Topobea parasitica Aubl., Melastomataceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  no

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk (based on second screen), score: 3 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Blakea parasitica (Aubl.) D. Don

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "Hemiepiphytic shrub.  Young stems inconspicuously quadrangular, young parts pubescent with adpressed bristles about 1 mm in length, also have short trichomes, soon becoming glabrous.  Leaf blades broadly elliptic, 6-12 cm in length, 4-8 cm wide, usually with a short, ca 5 mm acuminate apex, bases acute to obtuse, entire, 5-nerved.  Petioles 1.5-4 cm long.  Axillary flowers borne below foliage, 1 or more per node.  Pedicels about 12-15 mm.  Corolla magenta to pink, petals 1-1.5 cm long, 7-10 mm wide, obovate, recurved at apex.  Clawed stamens about 1 cm long, fused into a collar around the style"  (Imada et al., 2007; pp. 32-33).

Habitat/ecology:  "In its native range it is a gap colonizer.  Species with this life history trait often exhibit biological characteristics such as high germination rates, rapid growth, and early maturity.  They also tend to be efficient at reproduction and dispersal.  These traits also increase a plant's likeliness of becoming invasive.  In addition to these invasive characteristics, T. parasitica is tolerant of shade, meaning it can establish itself in both shaded and open areas"  (Imada et al., 2007; p. 32).

Propagation:  "The small red berries are dispersed by birds.  Conservative estimates by an expert are that one plant can produce hundreds (but probably thousands) of flowers in a season, and that each fruit contains many dozens (but probably well over a hundred) seeds.  It reaches reproductive maturity quickly, within 3 years.  Closely related species are shown to be self-compatible"  (Imada et al., 2007; pp. 32-33).

Native range:  "Costa Rica to Columbia to French Guiana"  (Imada et al., 2007; p. 34).

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	O‘ahu Island	introduced cultivated	Imada, Clyde T./Frohlich, Danielle/Lau, Alex/Smith, Ryan (2007) (p. 34)

Control: 

Chemical:  "No control has been performed on this species previously.  Cut-stump treatments with Garlon 4 (active ingredient triclopyr) would likely be effective.  Since no chemical treatments have been tested, plants treated this way should be monitored closely for effectiveness" 

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

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

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

References:

Imada, Clyde T./Frohlich, Danielle/Lau, Alex/Smith, Ryan. 2007. Implementing early detection in Hawai‘i, year one. Final report prepared for Hawaiian Invasive Species Council, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife. 51 pp.