big island invasive species committee rubber vine early...

Don’t confuse with these look alikes:

Purple allamanda

Description: Woody vines which can grow up to 45' in length

Leaves: Thick, glossy and dark green in color

Flowers: 5-petaled, funnel shaped, white to lavender

Fruit: 2"-3" long, oval and filled with many feathery, white seedsMandevilla

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RubbER VINECryptostegia madagascariensis

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Early Detection Target If found call 961-3299

Big Island Invasive Species Committee

Present

Description: A woody, self-supporting vine that can also be trained as a shrub. Stems, leaves, and seed pods produce a milky white sap when broken. Glossy leaves are 3"-4" long x 1"-2" wide. The bell shaped, 5 petaled flowers are pink to light purple in color. Paired seed pods are rigid and appear at the end of the stalk, releasing hundreds of plumed seeds.

Impacts: Rubber vine is considered highly invasive due to its ability to climb and cover trees, form dense, impenetrable thickets, and generally out-compete native vegetation. Rubber vine is also poisonous to cattle and horses, making it an expensive problem for ranchers. The milky sap can cause burning rashes and blisters. When dry, a powdery dust emerges and may cause coughing, nose swelling and eyelid blisters.

Dispersal Mechanism: Seed pods contain hundreds of white seeds with hair-like propellers, which easily disperse in the wind. The seeds are also spread by movements of floodwater and mud, and from machinery and the hooves of animals.

Cultivation: Rubber vine has been cultivated in warmer regions of the world as an ornamental and for the production of rubber. In Hawai‘i, it is occasionally grown as an ornamental.

Don’t confuse with:• Purple allamanda (Allamanda violacea) This showy vine also produces a milky sap.

Purple allamanda can be distinguished from rubber vine by its whorled leaves (arranged like spokes on a wheel). It doesn’t have large seed pods.

• Mandevilla (Mandevilla sanderi) This sap producing vine is considered a safe alterna-tive to rubber vine in landscaping. It can be differentiated by its dark pink to red trumpet-shaped flowers.

! Use CaUtion: toxiC Parts!HWRA Score: 13

Family: Apocynaceae

RubbeR VineCryptostegia madagascariensis

Origin: Madagascar

Big Island Habitat: Cultivated sparingly in Kailua-Kona and Kawaihae, also found growing at 2,100’ elevation. Please report any sightings.

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Honeysuckle Pikake Jasmine

Description: Large, clumping shrub up to 12' high with wavy, lightly hairy branches

Leaves: Shiny, alternate, elliptical, light to medium green, up to 6" long

Flowers: Tubular creamy, greenish, in clusters. Fragrant, night bloomer

Fruit: 1/4" - 1/2" white berries'Ūlei

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NIght-bloomINg JasmINE

Cestrum nocturnum

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Do Not Cultivate


Present

Family: Solanaceae

Description: A fast growing, woody, sprawling shrub from 6'-20' high, with small, tubular, white to greenish flowers along the length of the branches, which are highly fragrant at night.

The branches are often long, woody and curved downward.

Impacts: Night-Blooming Jasmine has naturalized in wet areas of the Big Island where it may form dense, impenetrable thickets. It tolerates shade and has invaded moist and wet forests, displacing native plants. Its strong scent is considered overpowering to many people and is reported to cause sneezing, headaches and nausea. The leaves and fruit are reportedly toxic to livestock and should not be consumed by humans.

Dispersal Mechanism: The copious, small white berries are readily eaten by birds, and may be dispersed over long distances via their intestinal tracts.

Cultivation: Night-Blooming Jasmine is widely cultivated across the Big Island for its strongly scented flowers. This aggressive, invasive plant should no longer be cultivated in Hawai'i.Don’t confuse with:• Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) This sprawling vine produces larger, more open flowers

which are fragrant during the day, rather than at night. • Pikake Jasmine (Jasminum sambac) This vine produces larger, star shaped flowers. • 'Ūlei (Osteomeles anthyllidifolia) This native shrub has dark green, glossy, compound

leaves and produces open, five petaled flowers which are only slightly fragrant.

night-blooming JasmineCestrum nocturnum

Origin: West Indies, Central America

Big Island Habitat: Cultivated widely.

