Mimosa diplotricha C. Wright ex Sauvalle, Fabaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results: 

Reject, score: 16 (Go to the risk assessment (Australia))
High risk, score: 24 (Go to the risk assessment (Pacific))

Other Latin names:  Mimosa invisa Mart., nom. illeg.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: ba xi han xiu cao

English: giant sensitive plant, nila grass

Fijian: co gadrogadro, wa ngandrongandro levu, wa ngandrongandro ni wa ngalelevu, wagadrogadro levu

Filipino: makahiang lalake

French: grande sensitive, sensitive géante

Japanese: gingokwan

Kwara‘ae: kwalo fai

Maori (Cook Islands): pikika‘a papa‘ā

Other: singbiguin sasa

Palauan: mechiuaiu

Pohnpeian: kehsapahl, limeirkelik, limemeirlap

Samoan: vao fefe pālagi, vao fefe pālagi

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "An erect, climbing, ascending or prostrate biennial or perennial shrub that often forms a dense thicket, the root system strong, often woody at the decumbent base; stems conspicuously angular throughout the length, up to 2 m tall with many randomly scattered recurved spines or thorns 3 to 6 mm long; leaves bipinnate, 10-20 cm long, moderately sensitive to the touch; pinnae four to nine pairs; leaflets 12-30 pairs, sessile, opposite, lanceolate, acute, 6-12 mm long, 1.5 mm wide; inflorescence a head, one to three in the axils of leaves, on stalks 1 cm long, hairy, about 12 mm in diameter; corolla united at least at the base (gamopetalous), pale pink; stamens twice as many as the petals; fruit a pod, spiny, three- to four-seeded, borne in clusters, linear, flat, 10-35 mm long, splitting transversely into one-seeded sections which separate at grooves or seams (sutures); seeds flat, ovate, 2 to 2.5 mm long, light brown.  It may be distinguished by its angular stems with recurved thorns or spines and by its stamens which are twice the number of the petals"  (Holm et al., 1977; p. 328). Can be easily distinguished from M. pudica, as M. [diplotricha] is larger and is only slightly sensitive to touch. "A spineless form is occasionally found, but is suspected of reverting to the spiny form"  (Swarbrick, 1997; p. 17).

Habitat/ecology:  "A major weed in pastures, plantations and roadsides and can also be serious in crops.  It grows best where fertility, soil and air humidity and light are all high and dies away in prolonged dry seasons"  (Swarbrick, 1997; p. 17). "When the plant dies and dries up it is a serious fire hazard" (Holm et al., 1977; p. 331).

Forms a dense ground cover and thickets, preventing reproduction of other species.  A wildland fire hazard when dry.  Prickly nature makes travel difficult. In Fiji, "forming dense, tangled masses up to 1.5 m high in cultivated fields and pastures and on plantations"  (Smith, 1985; pp. 62-63). In New Guinea, "a weed of roadsides, pastures and coconut plantations, but also useful as a cover crop" (Henty & Pritchard, 1975; p. 118). In New Caledonia, "elle s'est en effet montrée envahissante, formant souvent en bord de route et parfois dans les pâturages des fourrés difficilement pénétrables à cause des longues tiges épineuses enchevêtrées" (MacKee, 1994; p. 78). "La Chambre d'Agriculture l'introduisit malgré l'avis contraire d'un "practicien consommé" (L. Devillers). "Elle s'est en effet montrée envahissante, formant souvent en bord de route et parfois dans les pâturages des fourrés difficilement pénétrables" (Gargominy et al., 1996; p. 381).

Propagation:  "Seed pods float and are spread by water.  Pods are also spread when attached to fur, clothing and mud on vehicles."  (Smith, 2002; pp. 34-35). Many seed have delayed germination (Henty & Pritchard, 1975; p. 118). "Very young seedlings a few weeks old can produce viable seeds and some will germinate immediately.  Some seeds, however, remain in the soil for years before germinating" (Holm et al., 1977; p. 328).

Native range:  Brazil.

