A product of the Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk project (PIER)
Following are some plant species that:
These species are prospects for possible addition to PIER. If you have comments on them, pro or con, (or additional species to nominate) please let us know. If you can contribute information on any you think should be included, it would be greatly appreciated.
| Species | Comments |
| Acacia dunnii (Fabaceae) | "Widely cultivated with occasional escapees becoming established in the Northern Territory [Australia]" (Orchard & Wilson, 2001; p. 152). |
| Acca sellowiana (Myrtaceae) | A potential invasive species in Hawai‘i (Meyer, 2000; p. 97). |
| Allamanda schottii (Apocynaceae) | Reported as possibly an invasive plant in the Galápagos Islands per Charles Darwin Research Station, naturalized in Fiji. |
| Alocasia plumbea (Araceae) | Reported as possibly an invasive plant in the Galápagos Islands per Charles Darwin Research Station. |
| Alpinia vittata (Zingiberaceae) | Reported as possibly an invasive plant in the Galápagos Islands per Charles Darwin Research Station. |
| Alpinia zerumbet (Zingiberaceae) | Reported as possibly an invasive plant in the Galápagos Islands per Charles Darwin Research Station, naturalized elsewhere. |
| Alternanthera ficoidea (Amaranthaceae) | A minor weed in northern Queensland (Barbara Waterhouse, pers. com.) |
| Aptenia cordifolia (Aizoaceae) | A minor weed in New Zealand per Melanie Newfield, pers. com. Reported as possibly an invasive plant in the Galápagos Islands per Charles Darwin Research Station. |
| Asparagus officinalis (Liliaceae) | Reported as possibly an invasive plant in the Galápagos Islands per Charles Darwin Research Station, naturalized in New Zealand. |
| Asparagus scandens (Liliaceae) | Reported as an invasive plant in northern New Zealand (per Melanie Newfield, pers. com.). |
| Avena sativa (Poaceae) | Reported as possibly an invasive plant in the Galápagos Islands per Charles Darwin Research Station, naturalized or invasive elsewhere. |
| Begonia rex (Begoniaceae) | Invasive in La Réunion per Christophe Lavergne, pers. com. Most plants grown under this name are Begonia rex-cultorum hybrids (Staples & Herbst, 2005; p. 177). |
| Berchemia zeyheri (Rhamnaceae) | This species has very valuable wood and may be introduced for this purpose (it was recently proposed for planting in Hawai‘i). Given the possibility of bird and animal dispersal, it should be thoroughly evaluated before introduction. |
| Bougainvillea spectabilis (Nyctaginaceae) | Reported as possibly an invasive plant on Rapa Nui. |
| Bryophyllum gastonis-bonnieri (Crassulaceae) | Other Bryophyllums are invasive. |
| Bulbostylis barbata (Cyperaceae) | Reported to be an invasive species in southeast Asia per Barbara Waterhouse, pers. com. |
| Carica papaya (Caricaceae) | Commonly naturalizing in disturbed areas (especially burned areas) on most Pacific Islands but usually not persisting. Reported as possibly an invasive plant in the Galápagos Islands per Charles Darwin Research Station. |
| Ceratophyllum llerenae (Ceratophyllaceae) | Aquatic plant. Probably not native to the Galápagos Islands, probably introduced per Charles Darwin Research Institute. Another species of this genus is invasive. |
| Ceratopteris pteridoides (Pteridaceae) | Reported as possibly an invasive plant in southeast Asia (per Barbara Waterhouse, pers. com.). |
| Chionanthus intermedius (Oleaceae) | Reported as possibly an invasive plant in the Hawaiian Islands per Meyer, 2000. |
| Citrus medica (Rutaceae) | Reported as possibly an invasive plant in Fiji. |
| Citrus nobilis (Rutaceae) | Reported as possibly an invasive plant in the Galápagos Islands per Charles Darwin Research Station. |
| Cnidoscolus urens (Euphorbiaceae) | |
| Cordia sebestena (Boraginaceae) | Reported as possibly an invasive plant in the Hawaiian Islands per Staples et al., 2000. |
| Coreopsis basalis (Asteraceae) | Reported invasive in Japan (The Research Institute for Bioresources. Okayama University. Laboratory of Wild Plant Science. Naturalized plants from foreign country into Japan). |
| Crescentia cujete (Bignoniaceae) | Locally naturalized in Fiji. |
| Cupressus lusitanica (Cupressaceae) | Reported to be a potentially invasive species in Australia per Csurhes and Edwards, 1998. |
| Cynodon nlemfuensis (Poaceae) | Reported as possibly an invasive plant in the Galápagos Islands per Charles Darwin Research Station. |
| Descurainia sophia (Brassicaceae) | Introduced to Hawai‘i and possibly invasive. |
| Dioscorea sansibarensis (Dioscoreaceae) | Reported to be an invasive species in Singapore per Rejmánek, 1996. |
| Dipogon lignosus (Fabaceae) | Reported to be an invasive species in Australia and New Zealand per Owen, 1997. |
| Dracaena fragrans (Agavaceae) | Reported to be an invasive species in Australia per Barbara Waterhouse, pers. com. |