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HWRA Score: 17


Butterflybush

Description: Sparse vine-like shrub up to 25' high with sprawling habit

Leaves: Dark green, alternate, with strong venation, white and hairy on bottom, up to 4" long

Flowers: Fragrant flowers forming slender clusters 10" long, orange, deep yellow to pink

Fruit: 1/4" white to purple berriesSagewood



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smoKEbushBuddleja madagascariensis

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HWRA Score: 21

Family: Buddlejaceae

Description: A fast growing, weedy, vine-like shrub from 6'-25' high, with spikes of small, tubular, orange to yellow flowers.

Impacts: Smokebush has naturalized in wet and mesic areas of the Big Island, where it may form dense, impenetrable thickets. It is uncommonly found from sea level to 4,000 feet elevation. White powder that grows along the stem can cause allergic respiratory reactions when disturbed.

Dispersal Mechanism: The succulent purple berries are readily eaten and dispersed by birds. Smokebush also spreads easily by discarded stems and branches.

Cultivation: Smokebush was sparingly cultivated across the Big Island and has spread from plantings and naturalized in Waimea. This aggressive, invasive plant should no longer be cultivated in Hawai'i.

Don’t confuse with:• Butterflybush(Buddleja davidii) This compact, ornamental bush produces dense

purple, pink or white flower spikes. • Sagewood (Buddleja salviifolia) This ornamental shrub produces hairy, puckered,

sage-like leaves and masses of white to lilac flowers.

smoKebushBuddleja madagascariensis

Origin: Madagascar

Big Island Habitat: Naturalized in mesic to humid forests.

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Dwarf Schefflera

Description: Sprawling tree up to 45'tall branching at the base

Leaves: Light green, palm shaped, with 5-18 leaflets up to 1' long, growing on a stem up to 2' long

Flowers: Small yellow to red flowers, clustered on tentacle like stems held above foliage

Fruit: clusters of bright red to brown berries, occasionally used for lei

Trumpet Tree


Present

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umbRElla tREESchefflera actinophylla

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HWRA Score: 13Family: Araliaceae

Description: A fast growing, tall tree with thin, woody trunks and compound leaves made up of many leaflets arranged in a circle on long stems.

Impacts: Umbrella tree has naturalized in wet lowland areas of the Big Island where it may form dense, impenetrable thickets. It can produce deep shade, inhibiting understory plants and may sprout and begin to grow epiphytically on other trees, eventually strangling them.

Dispersal Mechanism: The copious seeds are spread widely by birds.

Cultivation: Umbrella tree has been widely cultivated and has naturalized in many locations across the entire island. This tree is considered one of the most invasive horticultural plants in Hawai'i.

Don’t confuse with:• DwarfSchefflera(Schefflera arboricola) This compact, bush to small tree has smaller

leaflets 4-8 inches long, and grows much more slowly than umbrella tree. It produces fewer seeds, and flowers much less often, but is also invasive.

• Trumpet Tree (Cecropia obtusifolia) This tall tree has dull, rough textured leaves which

are dark green on top but lighter gray-green on bottom.

umbRElla tREE Schefflera actinophylla

Origin: Australia, New Guinea

Big Island Habitat: Naturalized in wet lowland humid forests.

tREE


Ho'awa

Description: Small tree to 45' tall, densely branched

Leaves: Dark, glossy green, rounded at the ends, up to 4" long

Flowers: Small green to rust colored, in clusters along stems

Fruit: clusters of bright red or purple to brown berries, occasionally used for wine and lei

Wax Myrtle


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FaYa tREEMorella faya

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HWRA Score: 17

Family: MyricaceaeDescription: A fast growing, branching evergreen tree with dense, leathery foliage to 45 feet tall. Copious fruit is produced on female trees.

Impacts: Faya forms dense stands in wet, upland forests choking out native vegetation. The tree also fixes nitrogen from the atmosphere, which favors non-native plant growth. The two-spotted leaf hopper, a common pest of faya, can be spread to native plants nearby.

Dispersal Mechanism: The fruit is relished by birds and small mammals and is spread widely.

Cultivation: Faya was originally cultivated in Hawai'i as an ornamental plant and source of fruit for wine making. It was also used in early attempts at reforestation.

Don’t confuse with:• Ho'awa (Pittosporum hosmeri) This compact, bush to small tree has similar shaped

leaves, but their undersides are hairy and rust colored.

• Wax Myrtle (Morella cerifera) The leaves of this smaller shrubby relative are similar to faya but wax myrtle's fruit is much smaller, rounded and grayish blue.

