Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.) Backer ex K.Heyne, Fabaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Threat only at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Low risk, score: -4 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Baryxylum inerme (Roxb.) Pierre, Peltophorum ferrugineum (Decne.) Benth., Peltophorum inerme (Roxb.) Náves ex Fern.-Vill.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chuukese: nara

English: copperpod, golden flamboyant, yellow flamboyant, yellow flame tree, yellow poinciana

Habit:  tree

Description:  "A tree 8-15 m high, with a spreading crown... The leaves have 4-15 pairs of pinnae, each with 8-20 pairs of leaflets 8-30 x 3.5-10 mm and rounded or emarginate at apex. The fragrant flowers have canary-yellow petals 1-2 cm long, with frilly margins; the reddish brown fruit is 5-11.5 cm long and 2-2.7 cm broad, the valves at length splitting lengthwise through the middle." (Smith, 1985; p. 89).

Habitat/ecology:  In Hawai‘i, "P. pterocarpum appears to be in the early stages of naturalization in Nahiku on the road to Hana, Maui" (Starr, pers. com.). In Fiji, cultivated near sea level (Smith, 1985; p. 89). In New Caledonia, "souvent planté, surtout à Nouméa" (MacKee, 1994; p. 75).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Southeastern Asia through Malesia to northern Australia, widely cultivated in tropical areas" (Smith, 1985; p. 89). Naturalized in the tropics (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 Chuuk Islands	Chuuk Islands	cultivated	Space, Jim (2004) Observed by Space et al., in 2000.
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 101)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim (1998) (p. 22) ?
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	cultivated	Space, Jim (2004) Observed by Space et al., in 2000.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 89) Vouchers cited: Damanu 33, DA 1559, DA 12241, DA 12061, DA 16777
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 157) Voucher cited: BRY 25414
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 157) Voucher cited: BRY 25729
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced cultivated	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 315) Voucher cited: Stone 4292 (GUAM)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 101)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Starr, Forest/Starr, Kim (year unknown) E. Maui. "Spreading along Hana highway near mile marker 26". Voucher cited: Starr & Martz 980827-126 (BISH)
Kiribati Line Islands	Tabuaeran (Fanning) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Wester, Lyndon (1985) (p. 24) Single tree.
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced cultivated	Thaman, R. R./Fosberg, F. R./Manner, H. I./Hassall, D. C. (1994) (pp. 150-151)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 75) Vouchers cited: Metzger 78, Gay in MacKee 18386, Cherrier in MacKee 38489
Palau Palau (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 101)
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. (2007)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	Australian Biological Resources Study (2007)

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)	Northern Territory	native	Australian Biological Resources Study (2007)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced cultivated	Australian Biological Resources Study (2007) "Cultivated but not naturalised".
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	Australian Biological Resources Study (2007)
Taiwan Taiwan	Taiwan Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)

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	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
India (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Andaman Islands	Andaman Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
India (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Nicobar Islands	Nicobar Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
Maldives Maldive Islands	Maldive Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)

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)	United States (other states)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)

Comments:  Planted as an ornamental tree. Some naturalizing reported in Hawai‘i (Starr, pers. com.).

Additional information:  Information from the World Agroforestry Centre's AgroForestryTree Database.

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

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

References:

Australian Biological Resources Study. 2007. Flora of Australia Online. Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra.

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

ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre. 2005. International Legume Database & Information Service. Online searchable database.

Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim. 1998. Checklist of the plants of Pohnpei. Unpublished checklist. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Hawai‘i. 21 pp.

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

Smith, Albert C. 1985. Flora Vitiensis nova: a new flora of Fiji. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii. Volume 3. 758 pp.

Space, Jim. 2004. Jim Space, pers. com.

Starr, Forest/Starr, Kim. 0. Forest and Kim Starr, pers. com.

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

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.

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.

Wester, Lyndon. 1985. Checklist of the vascular plants of the northern Line Islands. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. Atoll Reseach Bulletin 287:1-38.