ISBN 978-979-8275-49-4

ISBN 000-000

75 Important
Invasive Plant Species

Sri Sudarmiyati Tjitrosoedirdjo

Imam Mawardi
Soekisman Tjitrosoedirdjo

Published by
SEAMEO BIOTROP
Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Tropical Biology
Bogor, Indonesia
www.biotrop.org
 PREFACE
This book has been produced in response to a need for informing the public about
Invasive Alien Plant Species (IAPS). Seventy five species were selected as the first effort
to raise the knowledge on invasive plant species. This book was inspired by strong
suggestions from colleageues, friends, students and general public for recognizing
Indonesian IAPS. It is hoped that this book will some way enhance the level of
awareness on IAPS and help to identify IAPS by visual comparison. For each IAPS, a
colored picture and a brief description will be sufficient for identification. Correct
identification is a great important in deciding their control and management.

Weeds of agricultural ecosystem is wellknown by public, however, environmental weeds

or invasive alien plant species are relatively new for the public. IAPS mostly are
introduced species, few are local species which could also become invasive in disturbed
ecosystem. Weeds and invasive plant species are very often neglected by collectors or
botanists, even though the plants are already abundant in a certain areas. However,
there many have been specimen that are not yet recorded in herbaria or included in the
local flora.

The idea to write this book arose from many inquiries and experiences by the authors in
conducting research, field works as well as observing herbarium notes and organizing
training course on weeds and IAPS. Therefore, we are fully aware that the present
information and the number of species included in this book are only a fraction of the
IAPS in Indonesia. Other group of IAPS such as sedges, terrestrial ferns and some
grasses are not included in this book.

We hope that this book is beneficial for the users and provides a reliable information,
especially in understanding and identifying IAPS that are spreading across Indonesia.

This book is published with the funding support from SEAMEO BIOTROP DIPA
Project 2016.

Bogor, September 2016

Authors

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 FOREWORD
Popular book on Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia are very few. Identifying and
tackling invasive alien plant species are challenging for general people. On the other
hand, it is important to develop public awareness on invasive plant species which threaten
environment in Indonesia.

We are proud to present a reader friendly book on Invasive Plant Species. I am convinced
that this book titled "75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia" will have
significant and important role in understanding Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia.

This book is accompanied by photograph of the species, scientific name, synonym, local
name, origin, description, references, index of scientific name and local name. Glossary
is provided as an explanation of the technical terms.

SEAMEO BIOTROP has been working on weeds since their early development in 1968,
and after the issue on Invasive Species in 1992, BIOTROP also expanding to work on
Invasive Plant Species.

This is the first BIOTROP publication book on Invasive Plant Species. Previous book
published by BIOTROP were on weeds such as "Aquatic Weed of Southeast Asia in
collaboration with the University of the Philippine at Los Banos (1978) and a
monumental book Weeds of Rice in Indonesia (1987).

I would like to congratulate the authors for their good work in preparing this book.

Bogor, September 2016

Dr Irdika Mansur, M.For.Sc.

Director of SEAMEO BIOTROP

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 CONTENTS
PREFACE….. i
FOREWORD…..iii
CONTENTS….. v
INTRODUCTION….. vii
SPECIES ACCOUNTS….. 1

Acacia auriculiformis….. 1 Imperata cylindrica….. 31

Acacia decurrens….. 2 Ipomoea cairica….. 32
Acacia mangium….. 3 Ipomoea carnea….. 33
Ageratina riparia….. 4 Ipomoea indica….. 34
Alternanthera philoxeroides….. 5 Ipomoea triloba….. 35
Arenga obtusifolia….. 6 Jatropha gossypiifolia ….. 36
Asystasia gangetica subsp. micrantha….. 7 Lantana camara….. 37
Austroeupatorium inulifolium….. 8 Leucaena leucocephala….. 38
Bartlettina sordida….. 9 Ludwigia peruviana ...... 39
Bellucia axinanthera..... 10 Maesopsis eminii….. 40
Bidens biternata….. 11 Melastoma affine….. 41
Bidens pilosa….. 12 Merremia peltata….. 42
Brugmansia suaveolens….. 13 Mikania micrantha….. 43
Calliandra calothyrsus ….. 14 Mimosa diplotricha….. 44
Cecropia peltata….. 15 Mimosa pigra….. 45
Cenchrus polystachios….. 16 Mimosa pudica..... 46
Cestrum aurantiacum….. 17 Momordica charantia ...... 47
Chimonobambusa quadrangularis….. 18 Montanoa hibiscifolia….. 48
Chromolaena odorata….. 19 Mucuna bracteata….. 49
Cinchona pubescens…..20 Muntingia calabura…..50
Cissus sicyoides….. 21 Musa acuminata….. 51
Clibadium surinamense….. 22 Passiflora edulis….. 52
Clidemia hirta….. 23 Passiflora foetida….. 53
Cobaea scandens….. 24 Passiflora ligularis….. 54
Crassocephalum crepidioides….. 25 Piper aduncum….. 55
Eichhornia crassipes….. 26 Pistia stratiotes….. 56
Erechtites valerianifolia….. 27 Podachaenium eminens….. 57
Etlingera coccinea….. 28 Ricinus communis….. 58
Euphorbia heterophylla...... 29 Rivina humilis….. 59
Hydrilla verticillata…..30 Rottboellia cochinchinensis …..60

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Salvinia molesta….. 61 Strobilanthes hamiltoniana ….. 69
Solanum chrysotrichum….. 62 Themeda villosa…..70
Solanum verbascifolium….. 63 Thespesia lampas….. 71
Spathodea campanulata ….. 64 Thunbergia grandiflora….. 72
Sphagneticola trilobata ….. 65 Tithonia diversifolia ….. 73
Stachytarpheta indica …. 66 Vachellia nilotica….. 74
Stachytarpheta jamaicensis….. 67 Wedelia biflora…..75
Stachytarpheta urticifolia ….. 68

PHOTO CREDITS….. 77
REFERENCES….. 79
GLOSSARY….. 87
INDEX OF SCIENTIFIC NAMES….. 93
INDEX OF LOCAL NAMES….. 99

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 INTRODUCTION
Indonesia with its many large and small islands, has a great diversity of plants. However,
natural disasters, logging and other human activities could destroy the habitat and reduce
biodiversity.

As people move arround the world, they bring together plants with them (Weber 2003).
Expanding global trade in agriculture, forestry and other industries that depend on raw
materials has allowed the transport of species to various parts of the world including
Indonesia.

During the colonial time several attemps were made by botanist to introduce plant species
from many parts of the world. Some of them became naturalized and invasive as weeds.