FaYa tREEMorella faya

Origin: Azores, Canaries and Madeira

Big Island Habitat: Naturalized in wet, upland forests.

tREE


Koa

Description: Tall, densely branching tree 25-50' tall, occasionally up to 150'

Leaves: Light green compound leaves with many small leaflets

Flowers: Clustered white to light yellow spherical flowers 1/4" in diameter

Fruit: Dark, flat pods, 4" long, split open when dry to reveal many dark flat seeds, 1/8" diameter

Koa Haole


Present

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blaCK WattlEAcacia mearnsii

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HWRA Score: 15

Family: Fabaceae

Description: A tall, woody, many branched tree with dense leaves, which forms thickets.

Impacts: Black wattle grows quickly and produces many seeds, closing in pasture and open land. It shades out and displaces native species, especially in drier areas.

Dispersal Mechanism: The many seeds are widely spread by birds and invasive grazing animals. When dry, the pods open explosively, casting many seeds over a wide area. The tree freely produces suckers at the base when disturbed by browsing animals or after fire, creating dense, monotypic stands.

Cultivation: Black wattle was introduced to the Hawaiian Islands in the 1890's as a forestry tree. The bark was used for tanning leather.

Don’t confuse with:• Koa (Acacia koa) The mature leaf-like phyllodes of this native tree are sickle shaped.

• Koa Haole (Leucaena leucocephalla) This widespread invasive tree is much shorter, and produces distinctive flat seed pods.

blaCK WattlEAcacia mearnsii

Origin: Australia

Big Island Habitat: Dry to mesic pastures and forests up to 4,000'.

tREE


Melochia

Description: Medium sized tree, 30-60'tall, densely branched.

Leaves: Very large, oval to heart shaped, sometimes 3 lobed, with hairyundersides

Flowers: Upright clusters of fragrant, showy, pale violet trumpet shaped flowers

Fruit: Dry, brown capsules with four compartments containing thousands of tiny, winged seeds

Pink Trumpet Vine



No sites known

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PRINCEss tREEPaulownia tomentosa

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HWRA Score: 9Family: Scrophulariaceae

Description: A medium sized tree with dense, oval to heart shaped foliage and showy clusters of pale violet flowers in spring. Also called empress tree, royal empress and foxglove tree.

Impacts: Princess tree grows and reproduces very rapidly, displacing native plants and creating thick stands.

Dispersal Mechanism: Large trees can produce 20 million seeds a year which are easily dispersed by wind or water. Seedlings grow very rapidly and can reproduce in 8 years. Princess tree can also reproduce by root sprouts, which may grow up to 15 feet in a year.

Cultivation: Princess tree has been sparingly cultivated on the Big Island, but continues to be widely sold and planted on the US Mainland, where it also is an agressive invasive tree.

Don’t confuse with:• Melochia (Melochia umbellata) The heart shaped leaves of this tree resemble princess

tree, however the flowers and fruit are quite different.

• Pink Trumpet Vine (Podranea ricasoliana) The flowers of this popular cultivated ornamental vine may be confused for those of princess tree, especially when the plant climbs onto adjacent trees.

PRINCEss tREEPaulownia tomentosa

Origin: China

Big Island Habitat: Detected in Waimea and removed

tREE


Awa

Description: Soft-wooded shrub, 3-19' tall, forming large clumps of upright canes

Leaves: Light green, large, heart shaped to oblong, with a distinct central vein. Licorice scented

Flowers: White spike shaped flowers, 1-4" long, held above foliage

Stems: Cane like stems with swollen nodes at intervalsBlack Pepper

Big Island Invasive Species Committee Big Island Invasive Species Committee


Present

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FalsE aWaPiper auritum

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HWRA Score: 15

Family: Piperaceae

Description: A fast growing, soft-wooded shrub from 3-19 feet tall, with upright or sprawling cane like stems and swollen nodes at intervals. The leaves are large, light green, heart shaped to oval and fragrant when crushed. The plant produces numerous white spike-shaped flowers over much of the year. False awa is also called hoja santa and yerba santa.

Impacts: False awa aggressively invades disturbed lowland areas forming thick stands, replacing native vegetation. It yields a vastly inferior product if mistakenly mixed with true awa.

Dispersal Mechanism: Although false awa rarely produces seed, it spreads readily from stem and root shoots. Even small pieces of the plant or root can grow rapidly into new stands.

Cultivation: False awa has been occasionally cultivated for its fragrant leaves used in Meso-American cooking and medicine, and perhaps mistakenly for true awa. This aggressive, invasive plant should not be cultivated in Hawai'i.

