Lindernia crustacea (L.) F.Muell., Scrophulariaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Threat only at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

Palauan: ilemelakel

Samoan: fua lanumoana, lau tafifi

Tahitian: haehaa, mataura, moomai pere

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Perennial herbs; stems decumbent and usually rooting at the lower nodes, 1-2 dm long, many-branched, sometimes cespitose, puberulent to glabrate.  Leaves ovate to ovate-cordate, 0.5-1.5 cm long, 0.4-1.2 cm wide, upper surface glabrous, lower surface minutely puberulent, margins often dull purple, coarsely crenate-serrulate, petioles 1-6 mm long.  Flowers solitary in the leaf axils, pedicels 5-25 mm long; calyx 5-angled, cleft to about the middle, 2-4 mm long at anthesis, elongating up to 6 mm long in fruit; corolla pale blue or purplish, sometimes pale yellow toward base, 5-8 mm long, upper lip 2-lowed, lower lip 3-lobed, middle one slightly larger than lateral ones, the tube 4-7 mm long.  Capsules oblong-ovoid, 3.5-5 mm long.  Seeds pale brown, elliptic, 0.5 mm long, tuberculate" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1242).

Habitat/ecology:  In Hawai‘i, "naturalized in moist to wet, disturbed areas, especially along roadsides, 150-1,220 m" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1242).  In Fiji, "from near sea level to about 300 m, possibly indigenous, sometimes noted as moderately common, occurring on rocks, on banks of creeks, and near hot springs, but sometimes also in plantations" (Smith, 1991; pp. 81-83). In New Guinea, "a plant of wet places; in grassland, at swamp and stream edges, in forest clearings, and as a weed, particularly in plantations. It is not prominent until other weeds have been suppressed; on bare ground it may form dense turf if not disturbed. From low altitudes to 2500 m" (Henty & Pritchard, 1975; p. 147).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  "Tropical and subtropical Asia from India eastward into Australasia and Polynesia at least to the Society and Marquesas Islands, and also in tropical Africa and America.  Although Lindernia crustacea is generally noted as being pantropical in distribution, its presence in Pacific archipelagoes may have been due to inadvertent aboriginal introductions"  (Smith, 1991; pp. 81-83).

Fosberg et al., (1979; p. 249) list as native in Micronesia.

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	Ofu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1980) (p. 162)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Olosega Island		Whistler, W. A. (1980) (p. 162)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		Whistler, W. A. (1980) (p. 162)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Aunu‘u Island		Whistler, W. A. (1980) (p. 162)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Whistler, W. A. (1980) (p. 162)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Alamagan Island	native	Ohba, T. (1994) (p. 62) Voucher cited: CBM-BS-59212
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Anatahan Island	native	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 61)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Guguan Island	native	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 61)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Maug Island	native	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 61)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 249)
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. 40) Rare. Voucher cited: Moore 361 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island	native	Ohba, T. (1994) (p. 62) Voucher cited: CBM-BS-59047
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	native	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 61)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island	native	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 61)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Namoluk (Nómwunuuk) Atoll	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 249)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 249)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 249)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	native	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim (2005) (p. 20) Voucher cited: Lorence 9395
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 249)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Glassman, S. F. (1952) (p. 101)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 249)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ovalau Island	possibly native	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (pp. 81-83) Voucher cited: MacGillivray Oct. 1854
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	possibly native	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (pp. 81-83) Vouchers cited: Greenwood 252A, DA 5773, Greenwood 252B
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	possibly native	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (pp. 81-83) Vouchers cited: Greenwood 252, Billespie 3214, DA 16150, DA 11474
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Marquesas Islands	introduced invasive cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 267)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Bora Bora Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 267)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 267) Vouchers cited: BRY 25763, BRY 26494
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 267)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1242)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank L. (2003) (p. 25) West Maui. Voucher cited: Oppenheimer H80044 (BISH). All known plants destroyed.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1242) Voucher cited: Hosaka 1321 (BISH)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kili (Kõle) Atoll		Vander Velde, Nancy (year unknown)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Palau Islands (main island group)	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 249)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)		Henty, E. E./Pritchard, G. H. (1975) (p. 147)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 93)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	native	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 85)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Kao Island	introduced	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 241) Vouchers cited: Yuncker 15925, Yuncker 15930
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Tofua Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 73) Vouhcer cited: Buelow 443
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 93)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 73) Voucher cited: Buelow 1868
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Late Island	native	Sykes, W. R. (1981) (p. 351)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Late Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 73) Voucher cited: Buelow & Sykes 60
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Niuafo‘ou Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 73) Voucher cited: Buelow 2125
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Niuatoputapu Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 73) Vouchers cited: Hurlimann 393, Buelow 1130, Buelow 1420
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Tafahi Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 73) Voucher cited: Buelow 443
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 73) Vouhcers cited: Crosby 139, Buelow 1041
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 241) Cited: Crosby.

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)	Australia (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
China China	China (People's Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 216)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 66, 78)
Japan Japan	Japan (country)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
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)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	native	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 66, 78)
Taiwan Taiwan	Taiwan Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
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
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	native	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1993) (p. 19)

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

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

References:

Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. 1975. Vascular flora of the northern Marianas Islands. Smithsonian Contrib. Bot. 22:1-45.

Fosberg, F. R./Otobed, D./Sachet, M.-H./Oliver, R. L./Powell, D. A./Canfield, J. E. 1980. Vascular plants of Palau with vernacular names. Department of Botany, The Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 43 pp.

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

Glassman, S. F. 1952. The flora of Ponape. Bishop Mus. Bull. 209: 1-152.

Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. 1988. Flora of the Solomon Islands. Research Bulletin No. 7. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Honiara. 203 pp.

Henty, E. E./Pritchard, G. H. 1975. Weeds of New Guinea and their control. 2nd edition. Department of Forests, Division of Botany, Botany Bull. No. 7. Lae, Papua New Guinea. 180 pp.

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.

Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim. 2005. Checklist of the plants of Kosrae. Unpublished checklist. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Hawai‘i. 23 pp.

Ohba, T. 1994. Flora and vegetation of the northern Mariana Islands, Micronesia. Biological Expedition to the Northern Mariana Islands, Micronesia. In A. Asakua & T. Furuki, eds.  Natural History Research, Special issue no. 1, Chiba, Japan: Natural History Museum and Institute. pp. 13-69.

Oppenheimer, Hank L. 2003. New plant records from Maui and Hawai‘i Counties. In: Evenhuis, Neal L. and Eldredge, Lucius G., eds. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 2001-2002. Part 1: Articles. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers. 73:3-30.

Orchard, Anthony E., ed. 1993. Flora of Australia. Vol. 50, Oceanic islands 2. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.

Raulerson, L. 2006. Checklist of Plants of the Mariana Islands. University of Guam Herbarium Contribution 40:1-69. .

Smith, Albert C. 1991. Flora Vitiensis nova: a new flora of Fiji. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii. Volume 5. 626 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. 1981. The vegetation of Late, Tonga. Allertonia 2(6):323-353.

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

Vander Velde, Nancy. 0. Nancy Vander Velde, pers. com.

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).

Waterhouse, D. F. 1993. The major invertebrate pests and weeds of agriculture in Southeast Asia. The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra. 141 pp.

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. 1980. The vegetation of eastern Samoa. Allertonia 2:45-90.

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

Yuncker, T. G. 1945. Plants of the Manua Islands. Bishop Mus. Bull. 184. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 73 pp.

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