Melochia umbellata (Houtt.) Stapf, Malvaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 7 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Melochia indica Kurz; Visenia umbellata Houtt.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: gunpowder tree, melochia, tangkal bintenoo

Kwara‘ae: kasie bulu

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "Small trees or shrubs 2-15 m tall; young stems tomentose with stellate hairs. Leaves broadly ovate, 9-30 (-50) cm long, 3.8-15 (-27) cm long, stellate pubescent, margins irregularly crenate-serrate, base rounded to cordate, petioles 2.5-11 (-20) cm long, stipules ovate to suborbicular, 4-10 mm long, deciduous. Flowers in open corymbiform cymes, the ultimate divisions umbellate, peduncles 3-7 (-11) cm long, pedicels 1-3 mm long; calyx yellowish green to pinkish brown, the lobes deltate, 2-3.5 mm long, pubescent with stellate and also simple or forked hairs; petals pale pink to red, rarely yellow or orange-tinged, pale blue, purple, or violet, obovate to oblanceolate, 6-7 mm long; stamens of 2 lengths in different flowers, 4-5 mm long and 5.5-6.5 mm long; ovaries of 2 lengths in different flowers, 6-7 mm long and 4.5-5 mm long. Capsules green, brown, or purplish red, oblong, 8-10 mm long, incompletely septicidal, deeply grooved between carpels. Seeds brown, 2-3.5 mm long, winged" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1279).

Habitat/ecology:  This small, fast-growing, shrubby tree is often used to produce shade for young forest trees and coffee. It rapidly fills any available space after disturbance, displacing slower growing native species (Smith, 1985; p. 195).

Propagation:  Wind-dispersed seed.

Native range:  India and eastward to New Guinea, including Western Australia; also cultivated and 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
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1968) (voucher ID: BNM 1414) Taxon name on voucher: Melochia compacta Hochr.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1279)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Frohlich, Danielle/Lau, Alex (2012) (p. 48) Vouchers cited: A. Lau & D. Frohlich 2010021901 (BISH), G. Clarke, L.W. Cuddihy, L. Yoshida & C. Forn ESP 340 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1279)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1279)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank L. (2004) (pp. 17-18) West Maui. Vouchers cited: Oppenheimer, P. Bily & F. Duvall H50227 (BISH, PTBG), Crosby s.n. (BISH 70257)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1279) Voucher cited: Ewart III 7 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Frohlich, Danielle/Lau, Alex (2007) (p. 11) Voucher cited: M. Keir s.n. (BISH 695025)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Malakal (Ngemelachel) Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1970) (voucher ID: BNM 770) Taxon name on voucher: Melochia compacta Hochr.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Malakal (Ngemelachel) Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1967) (voucher ID: BNM 772) Taxon name on voucher: Melochia compacta Hochr.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Peleliu (Beliliou) Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1967) (voucher ID: BNM 773) Taxon name on voucher: Melochia compacta Hochr.
Papua New Guinea Bougainville Islands	Bougainville Island		Foreman, D. B. (1971) (p. 60)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands		Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 47) A common and characteristic shrub or small tree in old clearings, secondary forests, etc., at low and medium altitudes.
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	native	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 91)

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. (2013) Western Australia
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (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)
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)

Comments:  Fosberg et al. (1979; p. 168) list as native to Marianas and Caroline Islands.

Control: 

Chemical:  "Sensitive to 2,4-D and dicamba and probably to other hormone-type herbicides. HAVO staff report control with triclopyr amine at 10% of product in water applied to cut stumps (Chris Zimmer, HAVO). Sensitive to glyphosate" (Motooka et al., 2003).