Odontonema tubaeforme (Bertol.) Kuntze, Acanthaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Threat only at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Low risk (based on second screen), score: 3 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Odontonema callistachyum (Schlechtendal & Chamisso) O. Kuntze, Odontonema cuspidatum (Nees) Kuntze, Odontonema strictum (Nees) O. Kuntze

Common name(s): [more details]

English: cardinal flower, fire spike, odontonema, red justicia

Samoan: totoe, totoe

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "Shrub or suffrutescent herb, up to 2 m tall, glabrous to puberulent; leaves elliptic, up to 25 x 10 cm, occasionally much larger on fast-growing shoots, acuminate at apex, base decurrent to a short petiole, puberulent beneath along midrib; inflorescence up to 15 (-30) cm long, narrow, rarely branched base, peduncle up to 15-20 cm, with or without 2 reduced leaves part way up, rachis and cymules puberulent, cymules very short, fasciculiform, peduncle 1-3 (-5) mm long, flowers 3 or more, congested, subtended by tiny triangular mucronulate bracts and similar but smaller bracteoles, calyx campanulate, 2-2.5 cm long, divided about half way into 5 subequal narrowly ovate acuminate lobes; corolla 25-25 mm long, red, tubular, tube slightly ampliate upward, scarcely bilabiate, 5 more or less similar short lobes spreading, ovate, rounded at apex, fertile stamens 2, anthers 2.5 mm long, included; style capillary, 13 mm long, glabrous, stigma minutely capitate; capsule stipitate, ellipsoid (none seen on cultivated specimens)" (Fosberg et al., 1993; pp. 33-34).

"Distinguishable by the opposite, attenuate leaves, dense terminal racemes bearing inconspicuous bracts, and red, tubular, five-lobed flowers.  Its tubular flowers are very similar to those of Russelia equisetiformis but its bread rather than linear leaves easily distinguish it"  (Whistler, 2000; p. 334).

Habitat/ecology:  Invasive in the understory of moist forests in American Samoa (Space & Flynn, 2000) and Samoa (Space & Flynn, 2002). Widely cultivated. In Fiji, "cultivated from near sea level to about 250 m. elevation" (Smith, 1991; pp. 135-136).

Propagation:  Primarily vegetatively, but occasionally by seed.  Specimens with mature fruit were collected by Lorence on Kauai, Hawai‘i (Lorence et al., 1995; p. 20).

Native range:  Mexico to Panama.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 36)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (pp. 11-12)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (pp. 11-12)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 127676) Taxon name on voucher: Odontonema tubiforme (Bertol.) Kuntze
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (pp. 135-136) Voucher cited: DA 16718, DA 16472
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1969) (voucher ID: BISH 33856) Taxon name on voucher: Odontonema tubiforme (Bertol.) Kuntze
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1969) (voucher ID: BISH 33857) Taxon name on voucher: Odontonema tubiforme (Bertol.) Kuntze
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 22) Vouchers cited: Moore 493, BRY 25371
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1927) (voucher ID: BISH 13992) Taxon name on voucher: Odontonema tubiforme (Bertol.) Kuntze
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1927) (voucher ID: BISH 13992) Taxon name on voucher: Odontonema tubiforme (Bertol.) Kuntze
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 22) Vouchers cited: Florence 2586, Fosberg 63580 (BISH)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1930) (voucher ID: BISH 17861) Taxon name on voucher: Odontonema tubiforme (Bertol.) Kuntze
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1955) (voucher ID: BISH 127677) Taxon name on voucher: Odontonema tubiforme (Bertol.) Kuntze
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 492741) Taxon name on voucher: Odontonema tubiforme (Bertol.) Kuntze
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1990) (voucher ID: BISH 642962) Taxon name on voucher: Odontonema tubiforme (Bertol.) Kuntze
French Polynesia Tubuai (Austral) Islands	Tubuai (Tupuai) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1934) (voucher ID: BISH 404129) Taxon name on voucher: Odontonema tubiforme (Bertol.) Kuntze
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced cultivated	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 535) Vouchers cited: G.E.S. 54, G.E.S. 308, G.E.S. 309
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 258)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 167)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Staples, George W./Imada, Clyde T./Herbst, Derral R. (2002) (p. 4) Vouchers cited: L.W. Cuddihy (ESP) 93 (BISH), D. Mueller-Dombois s.n. (BISH 573852), S. Ishikawa 208 (BISH), L.W. Cuddigy 2073 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 167, 1856)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy W./Wagner, Warren L. (1995) (p. 20) Vouchers cited: T. Flynn 1859 (BISH, PTBG), D. Lorence 7442 (PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank L./Bartlett, Randal T. (2002) (p. 2) East Maui. Vouchers cited: Flynn & Sidler 2577 (BISH), Oppenheimer H119920 (BISH), Oppenheimer H119923 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 167)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Frohlich, Danielle/Lau, Alex (2007) (p. 9) Voucher cited: D. Frohlich, A. Lau, F. & K. Starr 0608102 (BISH)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Vander Velde, Nancy (2003) (p. 59)
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced cultivated	Thaman, R. R./Fosberg, F. R./Manner, H. I./Hassall, D. C. (1994) (p. 81)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 9) Voucher cited: MacKee 15108
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 38) Single cultivated specimen; present status unknown. Voucher cited: CHR 166948
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 15)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 8)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 8)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1973) (voucher ID: BISH 417492) Taxon name on voucher: Odontonema tubiforme (Bertol.) Kuntze
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 54)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 67)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Costa Rica Costa Rica	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
El Salvador El Salvador	El Salvador (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Guatemala Guatemala	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Honduras Honduras	Honduras (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)
Nicaragua Nicaragua	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Panama Panama	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)