Some of the invasive plant species have been well recognized as weeds in agricultural
production systems, while weeds in natural habitat have been recognized as
environmental weeds. Environmental weeds have received increasing attention, because
their impact on biodiversity (Groves 1999). Invasive Alien Plant Species (IAPS) are
taxonomically diversed. Some local species are extinct or at the risk of being out-
competed by IAPS and many native ecosystems have been irreversibly lost to invations.

IAPS are mostly introduced species. Few are local species which could also become
invasive and disturb ecosystems.

The United Nation Convention on Biodiversity or Convention on Biological Diversity

(CBD) which was declared in 1992 was ratified by the Indonesian Government in 1994.
Protecting our biodiversity will be very valuable to development in the future.

SEAMEO BIOTROP has been working on weeds since their early development.
Nowadays, not only weeds cause considerable agricultural losses, degrading catchment
areas and fresh water ecosystem, but also IAPS constitute one of the leading threats to
natural ecosystem and biodiversity. In 2003 and 2005 SEAMEO BIOTROP and
Indonesian Ministry of Environment made an inventory of introduced or alien plant
species in Indonesia based on the existing references and information from herbarium
collections. There were 1,936 species belong to 187 families recorded at the reports. Field
studies were not conducted, if field studies were conducted, there should have been more
specimen recorded (Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup and SEAMEO BIOTROP 2003;

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Tjitrosoedirdjo & Tjitrosemito 2006; Tjitrosoedirdjo 2005). From these records 17.5%
of the total record number are clasified as weeds.

After 2005 there are many information on Indonesian IAS and a great sources of
information are scattered in articles, publications and databases (Tjitrosoedirdjo 2005;
Irianto et al. 2011; Mutaqien et al. 2011; Padmanaba & Sheil 2011; Sumadijaya 2012;
Sunaryo et al. 2012; Junaedi et al. 2013, Master et al. 2013; Sutomo 2013; Wahyuni &
Tjitrosoedirdjo 2013; Padmanaba & Sheil 2014; Santosa et al. 2014; Tjitrosemito et al.
2015; Tjitrosoedirdjo et al. 2015).

The 75 IAPS in this book are arranged alphabetically based on the scientific name of the
species, completed with information on family, synonym, local name or vernacular name
mostly in Indonesian (Ind.), Javanese (Jav.), Sundanese (Sund.) and few from other local
languages (Madura (Mad.) and Lampung). Origin of the species is the native range of the
species. Some of the species have unclear origin. Distribution information is on the
species distribution in Indonesia. Description explains short feature of the species.
Notes contain important information on the species based on notes from herbarium
specimens, articles, websites and personal observations in the fields. References provide
sources of information for each species.

We are grateful for the support we have received from many colleagues, friends and
institutions in the making of this book: Mr Ardi Ardana, Dr Julisasi T. Hadiah,
Mr Sutomo, Mr Sophian, Ms Monica and Mr Nanang. Our deepest appreciation goes
to to the following staff of BIOTROP for their hard work in completing of this book:
Mr Setiabudi, Ms Indah Wahyuni and Mr Saiful Bachri. We are especially grateful to some
institutions: SEAMEO BIOTROP, Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park, Baluran
National Park, Registration Section of Bogor Botanical Garden, Registration Section and
Staff of Cibodas Botanic Garden, Herbarium Bogoriense (BO), FORIS (Forest Invasive
Species in Southeast Asia Project-Indonesia) and CRC-990 Effort for their facilities
provided to the authors.

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth.

Family: Mimosaceae or Fabaceae/Leguminosae subsp. Mimosoideae
Synonym:
Acacia moniliformis Griseb.
Racosperma auriculiforme (Benth.) Pedley
Local name: akasia (Ind.); ki hia (Sund.)
Origin : Eastern part of Indonesia (Maluku, Papua) and Northern Queensland, Australia
Description: Evergreen tree up to 15 m height. Leaves alternate, reduced as phyllodes a
blade like, slightly curve with 3-7 parallel veins. Flowers in loose, yellow creamy spikes at
leaf axils or in clusters of spikes at stem tips, sweet scented. Fruit is oblong pod, initially
straight but on maturity it is twisted, seeds are black attached by orange string like aril.
Distribution: Sumatera, Java, Kalimantan and Eastern part of Indonesia
Notes: It was introduced to Sumatera and Kalimantan for forest plantation for pulp
productions and agroforestry projects in Java. It escapes from cultivation and becomes
problem at the surrounding areas. In Java it is commonly used as roadside trees.

References: 7, 22, 46

Tree of Acacia auriculiformis (upper

left); pods with seeds (bottom left);
branches with flowers and young
fruits (top right); flowers (bottom
right)

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Acacia decurrens Willd

Family: Mimosaceae or Fabaceae/Leguminosae subsp. Mimosoideae
Synonym:
Acacia decurrens Willd. var. angulata (Desv.) Benth.
Acacia mearnsii de Wild.
Mimosa angulata (Desv.) Poir.
Mimosa decurrens Wedl.
Local name: akasia gunung (Ind.); soga pedut (Jav.)
Origin: Australia
Description: A fast growing tree 2-10 (15) m height. The bark is brown to dark grey in
color. Leaves are alternate with dark green color in both sides, the base of the petiole is
swollen to form pulvinus; leaves are blade bipinnate. Flowers are bisexual with small,
white or pale yellow axillary raceme or terminal panicle. Fruit is elongated with flattened
pod. Pod contains dark brown seeds
Distribution: Java, South Sulawesi, around Toba Lake in Sumatera and Bali.
Notes: Cultivated as ornamental or shade tree in tea or cinchona plantation. Dense
population was found at Merapi Mountain National Park 6 years after eruption in 2010.
One of the variety of A. decurrens i.e. Acacia decurrens var. mollis Lindl. is also called as
Acacia mearnsii De Wild.
References: 18, 51, 61, 70

Dense population of Acacia decurrens at Cangkringan, Mount Merapi, Yogyakarta (top left);
branches with flowers (top right); inflorescences (bottom left); pod (bottom right)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Acacia mangium Willd.

