Miconia calvescens DC., Melastomataceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Threat only at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 14 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Merremia magnifica Triana

Common name(s): [more details]

English: bush currant, miconia, purple plague, velvetleaf

Habit:  tree

Description:  An evergreen tree up to 15 m tall, with large, attractive leaves dark green above and purple beneath. The leaves have three distinctive veins running from the base to the tip of the leaf. Flowers are sweet-scented, short-lived, white to pink in color. Fruits are dark purple, sweet, and attractive to birds.

"Tree 4-8 (-16) m, the young branchlets, inflorescences, bracts (externally), and hypanthia moderately but rather deciduously stellate-puberulous; young branchlets quadrisulcate but terete with age, with a faint interpetiolar line at the nodes.  Leaf blades oblong-elliptic, shortly blunt-acuminate at the apex, obtuse to rounded (occasionally cordulate) at the base, firm-membranaceous and obscurely undulate-serrulate, 17-30 (-40) cm long, 7-15 (-25) cm wide, 3-nerved (excluding the tenuous marginals) with the plane venules beneath laxly reticulate; petioles 3-6 cm long.  Panicle 20-30 (-50) cm long and multiflorous, with paired primary branches; flowers 5-merous and sessile, the oblong bracteoles 2-3 mm long and caducous.  Hypanthium 2-2.7 mm long; calyx tube 0.6-0.7 mm long, the broadly triangular interior lobes 0.1-0.3 mm long, the adnate external teeth not projecting.  Petals white and glabrous on the surfaces but sometimes sparsely gland-edged, (2.3-) 2.8-3.1 mm long, (1-) 1.4-1.9 mm wide, oblong-obovate.  Stamens slightly dimorphic; filaments (2.8-) 3.8-4.2 mm or (2.6-) 3.2-3.9 mm, glabrous or very sparsely glandular; thecae (2.2-) 3-3.1 mm or (1.9-) 2.6-2.8 mm long, oblong-subulate, 1-pored; connective not or slightly (to 0.4 mm) prolonged, bilobulate ventrally and tuberculate dorsally, usually beset with a few glands.  Stigma slightly expanded; style glabrous or sparsely glandular, slightly immersed in the ovary apex; ovary 3-celled and 1/2-2/3 inferior, the apex granulose or sparsely glandular" (Wurdak, 1980).

"Branchlets, these often sulcate, inflorescences and sometimes the 5 leaf nerves beneath more or less mealy-pubescent with minute stellate trichomes; petioles 2-6 cm long; leaves somewhat undulate or repand-denticulate, ovate or oblong elliptic, acute or acuminate, rounded or subcordate at base, to narrowed (rarely), in age glabrous or nearly, sometimes 4 dm long; flowers mostly congested at the ends of the spreading-ascending panicle branchlets; calyx about 3 mm long, nearly entire; petals 2-3 mm long; connective minutely bilobed anteriorly; style 5-7 mm long, the stigma subpeltate" (Macbride, 1941; p. 393).

Miconia calvescens in Tahiti.  Entire hillsides are covered except for the larger trees that Miconia cannot overtop.  When these eventually die, a monospecific stand of Miconia will result. Photo of Miconia calvescens in Tahiti by Jim Space.

 

Habitat/ecology:  Moist and wet forests from sea level to 5000 feet in Hawai‘i (1300 m in French Polynesia). Reproduces even in dense shade and eventually shades out all other plants except mature tall trees. "Miconia is considered by many natural area managers as Hawai‘i's most threatening weed.  Brought to Hawai‘i from Central America in the late 1950s as an ornamental, this highly invasive tree rapidly naturalized and spread.  Nearly all mesic and wet Hawaiian forests (>60 inches of rain per year) are potentially threatened if invasion is left unchecked.  Miconia tolerates shade and and forms dense stands with heavy shade that replace native species, alter habitats, and may contribute to soil erosion.  (Motooka et al., 2003).  In New Caledonia, "importé comme plante ornementale de Tahiti où il est maintenant considéré comme un fléau. Encore rare sur le Territoire; devient localement envahissant mais pourra probablement être éliminé" (MacKee, 1994; p. 100).

Propagation:  Seed. Trees produce thousands of tiny bird-dispersed fruits at maturity. Most long-range spread is by frugivorous birds. Can be spread by seeds carried on shoes, equipment, etc.  "A single mature plant can produce millions of seeds per year that are spread by birds or in soil on shoes, equipment, or the hooves of ungulates"  (Motooka et al., 2003).

Native range:  "Central and South America, where it occurs from about 18 degrees north to about 26 degrees south, and from lowlands to montane forests up to 1800 m in elevation" (Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; pp. 44-46).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island		? (year unknown)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 182) Voucher cited: Florence 7818
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1986) (voucher ID: BISH 544426) Taxon name on voucher: Miconia calvescens DC.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 76)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 182) Vouchers cited: BRY 25764, Fosberg & Stone 61311
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 493267) Taxon name on voucher: Miconia calvescens DC.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1988) (voucher ID: BISH 583633) Taxon name on voucher: Miconia calvescens DC.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1988) (voucher ID: BISH 583634) Taxon name on voucher: Miconia calvescens DC.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1988) (voucher ID: BISH 583635) Taxon name on voucher: Miconia calvescens DC.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1988) (voucher ID: BISH 583636) Taxon name on voucher: Miconia calvescens DC.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 903, 1884)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Conant, Patrick (1996) (pp. 1-2) Voucher cited: A. Bell sub D. Lawrence 7715 (BISH, PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 903, 1884) East Maui
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Conant, Patrick (1996) (pp. 1-2) Vouchers cited: P. Conant s.n. (BISH, 2 specimens)
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	introduced invasive cultivated	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 382) Only one location. Importé de Tahiti où il est maintenant considéré comme un fléau. Encore rare sur le Territoire; une seule localité.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 100) Voucher cited: Baudin 356 (NOU)

