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

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat 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:  "Trees, 4-15 m tall. Young shoots, petioles, and inflorescences ferruginous hairy; old branches with yellowish, small lenticels. Leaves 30-42 cm; petiole robust; rachis 25-35 cm; pinnae 7-15 pairs, opposite, 8-12 cm; leaflets (7-) 10-21 pairs, crowded together, oblong-obovate, 1.2-1.7 cm x 5-7 mm, leathery, abaxially pale green, adaxially deep green, base oblique, margin entire, apex rounded, mucronate. Panicles terminal or axillary, densely ferruginous puberulent; bracts caducous, 5-8 mm. Pedicels ca. 5 mm, ca. as long as flower buds, 5-7 mm from one another. Flower buds globose, 5-8 mm in diam. Sepals ovate, 5-8 x 4-7 mm, outside ferruginous tomentose. Petals obovate, 1.5-1.7 cm x 8-10 mm, densely ferruginous pubescent at middle of both surfaces, long clawed. Filaments ca. 1.2 cm, hirsute at base; anthers ca. 3 mm, sagittate at base. Ovary stalked, hairy, 3- or 4-ovuled; style filiform, much longer than ovary, smooth; stigma discoid, 3-lobed. Legume winged, compressed, fusiform, narrowed to both ends, longitudinally veined at middle part; wings 4-5 mm wide. Seeds 2-4"  (Flora of China online).

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 Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1980) (voucher ID: PTBG 23986) Taxon name on voucher: Peltophorum pterocarpum
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 101)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy (2010) (p. 17)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced cultivated	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 95)
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	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
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
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
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	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Frohlich, Danielle/Lau, Alex (2012) (pp. 38-39) Voucher cited: OED 2010031003 (BISH)
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 (Belau ) (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 101)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Palau Islands (main island group)		Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim (2010) (p. 30)
Papua New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago	Bismarck Archipelago	introduced cultivated	Peekel, P. G. [translated by E. E. Henty] (1984) (pp. 223-225) Ornamental tree.
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. (2013)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	Australian Biological Resources Study (2013)

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 (2013)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced cultivated	Australian Biological Resources Study (2013) "Cultivated but not naturalised".
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Guangdong (Guangzhou), Guangxi, Yunnan
China China	Hong Kong	introduced cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 137)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	Australian Biological Resources Study (2013)
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	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	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
India (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Andaman Islands	Andaman Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
India (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Nicobar Islands	Nicobar Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Maldives Maldive Islands	Maldive Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Maldives Maldive Islands	Malè Atoll	cultivated	Fosberg, F. R. (1957) (p. 21)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)

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 (2013)

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

Control:  If you know of control methods for Peltophorum pterocarpum, please let us know.