Turnera ulmifolia L., Passifloraceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 10 (Go to the risk assessment)

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Cuban buttercup, Marilopez, West Indian holly, ramgoat dashalong, sage rose, yellow alder, yellow bells

I-Kiribati: te kaikainea

Marshallese: nõr in jiboñ, nor in jiboñ

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Aromatic perennial herbs or shrubs 4-15 dm tall, densely strigose.  Leaves clustered toward the tips of the branches, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate or narrowly elliptic, 4-13 cm long, 2-3 (-5) cm wide, moderately to occasionally sparsely strigillose, margins doubly serrate, petioles 0.8-1.5 cm long, stipules erect, triangular, ca 1.5 mm long.  Calyx ca 20 mm long, the tube 5-8 mm long, the lobes lanceolate, apex caudate; petals yellow, sometimes with a brown spot toward base, obovate, 20-35 mm long; ovary ovoid, with 6 small apical tubercles.  Capsules ovoid, 7-8 mm long.  Seeds narrowly obovoid, slightly curved, ca 2.5 mm long"  (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 1295-1296).

"Herbacée pérenne à base ligneuse ou arbrisseau de 20 cm à 1,5 m de hauteur, reconnaissable à ses petites feuilles à marge dentée regroupées au sommet des tiges et à ses grandes fleurs à 5 pétales de couleur jaune vif"  (Meyer, 2008; p. 39).

Habitat/ecology:  In Hawai‘i, "naturalized in dry, disturbed areas, 30-190 m" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 1295-1296).  In Fiji, "naturalized and locally abundant especially in coconut plantations near sea level"  (Smith, 1981; p. 663). In New Caledonia, "envahissant à Thio" (MacKee, 1994; p. 135). In Indonesia, "in sunny dry localities, 1-20 m, especially in the coastal regions: grassy fields, wate places, under coconuts, often on sandy soil, light jungles, as a rule in scattered specimens" (Van Steenis, 1948; pp. 237-238).

Propagation:  Seed. Seeds reported to be carried by ants (Staples et al, 2000; p. 30).

