Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR)

Piper auritum
(Piperaceae)

Vera Cruz pepper, anise piper, eared pepper, root beer plant

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HEAR CLOSING      HEAR CLOSING      HEAR CLOSING

A message from Dr. David Duffy, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit (PCSU), University of Hawaii (posted 05 November 2012):

Because of a lack of funds, HEAR (www.hear.org) may close as soon as December 15, although there may be enough funds to extend it until February 15. This will mean several things. The web site will be placed on a new server although it is not clear who will pay for the server or for transitioning the site. HEAR data will not be updated. The Pacific Ecosystems at Risk (PIER) (http://www.hear.org/pier/abtproj.htm) site will also become frozen, as will numerous books, reports and papers (http://www.hear.org/). As software evolves we will likely lose the ability to access the data. The various list servers will need new owners, otherwise moderated lists will cease to function altogether, while other lists will not be able to add or delete members. The photo collection (http://www.hear.org/starr/images/?o=plants) will remain accessible, but only through a third party site that will charge for access.

I should point out that we have already lost the original homes of both the Pacific Basin Information Node (PBIN) and Pacific Ecosystems at Risk (PIER) although they have found temporary refuges. Together with HEAR, they represent the corporate memory both here in Hawaii and across the Pacific of efforts to sustain our natural ecosystems and agriculture against problems caused by species alien to the islands. HEAR also serves as the glue that holds the community together, providing information and facilitating communication. I just hope hindsight is kind to this decision.

PLEASE SEND YOUR COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS TO webmaster@hear.org

Let us know if you have suggestions for additional references to add to this page.

False kava (Piper auritum) is a shrub-like plant that can grow to 19 feet high. It is sometimes mistakenly planted as true kava (Piper methysticum). However, the leaves differ from true kava, which are smaller and darker green; false kava leaves are larger and lighter green. There is a characteristic root beer or anise-like odor when leaves are crushed. True kava is used to create an herbal drink, but Piper auritum is reportedly detrimental to kava-producing areas, as it is evidently inferior in quality to Piper methystichum and can, if exported as true "kava," reduce the marketing value of true kava from places where this substitution is practiced. 

Species description or overview

Piper auritum information from PIER
Information on Piper auritum as relevant to Pacific Islands is provided by the Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk project (PIER).


Taxonomy & nomenclature

GRIN nomenclature info for Piper auritum
Nomenclatural information about Piper auritum is provided by USDA/ARS/NGRP/GRIN.

Piper auritum information from ITIS
The Integrated Taxonomic Information System ITIS provides authoritative taxonomic information on Piper auritum, as well as other plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

IPNI nomenclature info for Piper auritum
Nomenclatural information about Piper auritum is provided by The International Plant Names Index (IPNI).


Pest alerts

False awa "Weed of the Week" pest alert View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
False awa is the featured "Weed of the Week" on the radio program sponsored by Kauai Community Radio and the Kauai Invasive Species Committee (KISC). This pest alert is available on KISC's "Weed of the Week" site.


Impacts

False awa (false kava) (Piper auritum) Weed of the Week radio program transcript View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
False awa is the featured "Weed of the Week" on the radio program sponsored by Kauai Community Radio and the Kauai Invasive Species Committee (KISC). This transcript describes the impacts of this species on Kauai.

Piper auritum (Piperaceae): species information from GCW
Information on Piper auritum as relevant to Pacific Islands is provided by the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).


Risk assessments

Piper auritum weed risk assessment for Hawaii-Pacific
Results of a weed risk assessment for Piper auritum for the Hawaii-Pacific region are presented by the Hawaii-Pacific Weed Risk Assessment team.


Control methods

Piper control methods View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
Potential control methods of false kawa are in this memo from USDA Forest Health Coordinator.


Images

Images of Piper auritum from HEAR
Images of Piper auritum (Piperaceae) (false awa, false kava) are presented by the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Photos of Piper auritum on Pohnpei
Images of Piper auritum on Pohnpei are presented here, along with copies of selected e-mail correspondence about this species.

Images of Piper auritum (Piperaceae) (false awa)
Links to high-resolution free images of Piper auritum (Piperaceae) (false awa) by Forest & Kim Starr (USGS) are available here.

Piper auritum information from the Smithsonian Flora of the Hawaiian Islands
Information about Piper auritum in Hawaii is available from the Smithsonian Flora of the Hawaiian Islands.

Piper auritum images from PIER
Images of Piper auritum provided by the Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk project (PIER).


Distribution

Piper auritum information from the Smithsonian Flora of the Hawaiian Islands
Information about Piper auritum in Hawaii is available from the Smithsonian Flora of the Hawaiian Islands.

False awa (Piper auritum) overview from the Hawaii Invasive Species Council (HISC).
Description, impacts, images, and distribution in Hawaii of false kava are from HISC's high-profile invasive pests site.


Full-text articles

Control of non-native plants in natural areas of Florida
Langeland, K.A. and R.L. Stocker. (1997-)2001. Control of non-native plants in natural areas of Florida. SP 242, one of a series of the Department of Agronomy, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. First printed: 1997. Revised: April, 2001.


Radio shows

False awa (false kava) (Piper auritum) Weed of the Week radio program transcript View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
False awa is the featured "Weed of the Week" on the radio program sponsored by Kauai Community Radio and the Kauai Invasive Species Committee (KISC). This transcript describes the impacts of this species on Kauai.


Other resources

A report of Piper auritum as an invasive species (10 APR 2000). View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
Observations of false kawa on Pohnpei are in this memo from USDA Forest Health Coordinator.

Piper auritum in Hawaii: notes from Bishop Museum botanist View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
Information about Piper auritum's status in Hawaii is provided by George Staples (botanist, Bishop Museum [Honolulu]).


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The Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR) is currently funded by grants from the Hau'oli Mau Loa Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service with support from PCSU (UH Manoa). Historically, HEAR has also received funding and/or support from the Pacific Basin Information Node (PBIN) of the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII), PIERC (USGS), the USFWS, HCSU (UH Hilo), and HALE (NPS).

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