Don’t confuse with:• Awa (Piper methysticum) The veins of true awa radiate from a central point at the base

of the leaf. The veins of false awa extend from a central vein which runs the length of the leaf. False awa leaves are lighter green and generally larger than true awa leaves.

• Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) This sparsely cultivated vine has similar leaves but lacks false awa's cane-like stalks.

False aWaPiper auritum

Origin: South America to Mexico

Big Island Habitat: Moist lowland habitats

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Don’t confuse with this look alike:

Mexican Creeper

Description: A woody climbing vine with branches many yards long

Leaves: Compound leaves with leaflets 2-6" long

Flowers: Pink to white, pea blossom shaped flowers in clusters

Seeds: Flat, brownish pod to 2" long.


Present

Do Not Cultivate

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PoIsoN VINEDerris elliptica

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HWRA Score: 7

Family: Fabaceae

Description: A fast growing, woody, climbing vine with reddish brown fuzzy stems, especially when young. Poison vine has deep green, compound leaves to 6 inches long and clusters of small pink to white, pea blossom shaped flowers.

Impacts: Poison vine climbs trees and other vegetation, rapidly killing its hosts by smothering.

Dispersal Mechanism: Stems break off easily and sprout.

Cultivation: Poison vine has been widely planted across the Pacific Basin and in Asia as a source of rotenone, an insecticide and fish poison. This plant was planted in the Hawaiian Islands experimentally for this purpose and has become invasive.

Don’t confuse with:• Mexican Creeper (Antigonon leptopus) This large vine has clusters of pink flowers

which look similar from a distance, however they are not pea shaped and the leaves are single rather than compund.

Poison VineDerris elliptica

Origin: India, Malaysia, Indonesia

Big Island Habitat: Moist lowland habitats

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Rose Cactus

Description: Climbing, vining cactus with fleshy leaves and long thorns in clusters.

Leaves: Light green, fleshy, alternate along soft wood stems. New growth is light yellow to pinkish

Flowers: White, showy, many petaled flowers with pink to orange centers

Fruit: Succulent yellow to orange berries in clusters



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baRbaDos goosEbERRY

Pereskia aculeata

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HWRA Score: 13

Family: Cactaceae

Description: A trailing, vining cactus with dark, woody stems covered with clusters of formidable spines. Leaves are succulent and lack visible venation. Stem segments are extremely hardy and are able to root long after they are cut from the vine. Vines can reach 30 feet in length. Showy white and orange flowers are followed by clusters of yellow to orange berries.

Impacts: Barbados gooseberry spreads rapidly to form dense, thorny, impenetrable thickets.

Dispersal Mechanism: The berries are eaten and spread by birds and small mammals. Stem segments root readily when broken off of the parent plant.

Don’t confuse with:• Rose Cactus (Pereskia grandiflora) This smaller, shrubby relative from Brazil grows to

15 feet high, has larger leaves, to 8 inches long, green pear shaped fruit, 2 to 4 inches long and showy, rose-like flowers which are purple, pink or pinkinsh white. It is som-times cultivated in Hawai'i's gardens and landscapes.

Origin: West Indies, Paraguay, Florida

Big Island Habitat: Dry lowland and coastal habitats

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sbaRbaDos goosebeRRYPereskia aculeata


Mesquite

Description: Small to medium sized tree, to 30' tall, spiny with green bark

Leaves: Long, thin, olive green, needle-like to 10" long

Flowers: Yellow, five petaled, with orange to red spots, in loose clusters

Fruit: Purplish brown to tan lumpy pods to 6" long, containing small, dark brown seeds

Mamane



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JERusalEm thoRNParkinsonia aculeata

HWRA Score: 20

Family: Fabaceae

Description: A small to medium sized tree to 30 feet tall with spiny, distinctly green branches and trunk.

Impacts: Jerusalem thorn grows and reproduces very rapidly, displacing native plants and creating thick, very thorny stands.

Dispersal Mechanism: Trees produce many seed pods which can survive for long periods in the soil. The nutritious seeds are spread widely by birds and small mammals. Suckers also form at the base of trees and along roots when disturbed by grazing animals.

Cultivation: Jerusalem thorn was first planted in Hawai'i by the U.S. Army on Sand and Quarantine Islands in Honolulu Harbor. This spiny tree reseeded rapidly and efforts were soon made to eradicate it wherever it grew. While it has been used elsewhere as a xeriscape plant, this tree should never be cultivated in Hawai'i due to weediness.

