(Ficus religiosa)

Family: Moraceae

Description: A fig tree native to India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, southwest China and Indochina.  A decidious or semi-deciduous tree that can grow up to 60 to 100 feet tall and 60 to 100 feet wide.  The trunk of the tree can have a diameter of up to 9.8 feet.  This tree has dark green heart shaped leaves with a long distinctive tip.  Some people may confuse the leaf with the Milo tree.  The leaves are about 4-6 inches long and about 3-4  inches broad with a 2-4 inch stem.  The fruit is a small green fig 1-1.5 cm in diameter that turns purple when ripe.

Harm:  Once thought to be able to spread only by cuttings, the Bo tree is now able to reproduce by seed, following the recent arrival of a pollinator wasp.  Seedlings are beginning to emerge far from an established tree site.  These trees establish dense stands that dramatically alter ecosystems.  This tree displaces and shades out native species.  It has a high longevity and produces billions of seeds during its lifetime.  We have found seedlings in   stonewalls, cement walkways, and storm drains.

 

Download Bo Tree Flier

(Photo Descriptions: Albizia leaf pattern, Albizia growing on side of highway)

→ URGENT: IF YOU SUSPECT YOU’VE FOUND ALBIZIA ON MOLOKAI PLEASE REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY. CALL (808) 336-0625 or EMAIL US at molokaiinvasive@gmail.com ←

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Status on Molokai: In 2008, a 15 acre stand of Albizia was discovered growing on private lands in the north central forest area of Molokai. Control work was conducted and crews routinely revisit the infest site to survey and to control any new growth.

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Description

• Large tree up to 150ft tall
• Extremely fast growing, up to 15 ft per year
• Prone to “sudden limb shear” or “sudden branch drop.” This phenomenon is defined as the sudden failure and collapse of live branches with no sign of physical weakness, and without apparent cause.
• Produces large quantities of wind dispersed seeds

Impacts

• Capable of altering an entire ecosystem by increasing soil nitrogen levels
• Quickly outcompetes and shades out native Hawaiian forest plants
• Reduces habitat quality for native bird species
• Fallen trees and limbs can block roads, and waterways
• Fallen trees and limbs can cause damage infrastructure and property
• Large trees are costly to remove

Distribution on other islands

• Kauai: Widespread
• Oahu: Widespread
• Maui: Widespread with restricted populations in West Maui
• Lanai: Relatively small populations located centrally
• Kahoolawe: None known.
• Big Island: Widespread

Scientific Name: Falcataria moluccana

Additional Resources:

Albizia FAQ’s from BIISC

State Strategic Plan for Albizia

Scientific name: Montanoa hibiscifolia

Common names: Tree daisy, bush daisy, montanoa, anzac flower

Description:

• Large, branched shrub to 12 ft tall
• Leaves are broad, up to 1.8 ft long by 1 ft wide, and are usually deeply lobed, hairy
• Showy sprays of daisy-like flowers bloom in winter; disk yellow, ray petals white
• Seeds are dark reddish brown,about 1 inch long in rounded, papery, old flower-heads (see photos)
• Prefers drier mesic areas

Harm:

• Forms dense monospecific stands, displacing native plant and animal species
• known to invade roadsides, disturbed areas, wastelands, urban open spaces, savannahs, woodlands, foreest edges/gaps and riverbanks

 

aka Rubber Vine (Cryptostegia grandiflora) and (C. madagascariensis)

Family: Asclepidaceae

The Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources has designated this species as one of Hawaii’s Most Invasive Horticultural Plants.

Description:

• Fast growing, climbing plant usually with pinkish-purple flowers (sometimes white to pink or light purple). Can also grow as a bush.
• Shiny, dark green leaves that are about 7 cm (3 in) long, with triangular, 10 cm long (4 in) seedpods that grow in wing-like pairs.
• Native to Madagascar, introduced to Hawaii as drought-resistant ornamentals.

