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Report to the Republic of Palau: 2008 update on Invasive Plant ...

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Australia). Its weed risk assessment classifies it as “high risk” with a score <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 13, but we have<br />

not observed it being a problem <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Palau</str<strong>on</strong>g> or <strong>on</strong> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r Pacific islands outside <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hawai‘i.<br />

The African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is present <strong>on</strong> Koror and present and reproducing <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

some extent <strong>on</strong> Babeldaob. It has a risk assessment score <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 9, “high risk”, and thus should be<br />

m<strong>on</strong>i<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>red for spread.<br />

Episcia cupreata (episcia, flame violet) is widely cultivated but is also growing wild <strong>on</strong> rock<br />

walls and in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> forest unders<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>ry, especially in Koror State. It has a risk assessment score <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 3<br />

so it warrents m<strong>on</strong>i<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>ring for spread.<br />

Hemigraphis alternata (metal leaf, red ivy), introduced as an ornamental, is present in dense low<br />

stands at several locati<strong>on</strong>s, sometimes invading under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> forest canopy. Although rated “low<br />

risk” with a risk assessment score <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1, it is shade <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>lerant, spreads in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> forest unders<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>ry over<br />

time and can exclude o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r species.<br />

Hyptis capitata (knobweed) is widely distributed <strong>on</strong> Babeldaob, Koror, Malakal and<br />

Ngerkebesang. It is quite invasive al<strong>on</strong>g roads and in disturbed areas and has a score <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 17 from<br />

a weed risk assessment prepared in Australia.<br />

Inga edulis (ice cream bean) is a tree that is becoming invasive in nor<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rn Queensland. An<br />

example was seen in 2002 growing in fr<strong>on</strong>t <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Palau</str<strong>on</strong>g> Community College. It has a weed risk<br />

assessment score <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2, “evaluate fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r”. The identificati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> this tree should be checked as it<br />

may be I. feuillei.<br />

Murraya paniculata (orange jessamine, mock orange, satin-wood, Chinese box) is cultivated as<br />

an ornamental plant. It has bird-dispersed seeds and thus <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ability <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> spread and has a weed<br />

risk assessment score <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 6 (evaluate fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r). However, it has not been observed as invasive <strong>on</strong><br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pacific islands where it is present. In Asia M. paniculata is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> preferred host <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> insect<br />

pest Diaphorina citri, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> citrus psyllid. The psyllid is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> vec<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>r for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> serious citrus disease<br />

“huangl<strong>on</strong>gbing”.<br />

Passiflora foetida (kudam<strong>on</strong>o, love-in-a-mist) is widespread but does not appear <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> be highly<br />

invasive in <str<strong>on</strong>g>Palau</str<strong>on</strong>g>. It is quite prevalent <strong>on</strong> most Pacific islands and <strong>on</strong> some it is a serious pest.<br />

Occasi<strong>on</strong>al cultivated plants and patches <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pseuderan<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>mum carru<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rsii are present <strong>on</strong><br />

Kayangel, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob, Peleliu and Tobi, but <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2002 survey reported it <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> be a<br />

problem <strong>on</strong> S<strong>on</strong>sorol, where it is expanding in<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> forest al<strong>on</strong>g roads and paths.<br />

Quisqualis indica (Rango<strong>on</strong> creeper) was seen <strong>on</strong> a fence in Ngerkebesang in 2002 and at a<br />

residence in Aimeliik State in <str<strong>on</strong>g>2008</str<strong>on</strong>g>. It is reported <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> naturalize in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> tropics (reproducing from<br />

both seed and suckers), but has yet <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> become a problem in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pacific regi<strong>on</strong>.<br />

Ricinus communis (gelug, maskerekur, uluchula skoki, cas<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>r bean) is present al<strong>on</strong>g roadsides<br />

and in disturbed places <strong>on</strong> Peleliu and Angaur. This species has a weed risk assessment score <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

21 and is a serious invader <strong>on</strong> some Pacific islands. It is not a serious pest <strong>on</strong> Peleliu and Angaur<br />

but might be more <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a problem if introduced <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> Babeldaob where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are more open areas.<br />

19

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