Don’t confuse with:• Mesquite (Prosopis pallida) Mesquite (locally called Kiawe) is a larger tree and,

although spiny, lacks the distinct green bark coloring.

• Mamane (Sophora chrysophylla) This small tree, native to Hawai'i's dry forests, has somewhat similar flowers but is not spiny and lacks Jerusalem thorn's green bark.

JERusalEm thoRNParkinsonia aculeata

Origin: West Indies and South America

Big Island Habitat: Dry, disturbed areas, dry coastal areas

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Milo

Description: Soft-wooded shrub to small tree, to 20' tall, with round, green fruit

Leaves: Light to medium green, 3 to 5 lobed, leathery, with marked vein pattern

Flowers: Small, pale green flowers held upright in clusters

Seeds: Brown, oblong nut-like seeds, 1" long, encased in woody brown capsulesKukui


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PhYsIC NutJatropha curcas

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HWRA Score: 17

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Description: A fast growing, soft-wooded shrub to 20 feet tall which produces clusters of round, green fruit and brown pods containing large brown, oblong seeds to 1 inch long.

Impacts: Physic nut is highly tolerant of poor soils and aridity and grows rapidly to form dense stands, diplacing native plants. All parts of the plant, especially the seeds, are toxic.

Dispersal Mechanism: Physic nut is dispersed by long lived seeds.

Cultivation: This plant has been cultivated in many countries for use as biodiesel. The oil rich seeds and ease of cultivation, even on marginal croplands have led to experimental plantings in the developing world. However, yields have been far below expected levels, casting doubt upon its usefulness as a biofuel source. It was planted in the Puna district for use as biofuel. Due to its highly invasive nature, physic nut should not be cultivated in Hawai'i.

Don’t confuse with:• Milo (Thespesia populnea) The fruit of this small tree looks similar when green, but

milo's leaves of are heart shaped, rather than lobed. • Kukui (Aleurites moluccana) The lobed leaves of kukui are similar to physic nut, however they are lighter, silvery-green and the mature kukui is a much larger tree.

PhYsiC nut Jatropha curcas

Origin: Mexico and Central America

Big Island Habitat: Lowland forests

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! Use CaUtion: toxiC Parts!


Toon Tree

Description: Tall, weedy tree, 30-80' in height, forming large stands Leaves: Many small leaflets

forming large compound leaves 1-4' long

Flowers: Clusters of small, pale yellow to greenish flowers held upright

Fruit: Bunches of flat, twisted, red to orange fruit, which become dry, highly aerodynamic capsules, carrying seeds far from the parent plantJhalna Tree



Not Yet Detected

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tREE oF hEaVENAilanthus altissima

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HWRA Score: 21

Family: Simaroubaceae

Description: A tall, fast growing weedy tree up to 80 feet tall, with smooth, gray bark and long compound leaves, which have a distinctive lobe on the first pair of leaflets. Upright clusters of small pale yellow to greenish flowers produce twisted reddish orange fruit and copious seeds. The entire tree emits an odor somewhat like cat urine.

Impacts: Tree of heaven grows rapidly to form dense stands, displacing native plants. It is considered a highly invasive plant in North America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. It rapidly colonizes disturbed ground in waste places and urban areas. At present, only one known infestation has been found in the Hawaiian Islands, on Kaua'i, and was eradicated.

Dispersal Mechanism: Tree of heaven reproduces by copious seeds, which are readily dispersed by wind and by root suckers. This plant produces chemicals which cause seeds from other plants not to germinate.

Don’t confuse with:• Toon Tree (Toona ciliata) The toon tree's leaves resemble tree of heaven's, but toon

lacks the distinctive lobe on the first pair of leaflets and tree of heaven's cat urine odor.

• Jhalna Tree (Terminalia myriocarpa) Jhalna tree leaves also look similar to tree of heaven leaves, and the flower clusters appear somewhat similar, but the jhalna tree lacks the tree of heaven's distinctive lobe on the first set of leaflets and tree of heaven's cat urine odor.

tREE oF hEaVENAilanthus altissima

Origin: China

Big Island Habitat: Not known to be present on the Big Island

tREE


Lollipop Plant

Description: Large spreading shrub to 16' tall which forms dense stands

Leaves: Light green, compound, larger toward the tip. 7-14 pairs of leaflets, 2.5" long

Flowers: Bright yellow, dense, upright spikes

Seeds: Leathery pods held upright, containing up to 60 tan, flat seeds

Rattlepod


Present

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CaNDlE bushSenna alata

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HWRA Score: 10

Family: Fabaceae

Description: A large shrub to 16 feet tall, dense and many branched, with compound leaves and upright, bright yellow flowers, which somewhat resemble candlesticks.