Family: Mimosaceae or Fabaceae/Leguminosae subsp. Mimosoideae
Synonym:
Mangium montanum Rumph.
Racosperma mangium (Willd.) Pedley
Local name: akasia mangium, mange hutan, tongke hutan (Ind.)
Origin: Eastern part of Indonesia (Maluku, Papua) and Northern Queensland, Australia
Description: A fast growing tree, often with straight trunk up to 20 m height. Phyllodes
are large with 4-5 main longitudinal veins. A gland is conspicuous at the base of the
phyllode. Inflorescence is composed of many tiny cream colored flowers in spikes. Pods
are broad, linear and irregularly coiled when ripe. Ripening pods change color from green
to brown and become stiff and dry. Seeds are black and shiny.
Distribution: Sumatera, Java, Kalimantan and eastern part of Indonesia
Notes: It was introduced to Sumatera and Kalimantan for forest plantation as material
for pulp productions and agroforestry projects in Java. It escapes from cultivation and
becomes problems at the surrounding areas and natural forest.

References: 7, 22, 44

Branches of Acacia mangium with ripe fruits (left); phyllodes of A. mangium (right)

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Sri Sudarmiyati Tjitrosoedirdjo, Imam Mawardi, Soekisman Tjitrosoedirdjo

Ageratina riparia (Regel) R.M. King & H. Rob.

Family: Asteraceae/Composital
Synonym:
Eupatorium riparium Regel
Local name: irengan (Jav.); teklan (Sund.)
Origin: Mexico and the Caribbean
Description: A perennial spreading herbaceous plant, up to 0.6 m height. Stems are
purplish with numerous branches. Lower branches could produce roots in their nodes if
the branches are in contact with the soil. Leaves are opposite, narrowly ovate or
lanceolate. The margins are sharply toothed. Inflorescence consists of several white
flower heads, clustered together at the tip of the branches. Small seeds are 5-angled,
blackish-brown, pappus whitish.
Distribution: West and Central Java, Bali
Notes: Long time ago was introduced to Java. At present, it is naturalized in many places
in Java and Bali at high elevation areas. Commonly found at Gunung Gede Pangrango
National Park at the shade of riverside, road trail and tea plantations in West Java.
Previously known as Eupatorium riparium.

References: 2, 38, 51, 53, 70

Ageratina riparia (left); inflorescences (top

right); mature flowers with achenes (bottom
right)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb.

Family: Amaranthaceae
Synonym:
Buchholzia philoxeroides Mart.
Origin: Tropical South America
Description:
Perennial herb with creeping or floating stem with the end ascending or erect, much-
branched, 0.5-1 m height. Stem has hairy groove on two opposite sides along the
internodes. Leaves are opposite, oblong or narrowly obovate, entirely. Flowers are white,
usually axillary and peduncled, sometimes in solitary, with terminal sessile heads. Fruit is
unknown in Malesia.
Distribution: In 1875 was observed for the first time near Jakarta. Now it spreads in Java,
Sumatera and Kalimantan, as far as known.
Notes: The plant can grow either as a floating aquatic plant or terrestrially.

References: 18, 42, 61, 73

Dense population of Alternanthera philoxeroides at the shallow water (left); branch with
flower (right)

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Sri Sudarmiyati Tjitrosoedirdjo, Imam Mawardi, Soekisman Tjitrosoedirdjo

Arenga obtusifolia Mart.

Family: Arecaceae/Palmae
Local name: langkap (Ind.)
Origin: Asia
Description: Palm tree is up to 16 m in height. Stem is about 30 cm in diameter. Leaves
are in crown, pinnate; sheath is deeply split, margin is black with fibers; leaflets are 100 in
each side of the rachis, linear to lanceolate. Inflorescences are interfoliar, up to 1 m long,
rachillae are numerous, long and spreading. Fruit is ovoid, green or yellowish
Distribution: Java (Ujung Kulon National Park, Panaitan Island), Sumatera (Siberut
Island, Nusa Kambangan, along Rokan River, Riau)
Notes: Native species. Serious problems occur caused by A. obtusifolia at Ujung Kulon
National Parks, which park is used for conserving rhinos in Java. The thick growth of
A. obtusifolia prevents the re-growth of undergrowth plants and therefore, prevents the
rhinos from grazing for food.

References: 9, 45, 70

Arenga obtusifolia (top left); fruiting

tree (top right); basal stem and
seedlings under the trees (bottom
left)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anderson subsp. micrantha (Nees)

Ensermu
Family: Acanthaceae
Synonym:
Asystasia coromandeliana Nees var. micrantha Nees
Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anderson
Local name: asistasia (Ind.)
Origin : Africa
Description: Fast growing herb, spreading and forming a creeper at the ground or stand
on other plants. Stem is weak, slightly hairy, and develops root at the node when it is in
contact with the soil. Leaves are simple opposite, egg shaped. Flower is tubular in
elongated cluster, white in color with purple blotches mark at the lower petal of the
corolla. Fruit is in capsule containing four seeds. The seeds are expelled explosively from
the ripe fruit capsule and spread further to the surrounding areas.
Distribution: Sumatera, West and Central Java, Kalimantan, as far as known
Notes : In the 1990's it was found only in North Sumatera. It might be introduced from
Malaysia. It is now commonly found in Sumatera. From Sumatera it is spread to West Java,
in 2013 it was recorded in Desa Lutung Mati, Pekalongan, Central Java Province. In
March 2016, this plant is recorded in Desa Cangkringan, the foot of Mount Merapi,
Yogyakarta. Previously known as Asystasia intrusa. Other subspecies is A. gangetica subsp.
gangetica which is an ornamental plant and is less invasive than A. gangetica subsp. micrantha.

References: 17, 32, 63

Dense population of Asystasia gangetica subsp. micrantha at the forest plantation

in Sumatera (left); branches in flowers (top middle); inflorescence (top right)
and fruits (bottom right)

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Sri Sudarmiyati Tjitrosoedirdjo, Imam Mawardi, Soekisman Tjitrosoedirdjo

Austroeupatorium inulifolium (Kunth.) R.M. King & H. Rob.

Family: Asteraceae/Compositae
Synonym:
Eupatorium inulifolium Kunth.
Eupatorium inulifolium (H.B.K.) R.M. King & H. Rob.
Eupatorium pallescens DC
Eupatorium javanicum auct. non Blume.
Local name: daun tanah (Ind.), nampong , ki papatong, ki rinyuh (Sund.)
Origin: Tropical America
Description: Perennial spreading shrub with 2-6 m height. Stem is covered with dense
short hairs. Leaves are opposite, spear shaped and pale green in color beneath. Flowers
are fragrant, arranged in a large terminal corymbs, each head comprising 3 to 4 involucral
bracts enclosing 10-15 creamy white floret. Achenes are oblong, angular with whitish
pappus.
Distribution: Firstly recognized at Bogor Botanical Garden in 1990's. It is further
spread to tea and cinchona plantation in West Java. Mostly found at the high elevation
areas of Java i.e. West Java: Tajur, Bogor, Gunung Halimun Salak and Gunung Gede
Pangrango National Parks and Mount Tangkuban Perahu; Yogyakarta: Cangkringan, the
foot of Mount Merapi; East Java: Alas Purwo National Park, as far as known.
Notes: King & Robinson (1970) defined Austroeupatorium by the presence of annular
thickenings in the cell walls of the anther collar, a well developed carpopodium and
glandular achenes without setulae. The genus is currently accepted in publications in the
USA and also on the website of TROPICOS. This plant is also listed in Australian weed
lists and various recent publications.

