Phyllanthus virgatus G.Forst., Phyllanthaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Phyllanthus simplex Retz.

Common name(s): [more details]

Austral: moemoe, poporo, rauna

Chinese: huang zhu zi cao

English: seed-under-leaf

Fijian: tei ni niu

Maori (Cook Islands): matakura, moemoe, moemoe ‘enua?

Niuean: kihikihi, kohuhu kula, mohemohe fiti kula

Samoan: moemoe(?), moemoeao

Tahitian: hora, moe-moe, moemoe

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Slender, branched, glabrous suffruticose herb to 60 cm tall; leaves alternate, elliptic-oblong or sublinear, subsessile, prominently nervose, blunt at both ends, about 1-1.5 cm long and 2 mm wide; stipules peltate, sagittate; flowers pedicellate; male flowers on shorter (2 mm) pedicels, with oblong sepals and free stamens; female flowers on longer (4-7 mm) pedicels, often associated with 1 or 2 males; disc in male flowers glandular, in female flowers annular; styles free, short, recurved; capsules depressed-globose, about 3 mm wide, smooth or slightly rugose" (Stone, 1970; p. 388).

Habitat/ecology:  In Fiji, "occurring at elevations from near sea level to about 200 m as a weed of cultivated fields and waste places, sometimes sparingly naturalized in forest or on hillsides" (Smith, 1981; p. 464).  "An aboriginal weed, much less common now than it formerly was" (Whistler, 1988; p. 19). In New Caledonia, "P. virgatus se trouve assez communément dans les savanes ou dans les forêts ± dégradées, souvent en lisière de galeries forestières, à basse altitude, surtout dans les secteurs littoraux, mais parfois assez loin dans l'intérieur. Il peut croître sur des terrains variés, schisto-gréseux ou calcarifères, mais paraît tout à fait exceptionnel sur terrain ultrabasique" (Schmid, 1991; pp. 46-48).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  "Widely distributed in the Old World tropics and presumably indigenous in Asia or Malesia.  Its introduction throughout the southern Pacific was doubtless aboriginal and inadvertent" (Smith, 1981; p. 464). Fosberg et al. (1979; p. 144) list as native to Micronesia.