Impacts: Candle bush forms dense, wide stands in mid to low elevation pastures and other open areas, choking out native vegetation.

Dispersal Mechanism: Candle bush suckers profusely and will regrow from even small portions of root left in the ground.

Cultivation: This shrub was brought to the Hawaiian Islands in the late 1800's as an ornamental.

Don’t confuse with:• Lollipop Plant (Pachystachys lutea) The leaves of this common ornamental are single,

not compound, and the flower bracts are flat and scaly, unlike clusters. • Rattlepod (Crotalaria sp.) This weedy herb, common to disturbed lowland areas, has

tri-foliate leaves and the flowers are pea-like.

CanDle bushSenna alata

Origin: Tropical America

Big Island Habitat: Moist lowlands, open land

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English Ivy Grape Ivy

Description: Fleshy, climbing or sprawlingvine to 20', woody at base

Leaves: Medium green, leathery, broad and slightly lobed, hairy on the undersides. 4" long by 2.5" wide

Flowers: Yellow, tubular flowers in dense clusters held above foliage

Seeds: Very small white seeds with tufts of white fuzz


Present

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CaPE IVYDelairea odorata

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HWRA Score: 14

Family: Asteraceae

Description: A fleshy vine to 20 feet long with broad, lobed leaves. In winter, produces many tubular, yellow flowers in clusters.

Impacts: Cape ivy climbs even tall trees rapidly and is a serious pest of mamane forest and other high elevation habitats on Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa and Hualalai. Alkaloids present in the plant are toxic to aquatic life and possibly humans as well.

Dispersal Mechanism: Cape ivy spreads rapidly by runners, which form roots along stems, and also by copious tiny seeds which are dispersed by wind.

Cultivation: Cape ivy was cultivated as an ornamental vine and ground cover. This highly invasive plant should never be cultivated in Hawai'i.

Don’t confuse with:• English Ivy (Hedera helix) Leaves are smaller, darker green and closer together along

the stem. ALSO INVASIVE. • Grape Ivy (Cissus rhombifolia) Leaves have three distinctly separate lobes and are

slimmer. Grape ivy is less densely foliated than cape ivy.

CaPe iVYDelairea odorata

Origin: South Africa

Big Island Habitat: High elevation forests

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Crownflower

Description: Erect, woody shrub to 8' tall

Leaves: Gray-green, leathery, succulent, oblong leaves, 4-6" long. All parts are toxic

Flowers: White to lavender clusters of crown shaped flowers to 1" long

Seeds: Round, green fruit to 5" long filled with thousands of small brown seeds with silky white parachutes


Present

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small CRoWNFloWERCalotropis procera

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HWRA Score: 15

Family: ApocynaceaeDescription: An upright, woody shrub with oblong, leathery gray-green leaves. The plant has an overall hairy appearance. Produces attractive clusters of white to lavender crown-like flowers, and round, green fruit which open to release many small wind borne seeds. Sap causes skin and eye irritation and all plant parts are extremely toxic if ingested.

Impacts: Small crownflower thrives in sunny, low elevation areas, including coastal locations.It forms dense stands, choking out native vegetation.

Dispersal Mechanism: Small crownflower readily produces fruit and seed, unlike its larger, widely cultivated cousin crownflower, which is commonly used for lei. Each pod contains thousands of small brown seeds with parachute-like appendages, which are blown over long distances by even small breezes.

Cultivation: Small crownflower was brought to Hawai'i from Egypt in 1925 for cultivation as an ornamental plant. This cousin of the larger crownflower quickly became a noxious weed and should never be cultivated in Hawai'i.

Don’t confuse with:• Crownflower(Calotropis gigantea) This close cousin is a much larger plant, growing up

to 15 feet tall, resembling a small tree. The leaves are larger, up to 8 inches long, and the flowers are up to 2 inches wide with a more pronounced central column, which are commonly used in lei making. Crownflower is also invasive and common in gardens and cultivated landscapes.

small CRoWnFloWeRCalotropis procera

Origin: Africa, Arabia, India

Big Island Habitat: Dry lowlands and coasts

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! Use CaUtion: toxiC Parts!