Native range:  Florida, the West Indies and Tropical America; widely planted as an ornamental and naturalized in the tropics.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Chile (offshore islands) Rapa Nui (Easter) Island	Rapa Nui (Easter) Island (Isla de Pasqua)	introduced cultivated	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2008) (pp. 39, 43) "Nous l’avons vu également communément plantée comme ornementale dans les jardins de Hanga Roa" (Meyer, 2008; p. 39).
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Tol Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Denslow, Julie S./Nelson, Duane/Mazawa, Thomas R. (2000) (p. 30)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Denslow, Julie S./Nelson, Duane/Mazawa, Thomas R. (2000) (p. 30)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Denslow, Julie S./Nelson, Duane/Waguk, Erick E. (2000) (p. 29)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy (2010) (p. 25) Naturalized at Walung.
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 138) Vouchers cited: M.J. Balick 4250 (NY, PTBG, BISH), F. Sohl 84 (NY, PTBG) Naturalized
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2001) (voucher ID: PTBG 38742) Taxon name on voucher: Turnera ulmifolia L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Kandavu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (p. 663) Voucher cited: DA 2993
Fiji Fiji Islands	Lakemba Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (p. 663) Voucher cited: Garnock-Jones 961
Fiji Fiji Islands	Mango Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (p. 663)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Naitamba Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (p. 663) Voucher cited: DA 11799
Fiji Fiji Islands	Naitamba Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1956) (voucher ID: BISH 14704) Taxon name on voucher: Turnera ulmifolia L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ovalau Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (p. 663)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Taveuni Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (p. 663) Vouchers cited: DA 5714, DA 8904, DA 11514, DA 9109, DA 9623
Fiji Fiji Islands	Taveuni Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1954) (voucher ID: BISH 14703) Taxon name on voucher: Turnera ulmifolia L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Taveuni Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1958) (voucher ID: BISH 14705) Taxon name on voucher: Turnera ulmifolia L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (p. 663) Vouchers cited: Krauss 1023, Degener & Ordonez 14193, DA 8818, DA 13955
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1964) (voucher ID: BISH 14702) Taxon name on voucher: Turnera ulmifolia L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1941) (voucher ID: BISH 185047) Taxon name on voucher: Turnera ulmifolia L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1966) (voucher ID: BISH 185048) Taxon name on voucher: Turnera ulmifolia L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Mbalavu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (p. 663) Vouchers cited: DA 10220, Garnock-jones 1115
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Mbalavu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1977) (voucher ID: BISH 420632) Taxon name on voucher: Turnera ulmifolia L.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Raro‘ia Atoll	introduced invasive cultivated	Meyer, Jean-Yves/Fourdrigniez, Marie (2008) (p. 15)
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Tubuai Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank L. (2004) (p. 18) Voucher cited: Oppenheimer H80107 (BISH, PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1295-1296)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank L. (2004) (p. 18) West Maui. Vouchers cited: Oppenheimer H50111 (BISH, PTBG), Oppenheimer H50112 (BISH, PTBG), Oppenheimer H60133 (BISH, PTBG), Oppenheimer & Hansen H80301 (BISH, PTBG), Oppenheimer H110110 (BISH, PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1295-1296)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (p. 663)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced	Wester, Lyndon (1992) (p. 151)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Frohlich, Danielle/Lau, Alex (2007) (p. 11) Voucher cited: D. Frohlich s.n. (BISH 725947)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Abemama Atoll	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Imada, Clyde T. (2004) (p. 10) Voucher: Imada 2003-148 (BISH 697760)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Abemama Atoll		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (2003) (voucher ID: BISH 697760) Taxon name on voucher: Turnera ulmifolia L.
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Butaritari Atoll	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Imada, Clyde T. (2004) (p. 10) Voucher: Imada 2003-54 (BISH 697669)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Butaritari Atoll		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (2003) (voucher ID: BISH 697669) Taxon name on voucher: Turnera ulmifolia L.
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Maiana Atoll	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Imada, Clyde T. (2004) (p. 10) Voucher: Imada 2003-102 (BISH 697717)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Maiana Atoll		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (2003) (voucher ID: BISH 697717) Taxon name on voucher: Turnera ulmifolia L.
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Tarawa Atoll	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Imada, Clyde T. (2004) (p. 10) Voucher specimens collected: Imada 2003-25 (BISH 697640); Imada 2003-30 (BISH 697645)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Tarawa Atoll		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (2003) (voucher ID: BISH 697640) Taxon name on voucher: Turnera ulmifolia L.
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Tarawa Atoll		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (2003) (voucher ID: BISH 697645) Taxon name on voucher: Turnera ulmifolia L.
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kili (Kõle) Atoll	introduced invasive cultivated	Vander Velde, Nancy/Vander Velde, Brian (2006) (p. 12) "Common; decorative around many houses, some escaping into the wilds".
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kwajalein (Kuwajleen) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Whistler, W. A./Steele, O. (1999) (p. 103)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Arno Atoll	introduced invasive cultivated	Vander Velde, Nancy/Vander Velde, Brian (2007) (p. 12) "Common; decorative around houses, some plants becoming ruderal, even escaping into forest areas".
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll	introduced invasive cultivated	Vander Velde, Nancy (2003) (p. 129)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Maloelap Atoll		Imada, Clyde (2006)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Mili (Mile) Atoll	introduced invasive	Vander Velde, Nancy/Vander Velde, Brian (2010) (p. A22) Occasional; near homes, escaping into coconut plantations and ruderal areas, some residents complain that once established, cannot be eradicated, Mili, Bar, Nallo. Voucher 0724201006 (BISH, GUAM, PTBG)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Wotje (Wõjjã) Atoll	introduced	Vander Velde, Nancy/Vander Velde, Brian (2009) (p. 3) Voucher cited: Vander Velde 0516200908
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Wotje (Wõjjã) Atoll		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2009) (voucher ID: PTBG 49778) Taxon name on voucher: Turnera ulmifolia
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 99) "Potential invader".
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Maré	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 135) Voucher cited: Suprin in Veillon 6294 (NOU)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Tiga	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 135) Voucher cited: MacKee 45911
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	introduced	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 100) "Potential invader".
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 383) Envahissant à Thio.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 135) Vouchers cited: MacKee 41650, MacKee 43038
Palau Kayangel Atoll	Kayangel Islet	introduced invasive	Miles, Joel (2015) (p. 2) ref cites other taxa as "Cultivated," but not this one, so implication is that this taxon was found in a non-cultivated situation (PT@PhilipT.com/20170602)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Angaur (Ngeaur) Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 88)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Angaur (Ngeaur) Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 13)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 87)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 13)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1996) (voucher ID: BISH 649710) Taxon name on voucher: Turnera ulmifolia L.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Kayangel (Ngcheangel) Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (pp. 8, 13)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 83)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 13)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Malakal (Ngemelachel) Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 83)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Malakal (Ngemelachel) Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 13)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 83)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 13)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Peleliu (Beliliou) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 91)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Peleliu (Beliliou) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 13)
Palau Rock Islands (Chelbacheb)	Ngerchong Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (pp. 7, 13)
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis (‘Uvea) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2007) (pp. 12, 38) Cette plante ornementale à grandes fleurs jaune d’or est localement naturalisée en bordure de route et de piste.

