Solanum mauritianum Scop., Solanaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Solanum auriculatum Ait.; Solanum verbascifolium L. var. auriculatum (Ait.) Ktze.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: bugweed, tree tobacco, wild tobacco, woolly nightshade

French: bringelier marron, faux tubac, tabac marron

Hawaiian: pua nānā honua

Maori (Cook Islands): ‘ava‘ava, rau ‘ava‘ava

Tongan: pula

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "Shrubs or small trees 2-4 m tall, branched above to form a rounded canopy, unarmed, all parts densely pubescent with sessile to long-stalked stellate hairs, loose and floccose on young growth.  Leaves paler on lower surface, simple, alternate, elliptic, up to 30 cm long and 12 cm wide on young vigorous growth, usually ca 18 cm long and ca 7 cm wide, on mature stems margins entire, apex acuminate, base cuneate, often oblique, petioles 3-9 cm long, each with 1-2 smaller auriculate leaves in axils, these sessile, rounded, sometime absent from weak or distal shoots.  Flowers perfect, actinomorphic, numerous in branched corymbs, peduncles up to 15 cm long to first fork, pedicels 2-3 mm long; calyx tube short, 2-3 mm long, the lobes narrowly triangular, 2-3 mm long; corolla lilac blue with a pale star-shaped area at base, stellate, 1.5-2.5 cm in diameter; stamens 5, inserted low on corolla tube; filaments ca 1 mm long; anthers oblong, 2-3.5 mm long, opening by terminal pores; ovary densely pubescent; style pubescent in lower part, 5-7 mm long; stigma green, terminal. Berries dull yellowish, succulent, globose, 1-1.5 cm in diameter, pubescent at least in early stages.  Seeds numerous, flattened, 1.5-2 mm long, testa minutely reticulate.  Self-compatible" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 1271, 1273).

Habitat/ecology:  In Hawai‘i, "naturalized on slopes and ridges in disturbed wet forest" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 1271, 1273).  In Fiji, "sparingly naturalized near sea level"  (Smith, 1991; p. 9). In Tonga, "in thickets and open second-growth forests and waste areas" (Yuncker, 1959; pp. 238-239). In New Caledonia, "localement abondant, notamment sur pistes forestières abandonnées" (MacKee, 1994; p. 132).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Uruguay and southeastern Brazil (Smith, 1991; p. 9).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Lord Howe Island	Lord Howe Island	introduced	Pickard, J. (1984) (p. 208)
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Lord Howe Island	Lord Howe Island	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 21) "A frequent and serious weed". Vouchers cited: J. Pickard s.n. (NSW), J. Pickard in A.N. Rodd 1401 (NSW), J. Pickard 2948 (NSW)
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Norfolk Islands	Norfolk Island	introduced invasive	Ziesing, P. (1997) (pp. 34-35)
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Norfolk Islands	Norfolk Island	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 11) "A frequent and serious weed". Vouchers cited: G. Uhe 1107 (K), W.G. Milne 5 (K)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Aitutaki Atoll	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 77)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 89)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		McCormack, Gerald (2008)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 181813) Taxon name on voucher: Solanum mauritianum Scop.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 181814) Taxon name on voucher: Solanum mauritianum Scop.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1977) (voucher ID: BISH 420151) Taxon name on voucher: Solanum mauritianum Scop.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1991) (voucher ID: BISH 665157) Taxon name on voucher: Solanum mauritianum Scop.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Fiji Islands	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (p. 9) Voucher cited: DA 13938
French Polynesia French Polynesia Islands	French Polynesia Islands		Welsh, S. L. (1998) Waterhouse reports as present although Welch says not seen.
French Polynesia French Polynesia Islands	French Polynesia Islands		Waterhouse, D. F. (1997) (p. 65)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1271, 1273) Voucher cited: Rock 1132 (NSW)
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 100) "Forestry trails, edges"
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	introduced invasive	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 383) Localement abondante, notamment sur pistes forestières abandonnées.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 132) Vouchers cited: Pancher s.n., Le Rat 414, Däniker 1851, Virot 1085, Sarlin 262, MacKee 20649
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1968) (voucher ID: BISH 401971) Taxon name on voucher: Solanum auriculatum
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 97)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Nomuka Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp. 238-239) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15818
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Nomuka Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1953) (voucher ID: BISH 181875) Taxon name on voucher: Solanum mauritianum Scop.
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp. 238-239) "Throughout Tonga".
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 9)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 74) Voucher cited: Parks 16086
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp. 238-239) Vouchers cited: Parks 16086, Yuncker 15325
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1926) (voucher ID: BISH 181874) Taxon name on voucher: Solanum mauritianum Scop.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1953) (voucher ID: BISH 181876) Taxon name on voucher: Solanum mauritianum Scop.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 9)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 74) Vouchers cited: Lawrence 93, Soakai 716
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp. 238-239) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15043
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1958) (voucher ID: BISH 41169) Taxon name on voucher: Solanum mauritianum Scop.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1959) (voucher ID: BISH 41371) Taxon name on voucher: Solanum mauritianum Scop.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1953) (voucher ID: BISH 181877) Taxon name on voucher: Solanum mauritianum Scop.
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 9)

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)	Australia (continental)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009) Naturalized
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Owen, S. J. (1997) Naturalized
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 1246) "Around plantations, forest margins, scrub, waste places and similar open situations around settlements".