References: 45, 53, 57, 60, 70, 76

Austroeupatorium inulifolium (left); inflorescence (middle);

branches with flowers (right)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Bartlettina sordida (Less.) R.M. King & H. Rob

Family: Asteraceae/Compositae
Synonym:
Eupatorium sordidum Less.
Eupatorium ianthinum Hemsl.
Eupatorium megalophyllum (Lem.) N.E. Br.
Local name: babakoan (Sund.)
Origin: Mexico
Description: Fast growing perennial shrub with multiple stems and branching, 1.5 to 2.5
m in height. Leaves are opposite, large, ovate with velvet green color and prominent
purple veins. Cluster of bluish-lilac-pink flowers on large terminal corymbs. Seeds are
numerous, with feathery bristles on the pappus.
Distribution: West Java
Notes: Evergreen erect shrub. Firstly introduced as an ornamental plant by Cibodas
Botanical Garden in 1899, has escaped and is becoming a problem at Gunung Gede
Pangrango National Park and Wornojiwo forest. Found at altitude of 1,400-1,700 m.
Previously known as E. sordidum.

References: 18, 27, 45, 48, 53, 61, 70

Bartlettina sordida (Eupatorium sordidum) under the shade of forest trees in Bedogol Resort, Gunung
Gede Pangrango National Park, West Java Province (top left); inflorescence (top right); dense
population along the tract to Cibeureum water fall (bottom left); the fallen seeds/achenes
(bottom right)

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Sri Sudarmiyati Tjitrosoedirdjo, Imam Mawardi, Soekisman Tjitrosoedirdjo

Bellucia axinanthera Triana

Family: Melastomataceae
Synonym:
Bellucia pentamera Naudin
Axinanthera macrophylla H. Karst
Bellucia aricuaizensium Pittier
Bellucia costaricensis Cogn.
Bellucia weberbaueri Cogn.
Local name: jambu tangkalak (Ind.); harendong, harendong gede, harendong raja,
jamolok (Sund.)
Origin: South and Central America
Description: Small tree up to 5 m in height. Bark is brown or blackish. Leaves are
opposite with 5 veined curvinervis. Inflorescence is axillary or cauliflowers, 1-3 (12)
flowers together in cyme. Fruit is berry, round, green. Ripe fruit is yellowish. Seeds are
numerous, tiny.
Distribution: Java, Sumatera, Kalimantan, as far as known
Notes: Fast growing tree, adapted to Indonesian climate. Cultivated for ground cover or
reducing erosion. It escapes and is becoming a problem at Gunung Palung, West
Kalimantan. It is also reported in West Java (Halimun Salak National Park), South
Sumatera and Jambi.

References: 11, 19, 68, 70

Branches of Bellucia axinanthera with young fruits (left); Young and mature
flowers (top right); flower, young and mature fruits (bottom right)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Bidens biternata (Lour.) Merr. & Shreff ex Shreff

Family: Asteraceae/Compositae
Synonym:
Bidens pilosa L. var. chinensis L.
Bidens chinensis Willd
Coreopsis biternata Lour.
Local name: ambong-ambong (Ind.); ketul (Jav.)
Origin: South Africa and spread widely
Description: Erect herbs, 0.3 – 1.5 m in height. Stem is erect, branched. Leaves are
opposite, petiolated, pinnate or bipinnate; leaflets are 5, ovate or oblong-ovate. Flower
head is usually radiate, 10 -30 flowers, ray flowers 2-4 or absent, whitish or yellow, disk
flowers are numerous. Achenes are linear, glabrous, black, with 2-5 awns at the apex.
Distribution: Sumatera, Java, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, as far as known
Notes: Important weed of Baluran National Park.

References: 1, 55

Dense population of Bidens biternata at Baluran

National Park (left); flowering branches (top right);
flower head (bottom right)

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Sri Sudarmiyati Tjitrosoedirdjo, Imam Mawardi, Soekisman Tjitrosoedirdjo

Bidens pilosa L.
Family: Asteraceae/Compositae
Synonym:
Bidens sundaica Blume var. minor (Blume)
Bidens leucantha Willd var. sundaica (Blume) Hassk.
Local name: ajeran, jukut hareuga (Sund.); jaringan, ketul (Jav.)
Origin: South Africa
Description: nnual herb, often much-branched, erect, slightly aromatic up to 1 m in
height. Stem is 4-angled in cross section. Leaves are opposite, entire to ternate or impair-
pinnate and, if so usually 2-3, rarely 5-jugate; leaflets are dentate-serrate, ovate, oblong.
Flower head is in loose corymbi-form or paniculate, terminal or axillary peduncled
inflorescence, flowers white or creamy white. Achenes black with 2-4 barbed awns,
covered with short hairs.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia, except Kalimantan and the Moluccas, as far as
known
Notes: Before 1835, it was naturalized in Java, has spread everywhere. An important
invasive plant in agricultural areas. In natural areas, it may form dense stands and cover
large areas and eliminate native vegetation.

References: 18, 42, 61, 65, 73

Bidens pilosa (left); branches with flower heads (right)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Brugmansia suaveolens (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Bercht. &

Presl.
Family: Solanaceae
Synonym: Datura suaviolens (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd) Bercht. & J. Presl
Local name: kecubung hutan, bunga terompet (Ind.)
Origin: Tropical and Sub-tropical America
Description: Woody large perennial shrub, 2-4 m in height. Single trunk with many
branches. Leaves are oval, become larger when grown in the shade. Flowers are fragrant,
shaped like trumpets, white in color but may be yellow or pink, hanging down. Fruit form
is rarely found.
Distribution: Highland of Java
Notes: Shrub or small tree, commonly found at the riverside and along the trail to
Cibeureum water fall at Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park. The first herbarium
specimen was collected in 1893. Other species of Brugmansia, B. candida and B. versicolor are
less invasive than B. suaveolens. Planted as ornamental plant.

References: 20, 38, 45, 50, 70

Branches with flowers of Brugmansia suaveolens

(left); white flowers (top right); yellow orange
flowers (bottom right)

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Calliandra calothyrsus Meisn.