Harm:

• Grows over other plants and trees to 13 m (45 ft) high, smothering and killing other vegetation.
• Twines tightly around other plants and restricts their growth.
• Extremely poisonous: it contains cardiac glycosides, which interfere with heart operation in humans and animals when the plant is eaten.
• When the vine is dry, a powdery dust emerges and can cause violent coughing, swelling of the nose, and blistering of the eyelids.
• Contact with the plant’s milky sap can cause burning rashes and blisters.
• Each seedpod contains 340-840 seeds, silky hairs on seeds allow them to spread by wind and water, seeds are also known to float and survive for a month in salt water before being washed ashore to sprout.
• Introduced to Western Australia, now considered one of the 10 worst invasive plants.

In Hawaii:

• Kauai – Present in limited numbers in ornamental settings, but not a KISC target at this time. Property owners are encouraged to remove this plant from their land (carefully).
• Oahu – Present in landscaped areas including Diamond Head, Hawaii Kai and Bishop Museum; infestations also occur. OISC is currently determining the feasibility of controlling rubbervine. All population sightings should be reported to OISC for mapping and assessment.
• Maui – There are a few sites on Maui that are being controlled by MISC. Unfortunately, rubbervine is widely available to the public through internet seed companies, few of which describe the plant’s invasive qualities.
• Molokai – One large infestation is known, from a couple of original plants distributed by a home gardener in East Molokai. MoMISC is unable to control this infestation with current resources. Landowners are encouraged to control this plant and to call MoMISC for control advice.
• Lanai – Presence/absence unknown
• Kahoolawe – None known

For more information, see:

• Cryptostegia grandiflora information from HEAR
• Cryptostegia grandiflora information from PIER
• Cryptostegia grandiflora information from ISSG
• Cryptostegia madagascariensis information from HEAR
• Cryptostegia madagascariensis information from PIER

Download Rubbervine Pest Flyer

(Phormium tenax)

Family: Agavaceae

Description:

• Plant to 2 m (6 ft) tall, with smooth, leathery, sword-shaped leaves that grow clumped in a fan shape
• Native to New Zealand, introduced as an ornamental in the late 1800’s; introduced to Molokai in late 1960s-early 1970s

Harm:

• Crowds out other vegetation and blocks sunlight
• Plants may have as many as 10,000 seeds/flower that spread with the wind
• Also produces clones, which sprout up and spread out
• Known pest on St. Helena Island

In Hawaii:

• Kauai – Present in landscaped areas.
• Oahu – Present in landscaped areas.
• Maui – Present in landscaped areas.
• Molokai – Present in native high-elevation ohia-uluhe rainforest in Kamakou Reserve, Puu Kauwa, Molokai Forest. MoMISC is working to control this pest where possible.

For more information, see:

• Phormium tenax information from HEAR
• Phormium tenax information from PIER

Download New Zealand Flax Pest Flyer

(Pereskia aculeata)

Family: Cactaceae

Description:

• Woody shrub when young, grows into climbing, leafy cactus, with branches are up to 11m (33 ft) long
• Fragrant flowers (can be lemon, sweet, or repulsive smelling) and round yellow-red berries
• Native to the West Indies and the northern coast of South America, introduced intentionally for horticulture (as an ornamental or for its fruit)

Harm:

• Forms dense, thorny thickets in low elevations, overgrows and replaces other plants
• Spread by birds and animals that eat the fruit
• Has become a major weed in South Africa where it is an escaped ornamental

In Hawaii:

• Molokai – Present in Halawa Valley. MoMISC is working to eradicate this species.
• Oahu – Known from cultivation at experiment stations in Honolulu and Haleiwa. Not currently an OISC target. Landowners are asked to remove this pest and replace with a non-invasive alternate.
• Kauai, Lanai, Kahoolawe – Presence/absence unknown

For more information, see:

• Pereskia aculeata information from HEAR
• Pereskia aculeata information from PIER

Download Barbados Gooseberry Pest Flyer