Trimezia steyermarkii R.Foster, Iridaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Plants up to 150 cm tall, with rhizomes up to 2-4 cm long and 2-3 cm wide, with persistent leaf bases generally finely fibrous. Leaves lanceolate, 60-150 cm long and 2 cm wide. Flowering stem generally somewhat shorter than the leaves, subterete, usually with few branches or sometimes simple; spathes herbaceous, the internal ones 2.4-3 cm long, the external ones 1.8-2.2 cm long, shorter or approximately the same length as the internal ones, flowers yellow with brown spots; external tepals ca 3 cm long and 1.3 cm wide, claw ca 7 mm long, ascending, with many brown spots, blade more or less horizontal with brown spots at the base, internal tepals ca 2 cm long and 0.8 cm wide, claw ca 8 mm long, spotted with brown below, blade geniculate, arching forward and then recurved, with a group of inconspicuous elaiophores near the base, brown spotted below; filaments ca 3.3 mm long, anthers ca 4 mm long, latrorsas, connective yellow, pollen brown; style ca 9 mm long; crests 3-4 mm long. Capsule narrowly obovate, (1.2-) 1.5-3 cm long" (translated from Stevens et al., 2001, below).  Thanks to Jack Ewel, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, for providing the translation.

"Plantas hasta 150 cm de alto, con rizomas hasta 2-4 cm de largo y 2-3 cm de ancho, generalmente con las bases persistentes de las hojas finamente fibrosas. Hojas lanceoladas, 60-150 cm de largo y 2 cm de ancho. Tallo florifero generalmente algo m s corto que las hojas, subterete, generalmente con pocas ramas o a veces simple; espatas herb ceas, las internaqs 2.4-3 cm de largo, las exteriores 1.8-2.2 cm de largo, m s cortas a casi de la misma longitud que las internas, flores amarillas con manchas caf‚s; t‚palos exteriores ca 3 cm de largo y 1.3 cm de ancho, la u¤a ca 7 mm de largo, ascendente, con muchas manchas caf‚s, limbo m s o menos horizontal con manchas caf‚s en la base, t‚palos internos ca 2 cm de largo y 0.8 cm de ancho, u¤a ca 8 mm de largo, maculada de caf‚, limbo geniculado, arqueado hacia adelante y entonces recurvado, con un grupo de ele¢foros obscuros cerca de la base, maculado de caf‚ abajo; filamentos ca 3.3 mm de largo, anteras ca 4 mm de largo, latrorsas, el conectivo amarillo, polen caf‚; estilo ca 9 mm de largo; crestas 3-4 mm de largo. C psula angostamente obovada (1.2-) 1.5-3 cm de larga" (Stevens et al., 2001; p. 1160).

Habitat/ecology:  In Nicaragua, "mixed forests, 900-940 m" (Stevens et al., 2001; p. 1160).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama.

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	Hawaiian Islands	introduced cultivated	Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral/Imada, Clyde T. (2000) (p. 23)

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)	El Salvador (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (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)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Comments:  Cultivated and naturalized in the West Indies (GRIN). Naturalized and common in Puerto Rico.

Control:  If you know of control methods for Trimezia steyermarkii, please let us know.