Family: Mimosaceae or Fabaceae/Leguminosae subfamilyMimosoideae
Synonym:
Anneslia callothyrsa (Meisn.) Kleinhoonte
Anneslia callothyrsus (Meisn.) Donn. Sm.
Calliandra houstoniana var. callothyrsus (Meisn.) Barneby
Local name: kaliandra, kaliandra merah (Ind.)
Description: Woody shrubs, 3-5 m in height, with many branches. Bark is pale grey.
Leaves are alternate, bipinnately compound. Flowers are in subterminal inflorescence.
Flowers and sepal are green, stamina filament is hairy long, red in color. Fruit is broadly
linear and flattened with a pod containing seeds.
Distribution: Java, as far as known
Notes: Firstly introduced in 1936 in Java for agroforestry purposes and planting around
the estate forest land in Java. In Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park they are
commonly found at the area previously planted as forest estate.

References: 7, 19, 76

Dense population of Calliandra

calothyrsus at Gunung Gede
Pangrango National Park (top
left); bipinnate leaf (top right);
inflorescence (bottom left);
fruits and flowers (bottom
right)

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Cecropia peltata L.
Family: Urticaceae
Local name: sekropia
Origin: Tropical America
Description: Small fast growing tree up to 10 m in height. Stem is hollow. Leaves are
large, alternate, have 7-11 palmate lobes and borne on petioles which attach near the
center of the leaf. Leaves are dark green above and velvety white underneath. There are
separate male and female plants. Female flowers are borne in paired spikes; male
flowers are smaller, yellowish.
Distribution: West Java, Jakarta, Yogyakarta, as far as known
Notes: Introduced to Bogor, naturalized, expanding along the riverside, waste places
and along the highway. It can be seen in Depok area, South of Jakarta and Jakarta. It is also
found at Bedogol Resort, Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park and Cibadak,
Sukabumi. In 2016 it is found at Cangkringan, the foot of Mount Merapi, Yogyakarta and
at the arboretum of Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta as a new records. In the past it
was placed in Moracae and Cecropiaceae familie. The closed related species is found in
Bogor i.e. Cecropia pachystachya Loefl. (Cecropia adenopus Mart. ex Miq.)

References: 5, 39, 41, 70, 73

Cecropia peltata tree (left); branches

with female flowers (top right);
female & male flowers (bottom
right)

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Sri Sudarmiyati Tjitrosoedirdjo, Imam Mawardi, Soekisman Tjitrosoedirdjo

Cenchrus polystachios (L.) Morrone

Family: Poaceae/Gramineae
Synonym:
Pennisetum triticoides (Poir) R. & S.
Pennisetum setosum (Sw.) L. Rich.
Panicum longisetum Poir.
Pennisetum polystachion (L.) Schult.
Local name: rumput ekor kucing (Ind.); rumput jurig (Sund.)
Origin: Tropical Africa
Description: Tufted perennial grass up to 2 m in height, simple or branched. Leaves are
mainly basal, linear, hairy, flat or folded, tip pointed. Sheath is half of the node length,
base rounded and margin rough. Inflorescence is terminal, yellowish brown, spike like
panicle on tall thin stalks well above the leaves, erect to slightly drooping, all parts are
feathery.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia
Notes: A troublesome weeds, as they take over waste and open places, roadside and
cultivated lands. Previously known as Pennisetum polystachion

References: 18 49, 52, 60, 61

Cenchrus polystachios at the roadsite of old rubber plantation in Jambi (left); seed
head (top right); inflorescences (bottom right)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Cestrum aurantiacum Lindl.

Family: Solanaceae
Local name: ki jogo (Sund.)
Origin: Central America
Description: A large shrub. Leaves are simple, with petiole, lance-shaped with an acute
pointed tip and alternate on the stem. Flowers are at the ends of the branches in panicles.
Flower is slender and tubular, abruptly ended with five small folded-back petals, is
strongly fragrant, yellow or orange in color. Fruit is half round berry, white in color.
Distribution: Sumatera, Java as far as known
Notes: Ornamental plant collection of Cibodas Botanical Garden. It was introduced
from Guatemala, however, was not recorded for the year of planting. The first
herbarium specimen was collected in 1910. Become an important invasive plant in the
garden, commonly found at Wornojiwo forest and spread to Gunung Gede Pangrango
National Park, growing under the shade of trees in the forest. There are two different
colors of Cestrum sp. flowers i.e. orange and yellow. The plant with yellow color is less
invasive. Other species Cestrum elegans is less invasive than C. aurantiacum. The fruits are
eaten by birds and spread further around.

References: 15, 16, 19, 27, 38, 45, 50, 53, 70, 76

Flowering branches of Cestrum aurantiacum (left);

flowers of C. aurantiacum (top right); fruit (bottom
right)

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Sri Sudarmiyati Tjitrosoedirdjo, Imam Mawardi, Soekisman Tjitrosoedirdjo

Chimonobambusa quadrangularis Makino

Family: Poaceae/Gramineae
Local name: bambu kimono, bambu krisik (Ind.)
Origin: China
Description: An upright bamboo up to 6 m in height. The jointed stem is called culm.
The woody culm is hollow, each culm segment begins and ends with a node. Area
between 2 nodes is called internode. Prominent nodes with 3 or more thorns are called
aerial roots. The branches are also segmented with nodes and internodes. Leaves and
branches grow from the nodes. The internodes of the culms and branches are covered
by sheath and will be deciduous. The internode sheath is hairy black at the outer shapes.
In West Java Province the plant does not produce flowers. Vegetative reproduction is by
rhizome or young shoot growing from the node of the rhizome.
Distribution: West Java, as far as known
Notes: This bamboo is able to grow under the shade of the forest to form dense
2
population reaching about 30-40 culms/m . An important invasive plant at Gunung
Gede Pangrango National Park. It has occupied some parts of the forest at Cibodas
Resort. It is also found at the area of Pasarean and recently in Tapos areas. It has entered
the forest of Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park about 700 m from the border of
Cibodas Botanical Garden and could be found up to 1,600 m above sea level.