Comments:  Present in Tutuila Unit, National Park of Samoa (Space & Flynn, 2000).

A large area seen on the hillside behind the Robert Louis Stevenson house on Samoa, along the trail leading to his grave, as well as in the Alaoa area and elsewhere. A serious problem due to its ability to invade the understory (Space & Flynn, 2002).

Spreading slowly through vegetative reproduction on Tahiti.

Additional information:  Additional online information about Odontonema tubaeforme is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

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

References:

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1927. Voucher specimen #BISH 13992 (J.W.Moore 493).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1927. Voucher specimen #BISH 13992 (Moore, J.W. 493).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1929. Voucher specimen #BISH 127676 (Wilder, G.P. 859).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1930. Voucher specimen #BISH 17861 (Grant, M.L. 3850).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1934. Voucher specimen #BISH 404129 (Fosberg, F.R. 11842).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1955. Voucher specimen #BISH 127677 (Barrau, J. 462).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1969. Voucher specimen #BISH 33856 (Smith, A.C. 16742).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1969. Voucher specimen #BISH 33857 (Parham, J.W. 16718).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1973. Voucher specimen #BISH 417492 (Whistler, W.A. W 1051).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1982. Voucher specimen #BISH 492741 (Florence, J. 2586).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1990. Voucher specimen #BISH 642962 (Florence 10496).

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

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H./Oliver, R. L. 1993. Flora of Micronesia. Part 5. Bignoniaceae--Rubiaceae. Smithsonian Contrib. Bot. 81: 1-135.

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce. 1979. A geographical checklist of the Micronesian dicotyledonae. Micronesica 15:1-295.

Frohlich, Danielle/Lau, Alex. 2007. New plant records from O‘ahu for 2006. In: Evenhuis, Neal L. and Eldredge, Lucias G., eds. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 2006. Part 2: Notes. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers 96:8-13.

Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy W./Wagner, Warren L. 1995. Contributions to the flora of Hawai‘i. III. New additions, range extensions, and rediscoveries of flowering plants. In: Evenhuis, Neal L. and Miller, Scott, E., eds. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 1994. Part 1: Articles. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers. 41:19-58.

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

Oppenheimer, Hank L./Bartlett, Randal T. 2002. New plant records from the main Hawaiian Islands. In: Evenhuis, Neal L. and Eldredge, Lucius G., eds. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 2000. Part 2: Notes. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers. 69:1-14.

Smith, Albert C. 1991. Flora Vitiensis nova: a new flora of Fiji. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii. Volume 5. 626 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2000. Observations on invasive plant species in American Samoa.  USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 51 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2001. Report to the Kingdom of Tonga on invasive plant species of environmental concern.  USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 78 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2002. Report to the Government of the Cook Islands on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 146 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2002. Report to the Government of Samoa on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 83 pp.

Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate. 2004. Report to the Government of Niue and the United Nations Development Programme: Invasive plant species on Niue following Cyclone Heta. UNDP NIU/98/G31 - Niue Enabling Activity. 80 pp.

Staples, George W./Imada, Clyde T./Herbst, Derral R. 2002. New Hawaiian plant records for 2000. In: Evenhuis, Neal L. and Eldredge, Lucius G., eds. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 2000. Part 1: Articles. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers. 68:3-18.

Stone, Benjamin C. 1970. The flora of Guam. Micronesica 6:1-659.

Sykes, W. R. 1970. Contributions to the flora of Niue. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Bulletin 200, Wellington. 321 pp.

Thaman, R. R./Fosberg, F. R./Manner, H. I./Hassall, D. C. 1994. The flora of Nauru. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. Atoll Research Bulletin 392:1-223.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2007. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

Vander Velde, Nancy. 2003. The vascular plants of Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. Smithsonian Institution, Atoll Research Bulletin No. 503:1-141.

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.

Whistler, W. A. 2000. Tropical ornamentals: a guide. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon. 542 pp.