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

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Capraria crustacea L.; Vandellia crustacea (L.) Benth.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: mu cao

Japanese: takasagoazena, urikusa

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 Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1945) (p. 62) Vouchers cited: Yuncker 9147 (BISH), Garber 600 (BISH), Garber 623 (BISH), W. Harris 324 (BISH)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1991) (voucher ID: PTBG 9505) Taxon name on voucher: Lindernia crustacea
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)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island	possibly introduced abo. intro.	Setchell, William Albert (1924) (p. 53)
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) Saipan	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	uncertain if native	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy (2010) (p. 24) Voucher cited: Lorence 9395 (PTBG)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1996) (voucher ID: PTBG 24873) Taxon name on voucher: Lindernia crustacea
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2005) (voucher ID: PTBG 44930) Taxon name on voucher: Lindernia crustacea
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 Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	possibly native	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 104) Vouchers cited: D.H. Lorence 8060 (PTBG, US), N.S. Tangalin 1196 (PTBG)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1997) (voucher ID: PTBG 28092) Taxon name on voucher: Lindernia crustacea (L.) F. Muell.
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	Fatu Hiva Island	native	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: D.H. Lorence, W.L. Wagner, J. Florence, Y. Séchan & S. Bishop 6162 (PAP), J. Florence, D.H. Lorence & W.L. Wagner 9512 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	native	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
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	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 10367 (PAP), J. Florence 10649 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 267)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 2733 (PAP), J. Florence 2837 (PAP), J. Florence 7861 (PAP), J. Florence 8118 (PAP), P. Birnbaum 110 (PAP), J.-M. Veillon & M. Guérin 148 (PAP), J. Florence & P. Birnbaum 9787 (PAP), J. Florence , C. Ollier & R. Tahauitu 11483 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Tubuai Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
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 (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	native	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. Field notes and voucher.) Voucher: Lorence 9842 (PTBG, BNM)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1970) (voucher ID: BNM 744) Taxon name on voucher: Lindernia crustacea (L.) F.V.M.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1981) (voucher ID: BNM 3145) Taxon name on voucher: Lindernia crustacea (L.) F.V. Muell.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2008) (voucher ID: PTBG 135) Taxon name on voucher: Lindernia crustacea (L.) F.Muell.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1950) (voucher ID: PTBG 22500) Taxon name on voucher: Lindernia crustacea
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Palau Islands (main island group)	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 249)
Papua New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago	Bismarck Archipelago		Peekel, P. G. [translated by E. E. Henty] (1984) (p. 502) Common everywhere; in gardens, plantations and Imperata grassland, in open places and lawns, at roadsides.
Papua New Guinea Bougainville Islands	Bougainville Island		Foreman, D. B. (1971) (p. 59)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	native	Henty, E. E./Pritchard, G. H. (1975) (p. 147) In New Guinea from low altitudes to 2500 m.
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands		Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (pp. 437-438) A common weed throughout the settled areas in open places, rice paddies, and disturbed soil generally, at low and medium altitudes.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1991) (voucher ID: PTBG 37233) Taxon name on voucher: Lindernia crustacea (L.) F.Muell.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1989) (voucher ID: PTBG 3929) Taxon name on voucher: Lindernia crustacea
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)	Queensland	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Moist areas, rice fields, grassland, trailsides; below 1300 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang.
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 246)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 66, 78)
Japan Japan	Japan	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku
Japan Ryukyu Islands	Ryukyu Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
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)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	native	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 66, 78)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	uncertain if introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 55) Weed of uncertain origin
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Moist areas, rice fields, grassland, trailsides; below 1300 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
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	native	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1993) (p. 19)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Lindernia crustacea, please let us know.