Ludwigia peruviana (L.) H. Hara, Onagraceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Reject, score: 10 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Jussiaea grandiflora L.; Jussiaea peruviana L.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: ludwigia, Peruvian primrose, Peruvian primrosebush, water primrose

Habit:  herb

Description:  "A hemispherical perennial wetland shrub to 3 m high, reproducing by seed and, possibly, by suckers. Stems dark green or brownish green, much branched, hairy when young. Leaves alternate, rarely opposite, ovate, 5 to 10 cm long, 1 to 3 cm wide, hairy. Flowers yellow, bisexual, 2 to 4 cm diameter, solitary in leaf axils on stalks as long as leaves; sepals 4, pale green, 8 to 12 mm long; petals 4, occasionally 5, 1 to 3 cm long and wide. Fruit an erect capsule. Seed light brown, subglobular, 0.6 to 0.8 mm long, numerous. Root: A woody taproot with laterals close to the surface" (Parsons & Cuthbertson, 1992; pp. 525-526).

"The seed pod of L. peruviana is short and stout copared to the elongated pod of L. octovalvis" (Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; p. 177).

Similar species:  Ludwigia longifolia.

Habitat/ecology:  Forms dense, monotypic stands on shallow, still or slowly flowing streams, marshy areas, and streambanks.

Propagation:  Seeds, dispersed by water movement and ducks (Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; p. 177).

Native range:  Tropical South America.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 210) Vouchers cited: Fosberg 65000, Florence 28882
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1985) (voucher ID: BISH 606168) Taxon name on voucher: Ludwigia peruviana (L.) H.Hara

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)	New South Wales	introduced invasive	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 177)
Colombia Colombia	Colombia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Costa Rica Costa Rica	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Ecuador (Mainland) Ecuador	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
El Salvador El Salvador	El Salvador (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Guatemala Guatemala	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Honduras Honduras	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 177)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Nicaragua Nicaragua	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Panama Panama	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Perú Perú	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)

Comments:  Naturalized in Asia, Indonesia, India and North America. A weed in the Dominican Republic (Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; p. 177).

Additional information:
Photos and additional information at University of Florida, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants (see thumbnail above).
Information from the Global Invasive Species Database.

Additional online information about Ludwigia peruviana is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Ludwigia peruviana as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

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

Other Latin names:  Jussiaea grandiflora L.; Jussiaea peruviana L.

References:

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1985. Voucher specimen #BISH 606168 (Fosberg, F.R. 65000).

Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. 1998. Potential environmental weeds in Australia: Candidate species for preventative control. Canberra, Australia. Biodiversity Group, Environment Australia. 208 pp.

Parsons, W. T./Cuthbertson, E. G. 1992. Noxious weeds of Australia. Inkata Press, Melbourne/Sydney. 692 pp.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2009. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

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.