References: 28, 53, 66, 70

Dense of Chimonobambusa quadrangularis at Gunung Gede National Park (top left); branches and
aerial roots arise at the node (bottom left); a tree surrounded by C. quadrangularis (top right);
rhizome arises from the soil (bottom middle left); young shoot (bottom right)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King & H. Robinson

Family: Asteraceae/Compositae
Synonym:
Eupatorium odoratum L.
Eupatorium conyzoides Vahl
Osmia odorata L. Schultz-Bips
Local name: ki rinyuh, semak merdeka, putihan (Ind.); ki rinyuh, babanjaran, darismin
(Sund.)
Origin: Central and South America
Description: An upright shrub forming thickets and usually growing up to 1.5-2.0 m in
height. Very occasionally reaching 6-8 m as climber on other plants. The leaves are
opposite, reddish brown when young, ovate-deltoid to triangular oblong, margin
toothed, young leaves have an odor when crushed. Its flower head is homogamous with
20-35 flowered, axillary on a white flat topped corymbs. Its involucres is cylindrical.
Flowers are light purple to bluish white, slightly fragrant.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia
Notes: Perennial shrub, sometimes scrambles on other vegetation. The first herbarium
specimens was collected from Lubuk Pakam Sumatera in 1932 by Van der Meer Mohr
(4004 BO), in tobacco plantations. After the war of independence, in North Sumatera,
the plant had become quite common and is very distinct by its white violet flowers,
known as “semak merdeka” (the independence shrubs) or “putihan” (whitish flowers). It
has now become an important invasive plant throughout Indonesia. Previously known as
Eupatorium odoratum.

References: 18, 55, 58, 59, 60, 61, 65, 70

Dense population of Chromolaena odorata in flowers

(left); inflorescences (top right); C. odorata attacked by
Cecidochares conexa (Macquart) (Diptera: Tephritidae) a
biological control agent, notice the swollen gall,
containing larvae (bottom right)

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Sri Sudarmiyati Tjitrosoedirdjo, Imam Mawardi, Soekisman Tjitrosoedirdjo

Cinchona pubescens Vahl

Family: Rubiaceae
Synonym:
Cinchona succirubra Pav. ex Klotzsch
Local name: kina (Ind., Sund.); sulibra (Sund.)
Origin: Tropical South America
Description:
Tree, 4-15 m in height, the bark is turned to reddish when cut. The leaves are broadly
elliptic to broadly oblong, conspicuously veined, margin entire. Flowers are in large
panicles, numerous, pink and fragrant. Fruit capsule, lanceolate; seeds have a broad ciliate
wing.
Distribution: Java, as far as known
Notes: It was cultivated at the mountain areas of Java for medicinal purposes; its bark is
harvested for anti malaria. When neglected, the trees become invasive. This plant is an
important invasive plant at Selabintana Resort, Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park.

References: 34, 45, 72

Trees of Cinchona pubescens (left); broadly

elliptic leaves (top right); young
inflorescence (bottom right)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Cissus sicyoides L.
Family: Vitaceae
Synonym:
Cissus verticillata (L.) Nicolson & C.E. Jarvis
Local Name: sisus bentol (Ind.)
Origin: Tropical Africa
Description: A vine. Aerial roots grow to a curtain-like form. Stem is woody, thick and
tough. Leaves are alternate, oblong-ovate, often asymmetric. Inflorescence is cyme,
opposite of the leaves; flowers are yellowish-green. Fruit is berry, black.
Distribution: Java, Bali, Sulawesi, as far as known
Notes: It was introduced to Bogor, naturalized surrounding Bogor. A problem at Bogor
Botanical Garden, climbs over trees.

References: 36, 37, 45

Cissus sicyoides in Bogor Botanical Garden, smothers tree (left); branches with inflorescence (right)

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Clibadium surinamense L.

Family: Asteraceae/Compositae
Origin: Central and Tropical South America
Description:
Perennial erect shrubs, 1-3 m in height. Stem is hairy, much-branched. Leaves are simple,
opposite, blades, elliptic to oblong, margin serrate. Inflorescence is corymbose, terminal;
heads sessile; involucral bract elliptic to ovate, persistent; floret 10-12 per head; male
floret central, corolla white, tube narrow, 5 lobed, anthers 5 black, style of sterile pistil
slender; female floret marginal, 3-4, corolla is white, tube is elongated and narrow, 5
lobed. Fruit is an fleshy achenes.
Distribution: Sumatera, Java, Sulawesi, as far as known
Notes: First time reported in Sumatera by Jochems in 1931. Now, it is widely naturalized
and spread to other islands. The first herbarium collection was made in tobacco
plantations near Medan in 1932 (Jochems 3019, BO).

References: 55, 60, 70

Dense population of Clibadium surinamense at Bedogol

Resort, Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park (left);
branches with inflorescence (top right); flowers
(bottom right)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Clidemia hirta (L.) D. Don

Family: Melastomataceae
Synonym:
Clidemia crenata DC
Clidemia elegans (Aubl.) D.Don
Melastoma elegans Aubl.
Melastoma hirta L.
Local name : akar kala (Ind.); harendong bulu (Sund.)
Origin: South America
Description: erennial shrub up to 1.5 m in height. Whole plant is covered with bristly
hairs. Leaves are opposite, elliptical or oval in outline, hairy and wrinkled between the 5
conspicuous longitudinal veins. Flowers are bristly in small short branches growing from
the leaf axils, petal white and stamen white. Fruits are small, round, blackish-blue berry
when mature, seed light yellow to brown.
Distribution: Java, Sumatera & Sulawesi
Notes: Widely naturalized in Java, spread to Sumatera and Sulawesi. Important invasive
plant at rubber plantations in Sumatera.

References: 18, 60, 61

Dense population of Clidemia

hirta at rubber plantation in
Bungku, Jambi (top left);
young shrub (top right);
flowers (bottom left); young
and ripe fruits (bottom right)

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Sri Sudarmiyati Tjitrosoedirdjo, Imam Mawardi, Soekisman Tjitrosoedirdjo

Cobaea scandens Cav.

Family: Polemoniaceae
Origin: Mexico, Central America and Brazil
Description: A vigorous woody climber. Leaves are pinnate. Flower is in upper leaf
axil, bell shaped, with long stalk. The pale yellow color will change to purple with age.
Distribution: West and East Java , North Sumatera
Notes: Cultivated as ornamental plant at Cibodas Botanical Garden, escaped and then
seen at the edge of the forest of Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park.

