Salvia occidentalis Sw., Lamiaceae

Click on an image for links to BIGGER PICTURES

Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

English: blue sage, hap-seed, pegapega, West Indian sage

Maori (Cook Islands): ‘āunga kino, ‘aunga-kino, mauku ‘aunga-kino

Niuean: pupu elo, sealu

Spanish: gonce de gallina, hierba de cangro, moradilla, mozote de gallina, mozotillo, trencilla negra

Tongan: te‘ekosi, te‘ekosi totolo

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Annual or perennial herbs, often somewhat woody at base; stems decumbent, sometimes ascending, or occasionally subscandent, usually 3-10 dm long, densely soft short-villous, becoming glabrate.  Leaves broadly ovate to rhombic-ovate or occasionally ovate-deltate, 1-6 cm long, 1-3 cm wide, upper surface sparsely scabrid to glabrous, lower surface sparsely puberulent to glabrate, margins crenate-serrate, apex acute to obtuse, base broadly cuneate or occasionally truncate, petioles 0.7-1.5 cm long.  Flowers 2-6 in diffuse racemose inflorescences, bracts ovate, 1.5-2.5 mm long, apex acuminate; calyx 2-3 mm long, only slightly cleft, moderately glandular pubescent, upper lip truncate or obscurely 3-toothed, lower lip 2-toothed; corolla blue, tube ca. 2.5 mm long, upper lip concave, ca. 1.5 mm long; stamens scarcely exserted beyond or included in corolla tube.  One nutlet developing, narrowly obovoid, ca. 1.5 mm long" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 829-831).

Habitat/ecology:  In Hawai‘i, "naturalized in low elevation, dry to wet, disturbed habitats, 1-1,000 m" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 829-831).  In Niue, "abundant in plantations and waste places over most of the island.  It has a spreading habit and as the plant ages the large freely branching panicles become intertwined, the result often being a densely tangled mass which covers many old plantations"  (Sykes, 1970; p. 105).  "Occasional in disturbed places in Tonga and Niue, collected only once in Samoa" (Whistler, 1988; p. 21). In Tonga, "occasional as a plantation and waste-area weed" (Yuncker, 1959; pp. 234-235). In New Caledonia, "mauvaise herbe répandue et parfois abondante, notamment aux îles Loyauté" (MacKee, 1994; p. 70).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  New World tropics.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island		McCormack, Gerald (2011)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island		McCormack, Gerald (2011)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Miti‘aro Island		McCormack, Gerald (2011)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2008)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Voucher cited: J. Florence 4163 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 131) Voucher cited: Florence 5034
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Voucher cited: J. Florence 5034 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 131) Voucher cited: Fosberg 63745
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 5358 (PAP), J. Florence 8670 (PAP), F.R. Fosberg 63745 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Voucher cited: J. Florence 3002 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rimatara (Rimitara) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Adventice
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 829-831)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 829-831)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 829-831)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 829-831)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 829-831)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Ni‘ihau Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 829-831)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 829-831) Voucher cited: Nuttall s n. (BISH)
New Caledonia Îles Bélep (Belep Islands)	Île Art	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 70) Voucher cited: MacKee 19432
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Îles Loyauté (Loyalty Islands)	introduced invasive	Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Lifou	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 70) Voucher cited: Schmid 633 (NOU)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Îles Ouvéa (Ouvea Atoll)	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 70) Voucher cited: MacKee 18886
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Tiga	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 70) Voucher cited: MacKee 45861
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Balabio	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 70) Voucher cited: MacKee 19340
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 70) Vouchers cited: Deplanche 88, Balansa 3609, MacKee 15520, Cherrier in MacKee 35018, MacKee 35157
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	introduced invasive	Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 70) Voucher cited: MacKee 5008
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Yande	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 70) Voucher cited: MacKee 22594
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 105) Vouchers cited: CHR 169930, CHR 169931
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 21)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A./Atherton, J. (1997) (p. 37)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1943) (p. 103) Voucher cited: Yuncker 10011 (BISH) "Roadside weed".
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 10) Escaping from cultivation.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 21) Uncommon per Whistler.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1989) (voucher ID: PTBG 3924) Taxon name on voucher: Salvia occidentalis
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1989) (voucher ID: PTBG 4072) Taxon name on voucher: Salvia occidentalis
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 96)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	native	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 106)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Lifuka Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp. 234-235) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15780
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Nomuka Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp. 234-235) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15816
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp. 234-235) "Occasional throughout Tonga".
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 39) Voucher cited: Soakai 951 (EI)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2001) (voucher ID: PTBG 34467) Taxon name on voucher: Salvia occidentalis Sw.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 39) Vouchers cited: Lawrence 60, Ilolahia 121, Soakai 722
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1989) (voucher ID: PTBG 3294) Taxon name on voucher: Salvia occidentalis
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Niuatoputapu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 39) Voucher cited: Soakai 847
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp. 234-235) Voucher cited: Yuncker 16053

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Colombia Colombia	Colombia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Costa Rica Costa Rica	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Ecuador (Mainland) Ecuador	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
El Salvador El Salvador	El Salvador (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Guatemala Guatemala	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Honduras Honduras	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (pp. 319-320)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Nicaragua Nicaragua	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Panama Panama	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Perú Perú	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)

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

Information about Salvia occidentalis as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

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

References:

Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. 2011. Base de données botaniques Nadeaud de l'Herbier de la Polynésie Française (PAP). (online resource).

Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. 1988. Flora of the Solomon Islands. Research Bulletin No. 7. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Honiara. 203 pp.

Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. 1979. A geographical atlas of world weeds. John Wiley & Sons, New York. 391 pp.

Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. 2008. Flora of the Marquesas Islands. National Tropical Botanical Garden and the Smithsonian Institution. Online database.

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

McCormack, Gerald. 2011. Cook Islands Biodiversity Database, Version 2007.2. Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga.

National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.). 2001. Voucher specimen #PTBG34467(Tim Flynn 6899).

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.

Swarbrick, John T. 1997. Weeds of the Pacific Islands. Technical paper no. 209. South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 124 pp.

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

Tassin, Jacques. 2005. Jacques Tassin (IAC-CIRAD), personal communication.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2011. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

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. 1988. Checklist of the weed flora of western Polynesia. Technical Paper No. 194, South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 69 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 1990. Ethnobotany of the Cook Islands: The plants, their Maori names, and their uses. Allertonia 5(4):347-424.

Whistler, W. A. 1992. Flora of Tonga [unpublished checklist]. 107 pp.

Whistler, W. A./Atherton, J. 1997. Botanical survey of the Huvalu Forest Conservation Area, Niue. Unpublished technical report. 76 pp.

Yuncker, T. G. 1943. The flora of Niue Island. Bishop Mus. Bull. 178. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 126 pp.

Yuncker, T. G. 1959. Plants of Tonga. Bishop Museum Bull. 220. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 343 pp.