Thunbergia fragrans Roxb., Acanthaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 9 (Go to the risk assessment).

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: wan hua cao

English: sweet clockvine, white clockvine, white lady, white thunbergia

French: bec martin, liane toupie

Tongan: fue hina

Habit:  vine

Description:  "Vine, herbaceous, twining.  Leaves simple, opposite, blade ovate to arrowhead-shaped, usually 5-12 cm long (2-5 in).  Flowers continuously throughout the year; flowers solitary or paired, axillary on a long stalk with a pair of leafy bracts below, not fragrant.  Corolla of fused petals, salverform, tube 2-3 cm long (3/4 -  1 1/4 in), with a spreading five-lobed limb 4-6 cm across (1 5/8 - 2 1/2 in), white.  Fruit a subglobose capsule with an extended terminal beak to 2 cm long (3/4 in)"  (Whistler, 2000; pp. 456-457).

"Slender-stemmed climbing plant. Leaves sinuately margined, lower ones more or less hastately lobed but upper ones rounded towards the base or having two small teeth only.  Corolla lobes obliquely aligned to the tube, about 5 cm across the white, scentless flower"  (Sykes, 1970; p. 39).

Habitat/ecology:  In Fiji, "naturalized in thickets, along roadsides, and in coconut plantations near sea level" (Smith, 1991; p. 118).

Propagation:  Seeds, cuttings, and fragments of stems and roots.

Native range:  Southeastern Asia and Malesia, cultivated as a garden ornamental and sometimes naturalized elsewhere.

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	Aitutaki Atoll		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1960) (voucher ID: BISH 10246) Taxon name on voucher: Thunbergia fragrans Roxb.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 89)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 72)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1991) (voucher ID: BISH 664876) Taxon name on voucher: Thunbergia fragrans Roxb.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 665082) Taxon name on voucher: Thunbergia fragrans Roxb.
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced invasive	Josekutty, P. C./Wakuk, E. E./Joseph, M. J. (2002) (p. 63)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Lakemba Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (p. 118) Voucher cited: Garnock-Jones 973
Fiji Fiji Islands	Taveuni Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (p. 118) Voucher cited: DA 5706
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (p. 118) Vouchers cited: Smith 6627, DA 14304, Bierhorst F159
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1965) (voucher ID: BISH 33847) Taxon name on voucher: Thunbergia fragrans Roxb.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1947) (voucher ID: BISH 127885) Taxon name on voucher: Thunbergia fragrans Roxb.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (p. 118) Vouchers cited: Greenwood 735, DA 12151
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: B. Huguenin s.n. (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced cultivated	St. John, Harold (1988) (p. 24) Voucher cited: Fosberg 11024 (BISH)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1988) (voucher ID: BISH 1000289) Taxon name on voucher: Thunbergia fragrans Roxb.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2003) (voucher ID: PTBG 40537) Taxon name on voucher: Thunbergia fragrans
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: M.-H. Sachet 1242 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: B.G. Decker 1668 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2003) (voucher ID: PTBG 40868) Taxon name on voucher: Thunbergia fragrans
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 24) Voucher cited: Fosberg 61149
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence & R. Tahuaitu 11666 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1977) (voucher ID: BISH 599726) Taxon name on voucher: Thunbergia fragrans Roxb.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1992) (voucher ID: BISH 643310) Taxon name on voucher: Thunbergia fragrans Roxb.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1987) (p. 63) Voucher cited: Fosberg 64902 (US)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1985) (voucher ID: BISH 607769) Taxon name on voucher: Thunbergia fragrans Roxb.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 2)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1967) (voucher ID: BISH 127867) Taxon name on voucher: Thunbergia fragrans Roxb.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 24) Voucher cited: Fosberg & Sachet 63131
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 3392 (PAP), F.R. Fosberg & M.-H. Sachet 63131 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 492093) Taxon name on voucher: Thunbergia fragrans Roxb.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 2)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 5245 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 24) Voucher cited: BRY 26027
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 2507 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 490742) Taxon name on voucher: Thunbergia fragrans Roxb.
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 3007 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 492108) Taxon name on voucher: Thunbergia fragrans Roxb.
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1985) (voucher ID: BISH 648904) Taxon name on voucher: Thunbergia fragrans Roxb.
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence & W.R. Sykes 11338 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1992) (voucher ID: BISH 643113) Taxon name on voucher: Thunbergia fragrans Roxb.
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rimatara (Rimitara) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 6071 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 550723) Taxon name on voucher: Thunbergia fragrans Roxb.
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Tubuai Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 175)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 175)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive	Starr, Forest/Starr, Kim/Loope, Lloyd L. (2010) (p. 61) Voucher cited: Starr & Starr 070403-08 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 175)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Starr, Forest/Starr, Kim/Loope, Lloyd L. (2006) (p. 31) Voucher cited: Starr, Starr, Buchanan & Hart 050518-3 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 175)
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 97)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 39) Voucher cited: CHR 169944
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced	Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 6)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 47)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands		Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (pp. 468-469) At low and medium altitudes, occurring in thickets at low and medium altitudes.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 71)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 68)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced cultivated	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 114)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Ha‘ano Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 75)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Lifuka and Foa Islands	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 75)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 63)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 57)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 1) Vouchers cited: Ilolahia 149, Soakai 185, Soakai 727
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 69)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 1) Voucher cited: Soakai 865
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp. 242-243) Voucher cited: Yuncker 16084.
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Êfaté (Efete) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1978) (voucher ID: BISH 424759) Taxon name on voucher: Thunbergia fragrans Roxb.
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 97)

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	introduced cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 255) Ornamental.
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 189)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves/Lavergne, Christophe (2004) (p. 347)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 86) Naturalised
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 invasive cultivated	Lavergne, Christophe (2006) "Cultivé/subspontané"
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 362)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Rodrigues Island	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves/Lavergne, Christophe (2004) (p. 347)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves/Lavergne, Christophe (2004) (p. 347)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Thunbergia fragrans, please let us know.