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	introduced invasive	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 44) Subject of an eradication program.
Colombia Colombia	Colombia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Ecuador (Mainland) Ecuador	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Guatemala Guatemala	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Panama Panama	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Perú Perú	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)

Comments:  On the State of Hawai‘i noxious weed list.

It has become established in northern Queensland, Australia, where an eradication effort is beginning (Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; pp. 44-46).

Miconia is the greatest invasive species problem in French Polynesia. It has become established in Hawai‘i, where it shows every indication of being just as bad. It is presently subject of an eradication effort in Hawai‘i. Other oceanic islands should be vigilant to keep this very dangerous pest out or to immediately eradicate it if discovered.

Reported to be naturalized in Jamaica and Sri Lanka (Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; pp. 44-46).

Subject of an eradication program in New Caledonia (Meyer & Jourdan, 2005).

Control: 

Physical:  "Smaller saplings are easy to grub out by hand" (Motooka et al., 2003).

Chemical:  "Sensitive to triclopyr ester in foliar applications (E. Tamura, HDOA), to cut surfaces and as basal bark treatments, and also to glyphosate applied to cut surfaces.  Thin line application of undiluted triclopyr ester effective" 

Biological:  "Biocontrol agents from Latin America are being evaluated for control of velvet tree.  A fungus (Colletotrichum gloesporioides  f. sp. miconiae) has been established on Hawaii and Maui, where it has caused leaf spotting and early leaf drop (Pat Conant, HDOA)" (Motooka et al., 2003).

Additional information on current biological control efforts in Hawai’i at at the University of Hawaii Botany Department website.

Additional information:  Information from the book "Weeds of Hawaii‘s Pastures and Natural Areas; An Identification and Management Guide" (Motooka et al., 2003). (PDF format).
Information on Miconia in Hawaii at the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk web site.
See also the fact sheet on Miconia calvescens on the web site of the Alien Plants Working Group, "Weeds Gone Wild".
Additional information at the Woody Plant Ecology web site.

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

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

References:

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1982. Voucher specimen #BISH 493267 (Florence, J. 2645).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1986. Voucher specimen #BISH 544426 (Florence, J. 7818).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1988. Voucher specimen #BISH 583633 (Gagné, B.H. 2402).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1988. Voucher specimen #BISH 583634 (Gagné, B.H. 2399).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1988. Voucher specimen #BISH 583635 (Gagné, B.H. 2400).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1988. Voucher specimen #BISH 583636 (Gagné, B.H. s.n.).

Chimera, Charles G./Medeiros, A. C./Loope, Lloyd L./Hobdy, Robert H. 2000. Status of management and control efforts for the invasive alien tree Miconia calvescens DC. (Melastomataceae) in Hana, East Maui. Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit, University of Hawai‘i. Technical Report 128.

Conant, Patrick. 1996. New Hawaiian pest plant records for 1995. In: Evenhuis, Neal L. and Miller, Scott, E., eds. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 1995. Part 2: Notes. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers. 46:1-2.

Cronk, Q. C. B./Fuller, J. L. 2001. Plant invaders. Earthscan Publications, Ltd., London. 241 pp.

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

Délégation à l'Environnement/Délégation à Recherche. 2001. Les plantes envahissantes en Polynésie Française. French Polynesia. 2 p. folder.

Fosberg, F. R. 1997. Preliminary checklist of the flowering plants and ferns of the Society Islands. Ed. by David R. Stoddart. U. Cal. Berkeley.

Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe. 1996. Conséquences des introductions d'espèces animales et végétales sur la biodiversité en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Rev. Ecol. (Terre Vie) 51:375-401.

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

Macbride, J. Francis. 1936. Flora of Peru. Field Museum of Natural History, Botanical Series, Vol. XIII. 1936-1971, 6 parts.

Medeiros, A. C./Loope, L. L./Conant, P./McElvaney, S. 1997. Status, ecology, and management of the invasive plant, Miconia calvescens DC (Melastomataceae) in the Hawaiian Islands. Bishop Mus. Occas. Pap.48: 23-36. .

Meyer, Jean-Yves/Florence, Jacques. 1996. Tahiti's native flora endangered by the invasion of Miconia calvescens DC. (Melastomataceae). Journal of Biogeography 23:775-781.

Meyer, Jean-Yves/Jourdan, Hervé. 2005. Little fire ant in Tahiti and Miconia in New Caledonia: French connection to tackle "new" invasions in South Pacific islands. Aliens 21:1,4.

Motooka, Philip/Castro, Luisa/Nelson, Duane/ Nagai, Guy/Ching, Lincoln. 2003. Weeds of Hawaii‘s Pastures and Natural Areas; An Identification and Management Guide. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa. 184 pp.

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.