| Durio zibethinus (Bombacaceae) | Reported to be a potential invader in the Solomon Islands (Wairiu and Wagatora, 2002; pp. 15-17). |
| Echium candicans (Boraginaceae) | Reported as an invasive plant in California per Nancy Vander Velde, pers. com. |
| Etlingera elatior (Zingiberaceae) | Escaped from cultivation in Hawai‘i (Kaua‘i) per David Lorence, pers. com. |
| Eulophia graminea (Orchidaceae) | Reported as an invasive species in Australia per Barbara Waterhouse, pers. com., and Smith, 2002. |
| Euphorbia tirucalli (Euphorbiaceae) | Naturalized on Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i. |
| Ficus carica (Moraceae) | Reportedly naturalized in New Zealand. |
| Gynerium sagittatum (Poaceae) | Reported as possibly an invasive plant in the Galápagos Islands per Charles Darwin Research Station. |
| Hedychium coccineum (Zingiberaceae) | Reported as an invasive species in Jamaica. |
| Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Malvaceae) | Reported as possibly an invasive plant in the Galápagos Islands per Charles Darwin Research Station. |
| Hibiscus schizopetalus (Malvaceae) | Reported as possibly an invasive plant in the Galápagos Islands per Charles Darwin Research Station. |
| Hypericum japonicum (Clusiaceae) | |
| Inga insignis (Fabaceae) | Reported as possibly an invasive plant in the Galápagos Islands per Charles Darwin Research Station. |
| Ipomoea lobata (Convolvulaceae) | Reported invasive in Tanzania (Rejmánek, 1996). |
| Ixophorus unisetus (Poaceae) | |
| Kalanchoe blossfeldiana (Crassulaceae) | Cultivated in the Galápagos Islands; other Kalanchoe species are invasive. |
| Kalanchoe eriophylla (Crassulaceae) | Cultivated in the Galápagos Islands; other Kalanchoe species are invasive. |
| Kalanchoe grandiflora (Crassulaceae) | Reported as an invasive plant in New Zealand. |
| Lepidium densiflorum (Brassicaceae) | Naturalized in Hawai‘i and New Zealand |
| Leptochloa virgata (Poaceae) | Naturalized in Hawai‘i. |
| Mentha arvensis (Lamiaceae) | Reported invasive in southeast Asia (Barbara Waterhouse, pers. com.). |
| Mollugo verticillata (Molluginaceae) | |
| Morinda citrifolia (Rubiaceae) | Reported as possibly an invasive plant in the Galápagos Islands per Charles Darwin Research Station. |
| Myroxylon balsamum (Fabaceae) | Reported to be invasive in wet and intermediate zones, sub-montane forest in Sri Lanka (Pallawatta et al., 2003; p. 93). |
| Nasturtium officinale (Brassicaceae) | Naturalized and more or less invasive in La Réunion per Christophe Lavergne, pers. com. |
| Oryza rufipogon (Poaceae) | Reported to be an invasive plant in southeast Asia (Barbara Waterhouse, pers. com.). |
| Pedilanthus tithymaloides (Euphorbiaceae) | Reported naturalized in New Caledonia. |
| Peltophorum pterocarpum (Fabaceae) | Planted as an ornamental tree. Some naturalizing reported in Hawai‘i (Starr, pers. com.). |
| Phyllanthus emblica (Euphorbiaceae) | A potentially invasive species in Australia (Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; p. 123). |
| Plectranthus unguentarius (Lamiaceae) | Reported as possibly an invasive plant in the Galápagos Islands per Charles Darwin Research Station. |
| Polygala myrtifolia (Polygalaceae) | Reported to be an invasive species in New Zealand (Owen, 1997; p. 86). |
| Pseuderanthemum bicolor (Acanthaceae) | Reported as possibly an invasive plant in Fiji (Meyer, 2000; p. 92). |
| Rhamnus alaternus (Rhamnaceae) | Reported as an invasive plant in New Zealand (Owen, 1996). |
| Ruellia malacosperma (Acanthaceae) | Reported as possibly an invasive plant in the Galápagos Islands per Charles Darwin Research Station. |
| Schoenoplectus juncoides (Cyperaceae) | Reported as possibly an invasive plant in southeast Asia (Barbara Waterhouse, pers. com.). |
| Sinapis arvensis (Brassicaceae) | Collected once in Hawai‘i; reported to be widely naturalized. |
| Solanum betaceum (Solanaceae) | Reported naturalized in New Zealand. |
| Solanum sisymbriifolium (Solanaceae) | Reported invasive in Spain. A noxious weed in South Africa (Henderson, 1995; p. 177). |
| Tamarindus indica (Fabaceae) | Reported naturalized in several countries. |
| Thalia geniculata (Marantaceae) | Aquatic weed collected in Hawai‘i. |
| Thaumatococcus daniellii (Marantaceae) | A potential invasive species in Australia (Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; p. 131). |
| Triplaris americana (Polygonaceae) | A declared noxious weed in South Africa. |
| Typha angustifolia (Typhaceae) | Reported to be invasive in Southeast Asia ((Waterhouse, 1993) and elsewhere (Holm et al., 1997). |
| Urochloa fusca (Poaceae) | Reported to be invasive. Other Urochloa species present in the Pacific region and are invasive. |
| Wisteria sinensis (Fabaceae) |
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This page was last updated on 15 Dec 2008.