References: 47, 70

Cobaea scandens at the forest edge of Gunung Gede

Pangrango National Park (left); young and mature
flowers (top right); mature flower (bottom right)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Crassocephalum crepidioides (Benth.) S. Moore

Family: Asteraceae/Compositae
Synonym:
Crassocephalum diversifolium Hiem
Gynura crepidioides Benth..
Local name : sintrong (Ind., Sund.); jukut jamalok (Sund.); jewor (Jav.)
Origin: Tropical Africa
Description: Aromatic annual herbs, 0.9-1 m in height. Stem is hollow, much-branched.
Leaves are simple, alternate, elliptic, oblong or obovate elliptic, often irregularly serrated,
margin toothed, without leaf stalk. Involucral bract is dark brown, floret has
homogenous disk flower, reddish brown in color. Achenes with silky white pappus. It
flowers all year round.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia
Notes: First observed in Malesia (Medan, North Sumatera) in 1926. Probably comes
from Africa through Sri Lanka. From Sri Lanka, the plant was purposedly introduced
into Java where it has run wild in several localities. In Java it has become more common
than Erechtites valerianifolia which were introduced much earlier. In Indonesia some
publications of C. crepidioides misidentify the plant as E. valerianifolia. E. valerianifolia is
different from C. crepidioides in leaves shape and flower color.

References: 18, 51, 53, 55, 61, 65

Crassocephalum crepidioides (left); young plant (top right); flower heads (bottom (right)

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Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms

Family: Pontederiaceae
Synonym:
Eichhornia speciosa Kunth
Local name: eceng, eceng gondok, gendot (Ind., Sund.); bengok, eceng gondok,
kembang bopong, wewehan, weweyan (Jav.)
Origin: Tropical South America (Brazil)
Description: A free-floating herbaceous aquatic plant which may rise above the surface
of the water up to 1 m height at the eutrophic-water. The leaves float above the water
surface and have long, spongy and bulbous swollen stalk. There are two variations of
leaves stalk (petiole) i.e. a longer and slender petiole and bulbous petiole. Slender stalk is
typical for plant that occurs within dense, crowded infestations, while the bulbous stalk
characterizes younger plant in open water or on the open-water margin of the infestation.
An erect stalk supports a single spike of 8-15 flowers, lavender in color. Reproduces by
runners or stolon which eventually forms a daughter plant. Each plant can produce seeds.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia
Notes: A free floating aquatic plant. When rooted in the soil, the leaves stalk become
longer. Introduced in Java in 1894 to beautify Bogor Botanical Garden ponds, spread
and become a problems at the water bodies throughout Indonesia.

References: 14, 18, 53, 61, 71

Dense population of Eichhornia

crassipes (top left); inflorescence
(top right); leaves of E. crassipes
with the symptom attacked by
Neochetina bruchi (Coleoptera:
Curculionidae) a biological
control agent of E. crassipes
(bottom left)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Erechtites valerianifolia (Wolf) DC

Family: Asteraceae/Compositae
Synonym:
Crassocephalum valerianifolium Less.
Gynura rosea Ridl.
Senecio valerianifolius Wolf
Local name: sintrong, jukut bolostrong (Sund.)
Origin: Tropical and Sub-tropical America
Description:
Its height is 0.3-2 m. Stem is herbaceous, much-branched. Leaves are alternate, oblong,
pinnately lobed, pinnatipartite, sometimes with a large terminal lobe. Lobes are oblong or
elliptic, very acute, acutely dentate. Involucral bract is green. Inflorescence with
cylindrical bract, green; corolla is yellow with violet top marginal flower; pappus white.
Distribution: Sumatera, Java, Sulawesi
Notes: An annual herb. In 1845 was introduced from Brazil as contaminant of the
imported coffee bean. Rapidly naturalized throughout not-too-dry regions of Java. In
Indonesia this species is sometimes confused with C. crepidioides, which also has the same
local name i.e. sintrong.

References: 18, 60, 65

Erechtites valerianifolia (left); flower heads (right)

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Etlingera coccinea (Blume) S. Sakai & Nagam

Family: Zingiberaceae
Synonym:
Amomum coccineum (Blume) K. Schum.
Achasma coccineum (Blume) Valeton
Alpinia coccinea (Blume) D. Dietr.
Cardamomum coccineum (Blume) Kuntze
Elettaria coccinea Blume
Local name: tepus (Sund.)
Origin: perhaps Asia
Description: An erect, robust, perennial herb, with a creeping rhizome that gives rise to
leafy shoots up to 5 m height. Each shoot holds up to 20 large leaves. Leaves are
distichous, alternate, sessile and sheathed. The inflorescence is borne separately from the
leafy shoot, arises at the ground of the soil. Flowers are bright red with yellow spot or
line.
Distribution: Sumatera, Java, Kalimantan, as far as known
Notes: Commonly found at the forest of Wornojiwo and Gunung Gede Pangrango
National Park. Dense population found at the forest floor, preventing the seeds of forest
trees to germinate.

References: 2, 47

Etlingera coccinea (left); inflorescence at the ground soil (right)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Euphorbia heterophylla L.
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Synonym:
Euphorbia geniculata Ortega
Euphorbia prunifolia Jacq.
Local name: patikan emas (Ind., Jav.)
Origin: Tropical America
Description: Annual herbs with strong taproot system. Stem is hollow, erect, 0.3-1 m in
height, branched. Leaves are arranged, spirally arranged. Blades are mostly lanceolate,
ovate or elliptic. Petioles are green or maroon. Stems and leaves have milky sap containing
poisonous alkaloids. Inflorescence cluster of male and female flowers in cyathium,
terminal. Flowers are subtended by involucres, all lacking of perianth parts; glands are
solitary prominent; male flowers are numerous, female flowers one per cyathium. Fruits
are capsules, composed of tree seeds.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia except Kalimantan and Sulawesi, as far as known
Notes: Erect annual herb, milky sap. Introduced and naturalized in Java and spread.

References: 18, 47, 61, 65

Euphorbia heterophylla with cyathia flowers

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Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Boyle

Family: Hydrocharitaceae
Synonym:
Hydrilla lithuanica (Rchb.) Dandy
Serpicula verticillata L. f.
Local name: ganggang, ganggeng (Ind., Jav.); ganggeng, ganggeng cai, jukut cai (Sund.)
Origin: Eastern hemisphere and probably Asia
Description: Submerged aquatic rooted plant, often with subterranean stolon. Leaves
are in a whorls of 3-8, linear lanceolate. Flowers are dioecious, inconspicuous, axillary,
solitary in a spathe, spathe sessile; male spathe forms a collar around the stem. Female
flowers are white with cylindrical spathe. Fruit is elongated, 2-6 seeded, dark brown.
Turions are green, formed in the axil of a leaf; tubers, a subterranean turion is formed at
the tips of the branches which grows into the hydro-soil system.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia
Notes: The plants are spread mainly by vegetative reproduction, e.g. stolon, tubers,
turions and stem fragment. It forms dense and large mats that restrict the water flow.