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 invasive	Lavergne, Christophe (2006) "Cultivé/très envahissant"
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced invasive	Kueffer, C./Lavergne, C. (2004) (p. 4)

Comments:  Moderately invasive on Rarotonga, Cook Islands (Meyer, 2000; p. 89). Invasive on Tonga (Space & Flynn, 2001). South African noxious weed (Henderson, 1995; p. 177).

Control: 

Physical:  "Burning is used to kill the plants but may enhance seed germination.  Scattered seedlings can be pulled or dug out".

Chemical:  "Larger shrubs and trees can be cut and the cut stumps treated with herbicide.  Follow-up programs are necessary to treat regrowth and seedlings"  (Weber, 2003; p. 406).

Additional information:
Photos, additional information and information on control at the Environment Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, web site of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council (see photo thumbnails above).
Information from the Global Invasive Species Database.
Fact sheet from the Government of Queensland, Australia (PDF format).

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

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

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

Other Latin names:  Solanum auriculatum Ait.; Solanum verbascifolium L. var. auriculatum (Ait.) Ktze.

References:

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1926. Voucher specimen #BISH 181874 (Parks, H.E. 16086).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1929. Voucher specimen #BISH 181813 (Parks, H.E. 22213).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1929. Voucher specimen #BISH 181814 (Wilder, G.P. 745).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1953. Voucher specimen #BISH 181875 (Yuncker, T.G. 15818).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1953. Voucher specimen #BISH 181876 (Yuncker, T.G. 15325).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1953. Voucher specimen #BISH 181877 (Yuncker, T.G. 15043).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1958. Voucher specimen #BISH 41169 (Lawrence, E. 93).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1959. Voucher specimen #BISH 41371 (Soakai, E. 716).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1968. Voucher specimen #BISH 401971 (Webster, G.L. 14581).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1977. Voucher specimen #BISH 420151 (Krauss, N.L.H. 1529).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1991. Voucher specimen #BISH 665157 (Sykes, W.R. 474508).

Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe. 1996. Conséquences des introductions d'espèces animales et végétales sur la biodiversité en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Rev. Ecol. (Terre Vie) 51:375-401.

Heine, Heino. 1976. Acanthacées, Bignoniacées, Boraginacées, Solanacées. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et Dépendances. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris. Vol. 7, 212 pp.

Henderson, Lesley. 1995. Plant invaders of Southern Africa. Plant Protection Research Institute Handbook No. 5, Agriculture Research Council, ARC/LNR, Pretoria, South Africa. 177 pp.

Kueffer, C./Lavergne, C. 2004. Case studies on the status of invasive woody plant species in the western Indian Ocean. 4. R233;union. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Forestry Department, Forest Resources Division, Forest Resources Development Service, Working Paper FBS/4-4E. 37 pp.

Lavergne, Christophe. 2006. List des especes exotiques envahissantes a La Reunion. Unpublished manuscript (Excel file). .

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

McCormack, Gerald. 2008. Cook Islands Biodiversity Database, Version 2007.2. Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga.

Meyer, Jean-Yves. 2000. Preliminary review of the invasive plants in the Pacific islands (SPREP Member Countries). In: Sherley, G. (tech. ed.). Invasive species in the Pacific: A technical review and draft regional strategy. South Pacific Regional Environment Programme, Samoa. 190 pp.

Orchard, Anthony E., ed. 1994. Flora of Australia. Vol. 49, Oceanic islands 1. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.

Owen, S. J. 1997. Ecological weeds on conservation land in New Zealand: A database. Working draft. Wellington, New Zealand. Department of Conservation.

Pickard, J. 1984. Exotic plants on Lord Howe Island: Distribution in space and time, 1853-1981. J. of Biogeography 11:181-208.

Smith, Albert C. 1991. Flora Vitiensis nova: a new flora of Fiji. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii. Volume 5. 626 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2001. Report to the Kingdom of Tonga on invasive plant species of environmental concern.  USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 78 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2002. Report to the Government of the Cook Islands on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 146 pp.

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

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2009. 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).

Waterhouse, D. F. 1997. The major invertebrate pests and weeds of agriculture and plantation forestry in the Southern and Western Pacific. The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra. 93 pp.

Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. 1988. Flora of New Zealand, Volume IV: Naturalised pteridophytes, gymnosperms, dicotyledons. Botany Division, DSIR, Christchurch. 1365 pp.

Weber, Ewald. 2003. Invasive plants of the World. CABI Publishing, CAB International, Wallingford, UK. 548 pp.

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.

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

Ziesing, P. 1997. Norfolk Island weed control manual for selected weeds occurring in Norfolk Island National Park. Environment Australia, Norfolk Island.