Voucher specimen #BISH 553161 (Florence, J. 5559).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1990. Voucher specimen #BISH 642079 (Florence 10195).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1992. Voucher specimen #BISH 654880 (Koyama, H. 8029).

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce. 1979. A geographical checklist of the Micronesian dicotyledonae. Micronesica 15:1-295.

Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. 1979. A geographical atlas of world weeds. John Wiley & Sons, New York. 391 pp.

MacKee, H. S. 1994. Catalogue des plantes introduites et cultivées en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 164 p.

McCormack, Gerald. 2007. Cook Islands biodiversity and natural heritage. On-line database.

Smith, Albert C. 1991. Flora Vitiensis nova: a new flora of Fiji. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii. Volume 5. 626 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2002. Report to the Government of the Cook Islands on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 146 pp.

Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate. 2004. Report to the Government of Niue and the United Nations Development Programme: Invasive plant species on Niue following Cyclone Heta. UNDP NIU/98/G31 - Niue Enabling Activity. 80 pp.

Swarbrick, John T. 1997. Weeds of the Pacific Islands. Technical paper no. 209. South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 124 pp.

Sykes, W. R. 1970. Contributions to the flora of Niue. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Bulletin 200, Wellington. 321 pp.

U. S. Government. 2006. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) (on-line resource).

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).

Welsh, S. L. 1998. Flora Societensis: A summary revision of the flowering plants of the Society Islands. E.P.S. Inc., Orem, Utah. 420 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 1988. Checklist of the weed flora of western Polynesia. Technical Paper No. 194, South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 69 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 1992. Flora of Tonga [unpublished checklist]. 107 pp.

Wydong, Michael/Hughes, Guy/Wood, K. R. 2007. New Hawaiian plant records for the island of Moloka‘i. In: Evenhuis, Neal L. and Eldredge, Lucias G., eds. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 2006. Part 2: Notes. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers 96:1-8.

Yuncker, T. G. 1943. The flora of Niue Island. Bishop Mus. Bull. 178. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 126 pp.

Yuncker, T. G. 1959. Plants of Tonga. Bishop Museum Bull. 220. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 343 pp.


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This page was created on 1 JAN 1999 and was last updated on 19 OCT 2006.