Odontonema tubaeforme (Bertol.) Kuntze, Acanthaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 11 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Justicia coccinea hort.; Justicia tubaeformis Bertol.; Odontonema strictum (Nees) O. Kuntze; Odontonema tubiforme (Bertol.) Kuntze; Thyrsacanthus strictus Nees

Common name(s): [more details]

English: fire spike

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).

"Shrub 1-2 m high; petioles short, 0.5-2 cm long; leaf blades ovate, attenuate, 7-12 x 4-11 cm; inflorescences  spicate, narrow, compact, many-flowered, 10-40 cm long, sometimes with 2 or 3 lateral spikes arising from the base; pedicels 2-7 mm long; calyx bright red, composed of 5 small, ovate, acute lobes 1-2 mm long; corolla bright red, the tube 20-30 mm long, gradually slightly swollen distally, the lobes 2-5 mm long; stamens included"  (Smith, 1991; p. 135).

"Grande herbacée à base ligneuse pérenne, dressée, pouvant atteindre 3 m de hauteur, reconnaissable à ses feuilles de couleur vert-foncé et ses longues inflorescences dressées portant des fleurs à long tube de couleur rouge-écarlate"  (Meyer, 2008; p. 37).

"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 broad rather than linear leaves easily distinguish it"  (Whistler, 2000; p. 334).

Can be distinguished from Odontonema tubaeforme by its slightly larger mauve to pinkish flowers  (Staples & Herbst, 2005; p. 88).

Habitat/ecology:  In Fiji, "cultivated from near sea level to about 250 m. elevation" (Smith, 1991; pp. 135-136).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Mexico to Panama (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Chile (offshore islands) Rapa Nui (Easter) Island	Rapa Nui (Easter) Island (Isla de Pasqua)	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2008) (pp. 37-38, 42) "Signalée « en cours de naturalisation à la CONAF » (Lefeuver et al., 2005 : page 46), nous l’avons vu formant des fourrés denses à la CONAF derrière la pépinière ainsi que dans le village de Hanga Roa" (Meyer, 2008; p. 38).
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	introduced invasive	McCormack, Gerald (2013)
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	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 89) "Potential invader"
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced invasive	McCormack, Gerald (2013)
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 Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Odontonema strictum (C.G. Nees) O. Kuntze. Voucher cited: J. Florence 8497 (PAP) Ornementale, tendant à se naturaliser.
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	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Odontonema strictum (C.G. Nees) O. Kuntze. Voucher cited: J. Florence 10496 (PAP) "Naturalisé le long de la rivière et localement en sous-bois sombre et humide".
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	Taha‘a Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Odontonema strictum (C. Nees) Kuntze. Voucher cited: J. Florence 10496 (PAP) Naturalisé le long de la rivière et localement en sous-bois sombre et humide.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 94) "Potential invader".
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	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Odontonema strictum (Nees) O. Ktze. Voucher cited: J. Florence 2586 (PAP) Ornementale commune.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves/Lavergne, Christophe (2004) (p. 337) As Odontonema strictum
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 Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Tubuai 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	O‘ahu Island		Bishop Museum (U.S.A. Hawaii. Honolulu.) (1980) (voucher ID: BISH 430817) Taxon name on voucher: Odontonema tubiforme (Bertol.) Kuntze
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		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
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	El Salvador (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	Hong Kong	introduced cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 254) As Odontonema strictum Kuntze. Ornamental.
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	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
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced cultivated	Meyer, Jean-Yves/Lavergne, Christophe (2004) (p. 348)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced cultivated	Meyer, Jean-Yves/Lavergne, Christophe (2004) (p. 348)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

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.

Control:  If you know of control methods for Odontonema tubaeforme, please let us know.