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	Olosega Island		Whistler, W. A. (1990) Voucher cited: Garber 1074
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Olosega Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1945) (p. 45) Voucher cited: Garber 1074 (BISH)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		Whistler, W. A. (1990) Vouchers cited: Garber 693, Yuncker 9133
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1945) (p. 45) Vouchers cited: Yuncker 9133 (BISH), Garber 693 (BISH)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Miti‘aro Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 144)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Kambara Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (p. 464) Voucher cited: Tothill 711
Fiji Fiji Islands	Kandavu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (p. 464) Vouchers cited: DA 9642
Fiji Fiji Islands	Taveuni Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (p. 464) Vouchers cited: Seemann 418, Gillespie 4759
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (p. 464) Vouchers cited: Degener & Ordonez 13881
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (p. 464) Vouchers cited: DA 11384, Greenwood 58, H.B.R. Parham 265, Weiner 275, DA 7824
Fiji Fiji Islands	Yasawas Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (p. 464) Voucher cited: DA 11765
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Eiao Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence & M. Teikiteetini 9322 (PAP), J. Florence, S.P. Perlman & M. Teikiteetini 9347 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hatuta'a (Hatutu) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence & M. Teikiteetini 9391 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Bora Bora Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 113) Voucher cited: Fosberg 12159
French Polynesia Society Islands	Bora Bora Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 131-133)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Bora Bora Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 12013 (PAP), J. Florence 12127 (PAP), J. Florence 12151 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 131-133)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1987) (p. 43) Voucher cited: Raynal 17841; not seen in 1985.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 131-133)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 7903 (PAP), J. Florence 9295 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 113) Voucher cited: Moore 100
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 131-133)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 131-133)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 10529 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 113) Voucher cited: Setchell & Parks 1
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 131-133)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Niau Atoll	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 10184 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Rangiroa (Rairoa) Atoll	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 10002 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Toau (Tovau) Atoll	introduced	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 10239 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 131-133)
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 5809 (PAP), J. Florence 5852 (PAP), J. Florence & W.R. Sykes 11364 (PAP), J. Florence & W.R. Sykes 11382 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rimatara (Rimitara) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 131-133)
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rimatara (Rimitara) Island	introduced	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 131-133)
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 9216 (PAP), J. Florence 9226 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Tubuai Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J. (1997) (pp. 131-133)
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Tubuai Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence & W.R. Sykes 11134 (PAP) Adventice. Assez rare.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 388) As Phyllanthus simplex Retzius
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 144)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Lifou	native	McPherson, Gordon/Schmid, Maurice (1991) (p. 47) Vouchers cited: Deplanche s.n., MacKee 28204, Schmid 1020
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	native	McPherson, Gordon/Schmid, Maurice (1991) (p. 47) Vouchers cited: Balansa 249, Balansa 249a, Balansa 1215, Balansa 1858, Balansa 1859, Baudouin 727 s.loc., Baumann-Bodenheim 6046, Bergeret 3, Brousmiche s.n. s.loc., Cribs 713, Franc 1195, Guillaumin 11050, Guillaumin & Baumann-Bodenheim 6833, Guillaumin & Baumann-Bodenheim 9188, Guillaumin & Baumann-Bodenheim 9208, Guillaumin & Baumann-Bodenheim 9406, Guillaumin & Baumann-Bodenheim 11153, Guillaumin & Baumann-Bodenheim 11474, Le Rat 2629, MacKee 4047, MacKee 4469, MacKee 6457, MacKee 12522, MacKee 16594, MacKee 20299, MacKee 23252, MacKee 24865, MacKee 29274, MacKee 29776, MacKee 30721, MacKee 35189, MacKee 35194, MacKee 36703, Schlechter 14803, Schid 5413, Vieillard 1197, Vieillard 1199, Vieillard 1201, Vieillard 3002, Vieillard 3198, Vieillard 3202, Virot 1180
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	native	McPherson, Gordon/Schmid, Maurice (1991) (p. 47) Vouchers cited: Baumann-Bodenheim 13483, Cribs 1150, Pancher s.n.
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 95) As P. simplex. Vouchers cited: CHR 169724, CHR 169727, CHR 169732, CHR 169734
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 19)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1943) (p. 72) As Phyllanthus simplex Retzius. Vouchers cited: Yuncker 9628 (BISH), Yuncker 9666 (BISH), Yuncker 10014 (BISH), Yuncker 10099 (BISH) "A common dooryard and plantation weed".
Niue Niue	Niue Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1997) (voucher ID: PTBG 43027) Taxon name on voucher: Phyllanthus virgatus
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Western Samoa Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 19)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Ha‘apai Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 25) Vouchers cited: Hotta 4238, Soakai 586
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp. 159-160) "Frequent throughout Tonga".
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 25) Vouchers cited: Lister, Parks 16244, Yuncker 15339, Hotta 5484, Soakai 983 (EI), Sykes 639, Whistler 7403
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp. 159-160) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15339
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 25) Vouchers cited: Cook, Yuncker 15125
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp. 159-160) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15125
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Late Island	native	Sykes, W. R. (1981) (p. 349)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Late Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 25) Vouchers cited: Hotta 4790, Buelow & Sykes?
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Niuatoputapu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 25) Vouchers cited: Hurlimann 397, Soakai 878, Buelow 1109, Buelow 1124
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Niuatoputapu Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp. 159-160) Voucher cited: Hürlimann 397
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Tafahi Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 25) Vouchers cited: Hurlimann 527, Buelow 1145, Whistler 6203
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Tafahi Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp. 159-160) Voucher cited: Hürlimann 527
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 25) Voucher cited: Crosby 155
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis and Futuna Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 19)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 186) In thickets on hillslopes.
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 277)
Japan Japan	Japan	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South Korea South Korea	South Korea (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Phyllanthus virgatus, please let us know.