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)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 371)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	introduced invasive	van Steenis, C. G. G. J. et al (1948) (p. 4:238)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	introduced invasive	van Steenis, C. G. G. J. et al (1948) (p. 4:238)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 88) Naturalised

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced invasive	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 130)
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Cocos (Keeling) Islands	Cocos (Keeling) Islands	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1993) (p. 37)
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island	introduced	Stoddart, D. R./Taylor, J. D., eds. (1971) (p. 154) Var. elegans Urb. "Recorded by Willis and Gardiner (1931)".
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Whistler, W. Arthur (1996) (pp. 30, 35)
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1995) (voucher ID: PTBG 38066) Taxon name on voucher: Turnera ulmifolia L.
Maldives Maldive Islands	Addu Atoll		Spicer, R. A./Newberry, D. MacC. (1979) (p. 12)
Maldives Maldive Islands	Malè Atoll		Fosberg, F. R. (1957) (p. 27) "Common generally especially along lagoon shore". Voucher cited: Fosberg 36849 (US)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Agalega Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Stoddart, D. R. (1983) (p. 139) Vouchers cited: Stoddart 7291 (US), Stoddart 7296 (US)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Alphonse Island		Robertson, I. A. D./Robertson, S. A./Fosberg, F. R. (1983) (p. 183) Voucher cited: Robertson 2854 (K)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Coetivy Island		Robertson, S. A./Fosberg, F. R. (1983) (p. 155) Voucher cited: Robertson 3068 (K)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Cousin Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R. (1983) (p. 29) Voucher cited: Fosberg 52035 (US)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	D'Arros Island		Stoddart, D. R./Coe, M. J./Fosberg, F. R. (1979) (p. 23) Vouchers cited: Gwynne & Wood 927 (EA), Gwynne & Wood 950 (EA), Gwynne & Wood 961 (EA), Stoddart 7213 (US)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Frégate Island		Robertson, S. A./Todd, D. M. (1983) (p. 61) Voucher cited: Robertson 2654
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Marie-Louise Island		Wilson, J. R. (1983) (p. 195)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Platte Island		Robertson, S. A./Fosberg, F. R. (1983) (p. 163) Voucher cited: Robertson 3046 (K)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Poivre Island		Robertson, S. A./Fosberg, F. R. (1983) (p. 174) Voucher cited: Robertson 2355 (K)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	St. Joseph Island		Stoddart, D. R./Coe, M. J./Fosberg, F. R. (1979) (p. 46) Voucher cited: Stoddart 7180 (US)

Comments:  See also Turnera subulata.

Control:  If you know of control methods for Turnera ulmifolia, please let us know.