Description: Woody, high climbing vine with strangling/smothering habit

Leaves: Medium green, opposite, leathery with drooping habit. New leaves light green to pink

Flowers: White to light pink clusters of fringed flowers with yellow spots on the lips

Seeds: 3-parted, winged brown, woody seeds, 1-2" long

Garlic Vine



Not Yet Detected

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hIPtagEHiptage benghalensis

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HWRA Score: 8

Family: Malpighiaceae

Description: A woody, high climbing vine, resembling a tall shrub when young. Dense medium green foliage with light pinkish new leaves and clusters of yellow to pink fringed flowers.

Impacts: Hiptage climbs very tall trees in moist forests and quickly smothers them with dense foliage.

Dispersal Mechanism: Hiptage seeds are highly aerodynamic and spin far away from the parent plant to colonize more area. It is sometimes called "helicopter plant" because of the spinning seeds.

Don’t confuse with:• Garlic Vine (Mansoa hymenaea) This vine's flowers look similar to those of hiptage but

they are more pinkish than white, and the entire plant smells strongly of garlic.

hiPtageHiptage benghalensis

Origin: Asia; India, Phillippines

Big Island Habitat: Not yet detected

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Description: Large sprawling or climbing herbaceous vine with smothering habit

Leaves: Medium green, hairy with irregular margins, often tinged red to purple, 2 to 3" long

Flowers: Light yel-low to deep orange, funnel shaped flowers with maroon to purple throats, 2" wide

Seeds: Papery calyxes which pop open when ripe, ejecting small, round, dark brown seedsYellow Allamanda


Present

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blaCK EYED susaN VINEThunbergia alata

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HWRA Score: 14

Family: Acanthaceae

Description: A sprawling or climbing herbaceous vine with dense foliage and light yellow to orange, five petaled, funnel shaped flowers with maroon to dark purple throats.

Impacts: Black eyed Susan vine was once widely cultivateed as an ornamental. It has escaped cultivation and now invades native forests, smothering all nearby vegetation. Infestations can be found near Hilo and Volcano Village.

Dispersal Mechanism: Black eyed Susan vine spreads readily by seeds, which are dispersed far from the parent plant as the ripe seeds are forcibly ejected from papery calyxs, and also by root stolons. Even cuttings of the plant will resprout readily.

Don’t confuse with:• Yellow Allamanda (Allamanda cathartica) This common ornamental vine's flowers

have a similar shape, but lack a dark colored throat.

blaCK eYeD susan VineThunbergia alata

Origin: Eastern Africa

Big Island Habitat: Dry and moist forests

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Akala - Hawaiian Raspberry

Description: Sprawling or climbing, spiny shrub, 6' to 9' tall

Leaves: Large, lobed, dull green, with crinkled surface and white under-sides, to 4" long

Flowers: White flowers to 1" across, born in clusters

Seeds: Small, round berries, 1/4" long, with little flavor


Present


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moluCCa RasPbERRYRubus sieboldii

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HWRA Score: 10

Family: Rosaceae

Description: A sprawling or climbing spiny shrub, 6 to 9 feet tall, with large, lobed, dull green leaves which have a crinkled appearance on the tops and white undersides. Flowers are white and appear in clusters followed by small, dull red fruit, 1/4 inch across.

Impacts: Molucca raspberry grows and spreads very rapidly, smothering native vegetation.

Dispersal Mechanism: Molucca raspberry produces copious fruit, which is widely dispersed by birds and mammals. The plant also produces suckers from the base and will also sprout from roots.

Cultivation: Although Molucca raspberry is reported to be a source of useful medicinal compounds, it should never be cultivated in Hawai'i because of its invasive potential.

Don’t confuse with:• Akala (Rubus hawaiiensis) This native raspberry is less spiny, has pink flowers and, like

many other introduced raspberries, has smaller, elongated leaves, unlike the distinctive large, rounded, lobed leaves of Molucca raspberry.

moluCCa RasPbeRRYRubus sieboldii

Origin: Himalayas, Malaysia, Australia

Big Island Habitat: Moist forests

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Faya Tree

Description: Large, densely foliated, spreading shrub, 15'-20' tall

Leaves: Thin, olive green, oblong, alternate leaves, to 4" long. Aromatic when crushed.

Flowers: Small, inconspicuous, pinkish catkins.

