Tibouchina longifolia (Vahl) Baill. ex Cogn., Melastomataceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Evaluate, score: 3 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Rhexia longifolia Vahl

Common name(s): [more details]

English: longleaf glorytree

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Laxly branched subshrubs 0.5-2 m tall; young branches subquadrate, densely covered with appressed to antrorsely spreading, smooth hairs.  Leaves narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, 3.5-11.5 cm long, 1-3 cm wide, (3-) 5 (-7)-nerved with the lateral primary veins confluent for 1-5 mm at base of blade, both surfaces strigose, the hairs on upper surface adnate part of their length to the leaf surface, margins subentire, apex acute to acuminate, base acute, petioles 3-13 mm long.  Inflorescences 5-17 cm long (incl. peduncle), bracts and bracteoles linear-lanceolate, 1-5 mm long, 0.5-2 mm wide, bracteoles not enclosing nor concealing floral buds, deciduous; hypanthium strigose; calyx lobes spreading or recurved, linear-subulate, 2.5-3.5 mm long, 1 mm wide at base, persistent on fruiting hypanthium, ciliate; petals 5, white, 5-7 mm long, 2.5-4 mm wide, stamens all nearly similar; anthers 1.5-2 mm long, with prolonged connective and appendage collectively ca. 0.25 mm long; filaments glabrous.  Fruiting hypanthium 4-4.5 mm long, 3-4 mm wide.  Seeds 0.25-0.5 mm long"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 916).

Habitat/ecology:  In Guatemala (native), "wet to dry thickets or open forest, often in pine-oak forest, sometimes in open or old fields, often in second growth, sometimes on brushy, rocky hillsides, 150-2,000 meters"  (Standley and Williams, 1963; 24(4)514).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  "Native to the Neotropics, where it is weedy and widespread from Mexico and the West Indies to Bolivia and Brazil"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 916).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 916) Voucher cited: K. Nagata 2636 (BISH, CAS)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	El Salvador (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	Standley, Paul C./Williams, Louis Otho (1963) (p. 24(4)514)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Guerrero, Oaxaca, Veracruz
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Junin, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Pasco, Piura

Control:  If you know of control methods for Tibouchina longifolia, please let us know.