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	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (pp. 5, 13) Voucher: Flynn 6591 (PTBG)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ofu Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1999) (voucher ID: PTBG 265) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa diplotricha var. diplotricha
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 5)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1992) (voucher ID: PTBG 43860) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa diplotricha var. diplotricha
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Northern Mariana Islands	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 102)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island		Stone, Benjamin C. (1970)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 93)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Denslow, Julie S./Nelson, Duane (2000) (p. 5) Voucher: BMW 5808 (BISH, BRI)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1950) (voucher ID: BISH 155076) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa invisa
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 593288) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa invisa
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 593371) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa invisa
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (2000) (voucher ID: BISH 687697) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa diplotricha L.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 93)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Falanruw, Marjorie (1999) (p. Field notes.)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1950) (voucher ID: BISH 155077) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa invisa
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1968) (voucher ID: BISH 660425) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa invisa
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1968) (voucher ID: PTBG 22719) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa diplotricha var. diplotricha
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Falanruw, Marjorie (1999) (p. Field notes.)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island	introduced	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 34)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 593605) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa invisa
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Aitutaki Atoll		McCormack, Gerald (2011)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Aitutaki Atoll	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 8)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy (2010) (p. 17) Invasive
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced	Josekutty, P. C./Wakuk, E. E./Joseph, M. J. (2002) (p. 64) Not located in this survey.
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 90)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Falanruw, Marjorie (1999) (p. Field notes.)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced invasive	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 94) Vouchers cited: A. Dores 159 (BISH, NY, PTBG), F.R. Fosberg 58527 (PTBG), N.H.L. Krauss 1891 a (BISH), A. Raynor 134 (NY, PTBG) Invasive
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1987) (voucher ID: BISH 511173) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa invisa
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1978) (voucher ID: BISH 660314) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa invisa
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1978) (voucher ID: PTBG 23969) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa diplotricha C. Wright ex Suavalle var. var. diplotricha
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2001) (voucher ID: PTBG 42748) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa diplotricha var. diplotricha
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 93)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 90)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Falanruw, Marjorie (1999) (p. Field notes.)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Taveuni Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 62-53) Voucher cited: DA 8945
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 62-53) Vouchers cited: DA 9720, Greenwood 838A, DA 4044, DA L.15628, Greenwood 838, DA 4045 (var. invisa); DA 9563 (var. inermis)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1955) (voucher ID: BISH 14448) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa invisa
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1955) (voucher ID: BISH 14449) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa invisa
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1944) (voucher ID: BISH 155107) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa invisa
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 155) Voucher cited: Fosberg & Florence 62639
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) var. inermis (A.G. Adelbert) B. Verdcourt. Voucher cited: J. Florence , C. Ollier & R. Tahauitu 11485 (PAP), J. Florence 3106 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 493042) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa invisa
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1992) (voucher ID: BISH 643434) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa invisa
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1985) (voucher ID: BISH 660315) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa invisa
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1981) (voucher ID: PTBG 37296) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa diplotricha C. Wright ex Suavalle var. var. diplotricha
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 95)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive	Space, Jim (2004) Subject to eradication. Present status unknown.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 34)
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 99) "Secondary"
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	introduced invasive cultivated	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 381)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (pp. 78-79) Vouchers cited: MacDaniels 2278, Blanchon 788, MacKee 12503, MacKee 38154, Baumann & Guillaumin 10531; var. inermis Adelbert.; voucher cited: MacKee 38930
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1980) (voucher ID: BISH 664394) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa invisa
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 5) Voucher: Flynn 6683 (PTBG, NIUE)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 8) Subject of an eradication program.
Niue Niue	Niue Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2000) (voucher ID: PTBG 30184) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa diplotricha C. Wright ex Suavalle var. var. diplotricha
Palau Palau (main island group)	Angaur Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 10, 88)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 93)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 10, 85)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim (2010) (p. 29) Voucher cited: Lorence 8206 (PTBG)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 12) Voucher: Lorence 9814 (PTBG)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1996) (voucher ID: BISH 649687) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa invisa
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1996) (voucher ID: BISH 689748) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa invisa
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2008) (voucher ID: PTBG 107) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa diplotricha var. diplotricha
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1998) (voucher ID: PTBG 28067) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa diplotricha C. Wright ex Suavalle var. var. diplotricha
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 10, 81)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1950) (voucher ID: BISH 155074) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa invisa
Palau Palau (main island group)	Malakal Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 10, 81)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Malakal Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 12)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 10, 81)
Papua New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago	Bismarck Archipelago	introduced invasive	Peekel, P. G. [translated by E. E. Henty] (1984) (p. 209) Seen in grassland at Kavieng, inland from the Catholic mission.
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	introduced invasive	Henty, E. E./Pritchard, G. H. (1975) (p. 118) Established in many localities, but rather slow to spread.
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	introduced invasive	Smith, Nicholas M. (2002)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1994) (p. 137)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 7)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 26) Voucher cited: Parham 9010
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 7)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1972) (voucher ID: BISH 83872) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa invisa
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced invasive	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 92)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced invasive	Shine, C./Reaser, J. K./Gutierrez, A. T., eds. (2003) (p. 165) Dominant invader.
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Shine, C./Reaser, J. K./Gutierrez, A. T., eds. (2003) (p. 179)
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Futuna Island	introduced invasive	Orapa, Warea (2005) Subject of an eradication program.
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Futuna Island	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves/Jourdan, Hervé/Malau, Atoloto (2008) (p. 9)
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis (‘Uvea) Island	introduced invasive	Orapa, Warea (2005)
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis (‘Uvea) Island	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2007) (pp. 11, 35) Cette espèce extrêmement envahissante en zone ouverte, notamment en bordure de routes et dans les pâturages.
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis (‘Uvea) Island	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves/Jourdan, Hervé/Malau, Atoloto (2008) (p. 9)