Seeds: Green to grayish blue, rounded fruit, 1/4" long, in dense clusters along stems. Fruit is heavily coated with wax.


Present


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tREE

Wax mYRtlEMorella cerifera

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HWRA Score: 19

Family: MyricaceaeDescription: A large, densely foliated, upright shrub to small tree, 15-20 feet tall (sometimes up to 35 feet tall) with thin, alternate, olive green leaves to 4 inches long. Leaves are aromatic when crushed. Flowers are small, inconspicuous, pinkish catkins, followed by rounded, green to grayish blue fruits, densely clustered along stems. Fruit is coated with wax.

Impacts: Wax myrtle grows very rapidly and spreads quickly to become a weedy pest. It is a tough plant, adaped to many climatic conditions, which can quickly displace native vegetation.

Dispersal Mechanism: Wax myrtle produces many seeds, which are dispersed by birds. The plant also produces suckers at the base and can resprout from roots.

Cultivation: Wax myrtle has been cultivated as a landscape ornamental and for use in candle making. This plant has the potential to be highly invasive in Hawai'i and should not be cultivated.

Don’t confuse with:• Faya Tree (Morella faya) This close cousin, also invasive, is a larger plant, growing up

to 45 feet tall. The leaves and flowers look similar but faya tree produces much larger, berry-like fruit.

WaX mYRtleMorella cerifera

Origin: Southeastern United States

Big Island Habitat: Mesic to wet forests

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Firethorn

Description: Multi-stemmed shrub with arching branches to 10' tall

Leaves: Gray-green, leathery, oblong leaves, 1/2"-1" long, with matted white hairs on undersides

Flowers: Clusters of white five petaled flow-ers to 1/4" long

Fruit: Dull red, rounded fruit, 1/4" long, containing 1 - 3 seeds


Present


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CotoNEastERCotoneaster pannosus

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HWRA Score: 7

Family: RosaceaeDescription: A multi-stemmed, woody shrub with arching branches up to 10 feet tall. The 1/2 to 1 inch long leaves are oblong, gray-green and leathery, with matted white hairs on the undersides. Produces clusters of 1/4 inch long, five petaled, white flowers, followed by round, dull red fruit, which contain 1-4 seeds.

Impacts: Cotoneaster forms dense stands in dry open areas, choking out native vegetation.

Dispersal Mechanism: Cotoneaster's seeds are widely dispersed by birds.

Cultivation: Cotoneaster has been cultivated as an ornamental landscape plant above 3,000 feet, however, it has escaped cultivation in Hawai'i and has become a weedy pest. Cotoneaster should never be cultivated in Hawai'i.

Don’t confuse with:• Firethorn (Pyracantha spp.) Firethorn's flowers, fruit and leaves are similar to cotoneas-

ter, but firethorn is covered with formidable spines, which are not found on cotoneaster.

CotoneasteRCotoneaster pannosus

Origin: China

Big Island Habitat: High-elevation pasture or forest

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Cane Grass

Description: Large, clump forming grass to 10' tall

Leaves: Silvery green, sharp edged blades, 4'-6' long

Flowers: White plume like flowers, 6-8" long, held above leaves on 3' stems

Seeds: 1/2" long spike-lets, silver to pink with long bristles


Present


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PamPas gRassCortaderia spp.

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WRA Score: 26

Family: Poaceae

Description: A large, clump forming grass to 10 feet tall, with narrow, sharp edged, silvery green blades, 4-6 feet long. Flowers are white feathery plumes, 6-8 inches long, held above the leaves on 3 foot stalks. Seeds are 1/2 inch long, silver to pink spikelets with long bristles.

Impacts: Pampas grass has been declared a noxious weed in Hawai'i, California, South Africa and other locations. It forms large clumps, displacing native vegetation and increases the risk of fire in native forests.

Dispersal Mechanism: Pampas grass produces abundant seeds which are blown over long distances, up to 15 miles.

Cultivation: While it has been cultivated as an ornamental landscape plant elsewhere, pampas grass is a noxious weed and should never be cultivated in Hawai'i.

Don’t confuse with:• Cane Grass (Cenchrus purpureus) This tall grass grows in patches and has long

bladelike leaves, like pampas grass, but the flower spikes are much more compact and resemble foxtails, instead of feathery plumes.

PamPas gRassCortaderia spp.

Origin: South America, New Guinea, New Zealand

Big Island Habitat: Dry, coastal to wet forest, up to 4,000 feet

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big island invasive species committee rubber vine early...

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