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	Smith, Nicholas M. (2002) (pp. 34-35)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive	Australian Biological Resources Study (2011)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 67, 78)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced invasive cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2011) "Cultivated or naturalized in Guangdong, Hainan, and Yunnan".
China China	Hong Kong	introduced invasive	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 132) Noxious weed.
Colombia Colombia	Colombia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Costa Rica Costa Rica	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Ecuador (Mainland) Ecuador	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
El Salvador El Salvador	El Salvador (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Guatemala Guatemala	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Honduras Honduras	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1994) (p. 137)
Indonesia Indonesia	West Papua Province (Indonesia) (western New Guinea Island) (formerly Irian Jaya)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1994) (p. 137)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	introduced invasive	Pallawatta, Nirmalie/Reaser, Jamie K./Gutierrez, Alixis T./eds. (2003) (p. 50)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Panama Panama	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Perú Perú	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 67, 78)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 61) Naturalised
Taiwan Taiwan	Taiwan Island	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. (1977) (pp. 330-331)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1994) (p. 137)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1994) (p. 137)

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	introduced invasive	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 120)
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. Arthur (1996) (p. 28) As Mimosa invisa Mart. ex Colla but probably this species.
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1995) (voucher ID: PTBG 37911) Taxon name on voucher: Mimosa invisa Mart. Ex Colla [likely Mimosa diplotricha C. Wright]
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
French Territory of Mayotte Mayotte Islands	Mayotte Island	introduced invasive	Comité français de l'Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature en France (2010)

Comments:  A very invasive species wherever introduced. On U.S. and State of Hawai‘i noxious weed lists; a declared noxious weed in Fiji and Australia (Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia) (Smith, 2002; pp. 34-35).

Reported to be present on Kosrae but not seen there.

Several small patches present on Guam and subject to an eradication program.

Recently introduced to Niue. Subject of an eradication program (see Niue report).

Control: 

Physical: Hand control is difficult due to spines. "Controlled by chipping or cultivation. Only temporarily suppressed by slashing" (Swarbrick, 1997; pp. 27-28).

Chemical: "Not susceptible to: 1) soil fumigants and short-term residual herbicides, although temporarily controlled with atrazine, diuron and hexazinone at standard to high rates. Susceptible to: Translocated herbicides including sodium arsenite, 2,4-D plus atrazine, fluroxypyr and probably glyphosate at standard rates". (Swarbrick, 1997; pp. 27-28).

"Tryclopyr (Garlon 4) and glyphosate (Roundup) can be used"  (Englberger, 2009; p. 18).

Biological:  Heteropsylla spinulosa has given good control of the weed in Australian pastures, but has proved ineffective in other crop situations (Swarbrick, 1997; pp. 27-28).  "Biological control with Heteropsylla spinulosa has given good results in Pohnpei"  (Englberger, 2009; p. 18).

Biological control agents were reportedly introduced to Yap and Palau, but it is not known if they have become established. If present, they seem to be having little effect.

"Detailed studies have been made on two Hemiptera (Heteropsylla spinulosa and Scamurius sp.) and a moth (Psigida walkeri).  H. spinulosa has caused extensive damage following its establishment in Australia and promising early results in Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Pohnpei, but disappointing results in Western Samoa.  Ten months after release at Palikir, Pohnpei, H. spinulosa became abundant on M. [diplotricha] and subsequently killed many plants. Many psyllids were transferred to M. [diplotricha] in other areas" (Waterhouse, 1994; pp. 137, 140).

See also Julien (1992; p. 73), Waterhouse and Norris (1987; p. 454) and Waterhouse (1994; pp. 136-145) for lists of natural enemies and summaries of attempts at biological control.

Additional information:
Fact sheet from the Government of Queensland, Australia. (PDF format)
Fact sheet from Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service.
Information from the Global Invasive Species Database.

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

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

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

References:

Australian Biological Resources Study. 2011. Flora of Australia Online. Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra.

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1944. Voucher specimen #BISH 155107 (Donald, D.A. 838A).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1950. Voucher specimen #BISH 155074 (Fosberg, F.R. 32503).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1950. Voucher specimen #BISH 155076 (Fosberg, F.R. 31916).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1950. Voucher specimen #BISH 155077 (Fosberg, F.R. 31289).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1955. Voucher specimen #BISH 14448 (Koroivaibau, D. 9720).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1955. Voucher specimen #BISH 14449 (Walker, C. 9563).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1968. Voucher specimen #BISH 660425 (Fosberg, F.R. 50534).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1972. Voucher specimen #BISH 83872 (Whistler, W.A. W 276).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1978. Voucher specimen #BISH 660314 (Fosberg, F.R. 58527).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1980. Voucher specimen #BISH 664394 (Mackee, H.S. 38154).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1982. Voucher specimen #BISH 493042 (Florence, J. 3106).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1982. Voucher specimen #BISH 593288 (Herbst, D.R. 6719).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1982. Voucher specimen #BISH 593371 (Herbst, D.R. 6735).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1982. Voucher specimen #BISH 593605 (Herbst, D.R. 6856).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1985. Voucher specimen #BISH 660315 (Fosberg, F.R. 64550).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1987. Voucher specimen #BISH 511173 (Krauss, N. 1891a).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1992. Voucher specimen #BISH 643434 (Florence 11485).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1996. Voucher specimen #BISH 649687 (Rinehart, A.F. LR26197).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1996. Voucher specimen #BISH 689748 (Singeo, Y. LR 26?602).

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