References: 12, 18, 61, 73

Submerged aquatic plants Hydrilla verticillata (left); fraction of the stem, leaves
are arranged in a whorled at the node of the stem (right)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv.

Family: Poaceae/Gramineae
Synonym:
Imperata arundinacea Cyr.
Local name: ilalang, alang-alang, lalang (Ind.), eurih (Sund.), alang-alang, kambengan
(Jav.)
Origin: Tropical Asia
Description: Perennial grass up to 1 m in height, no branches. Leaf blade is erect,
spreading and drooping, narrow, linear, sparsely hairy. Sheath is blade junction with
numerous silky hairs. Inflorescence is a terminal panicle, spike-like, cylindrical, with many
crowded branches and silvery white hairs.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia
Notes: Erect perennial grass with extensive rhizome system

References: 18, 34, 49, 53, 61, 70

Imperata cylindrica found in a field

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Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet

Family: Convolvulaceae
Synonim:
Convolvulus cairicus L.
Convolvulus pendulus (R.Br.) Spreng.
Ipomoea palmata Forssk.
Ipomoea stipulata Jacq.
Ipomoea pendula R.Br.
Local name: ubi kates (Ind.)
Origin: uncertain perhaps Africa, Asia
Description: A herbaceous climber or creeper., reaching up to 5 m in height. Stems are
slender, hairless sometimes produce roots at the nodes. Leaves are alternate, palmately
lobed with 5-7 narrow lanceolate lobes. Flowers are borne singly or in small clusters on
short stalk from leaf axils; funnel-shaped, tubular, purple to pinkish-purple with darker
purple center. Fruits are ovoid capsules, contain 2-4 large brown seeds.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia
Notes: Naturalized in Java, spread throughout Indonesia.

References: 18, 56, 73

Trailing and climbing habit of Ipomoea cairica (left);

distinct leaves and funnel shaped flowers (right)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Ipomoea carnea Jacq.

Family: Convolvulaceae
Synonym:
Ipomoea carnea Jacq. subsp. fistulosa (Mart. ex Choisy) D. Austin
Ipomoea crassicaulis (Bth.) B.L. Robins
Ipomoea fistulosa Mart. ex Choisy
Local name: Kerangkongan (Jav.)
Origin: Tropical America
Description: An erect perennial shrub which grows up to 2 m in height. Leaves with a
long stalk, lanceolate with heart-shaped base. Flowers are in cluster, borne in the axils of
the uppermost leaves, funnel shaped, pink to lavender or purple.
Distribution: In Java and South Kalimantan reported in medium altitude.
Notes: Flowers only opens in the morning

References: 18, 61

A shrub of Ipomoea carnea (left); branch with flowers (right)

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Ipomoea indica (Burm. f.) Merr.

Family: Convolvulaceae
Synonym:
Ipomoea acuminata (Vahl.) Roem. & Schult.
Ipomoea congesta R. Br.
Origin: uncertain perhaps pantropical
Description: A twining herbs. The stems are easily rooted at nodes . The leaves are ovate
to orbicular, heart-shaped or 3-lobed. Inflorescence are dense umbel-like cyme; flowers
blue or purplish with paler center, funnel shaped. Fruits are globose capsule containing 4-
6 seeds.
Distribution: Java and Sumatera, as far as known
Notes: An ornamental plant, escaped elsewhere. The trailing stem leads to dense
infestations and smothers shrubs and trees.

References: 73

Flowers of Ipomoea indica in cyme (left); solitary flower (right)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Ipomoea triloba L.
Family: Convolvulaceae
Origin: Tropical America
Description: wining herb or creeping habit with much branch, sap milky. The leaves are
heart-shaped, three lobes or five lobes. Flowers are borne in the leaf axils; they are
sometimes solitary, but often in small cluster; pink to pale purple in color. The fruits are
small, each fruit capsule contains two to four dark brown seeds.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia
Notes: Naturalized in Java and Madura, spread throughout Indonesia.

References: 18, 61, 67

A creeping Ipomoea triloba (top); three lobes leaves and flowers (bottom)

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Jatropha gossypiifolia L.
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Synonym:
Jatropha elegans (Pohl) Klotzsch
Local name: jarak merah, jarak kosta (Ind.); jarak ulung (Lampung)
Origin: Tropical America
Description: A perennial shrub, up to 4 m in height. Leaves are alternate, palmate with 3-
5 lobes; young leaves are purplish-reddish. Flower is unisexual, red, clustered on stalks of
upper axils. Fruit is capsular with three furrows.
Distribution: Java, Madura, Timor, Sulawesi, as far as known
Notes: Naturalized in Java and Madura on several places in dry areas of low altitude.
Reported as important invasive plant at Baluran National Park.

References: 18, 61, 64

Jatropha gossypiifolia at Baluran National

Park (top & bottom left); branch with
flowers and fruits fruits (right)

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Lantana camara L.
Family: Verbenaceae
Synonym:
Lantana aculeata L.
Local name : tahi ayam (Ind.); saliara, tahi kotok (Sund.); tembelekan, kembang telek,
telekan (Jav.)
Origin: Tropical America
Description: A perennial shrub, up to 2 m in height, heavily branched. Stems 4-angled
with numerous short prickles. Leaves are opposite, broadly ovate, shallowly toothed, have
strong odor when crushed. Flowers are in dense rounded clusters; there are color
variations i.e. pale yellow, orange, pinkish or reddish. Fruits are berry, fleshy, green, dark
purple when mature.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia
Notes: Perennial shrub, a very variable species, complex with over 30 varieties. Some
cultivars are popular as ornamental plant.

References: 18, 34, 47, 51, 61

Shrubs of Lantana camara (left); color variations of the flowers (right); fruits (bottom left)

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Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit.

Family: Mimosaceae (Fabaceae/Leguminosae subfamily Mimosoideae)
Synonym:
Acacia leucocephala (Lam.) Link.
Leucaena glauca Benth.
Mimosa leucocephala Lam.
Local name: petai cina, lamtoro (Ind.); kemlandingan, mandingan, lamtoro (Jav.)
Origin: Central America
Description: Perennial shrub or tree which may grow to 5-18 m in height. Stem is thorn-
less. Leaves are bipinnate with 6-9 pairs of pinnae bearing 11-23 pairs of leaflets.
Inflorescence is white or creamy, globular shaped in single or paired. Pods are flat brown
when mature, containing 5-30 shiny brown seeds.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia
Notes: L. leucocephala has wide varieties. It has some aggressive varieties that have
become invasive. Some varieties have many branched shrubs averaging 5 m in height,
others are single trunked trees as high as 20 m. People use the plant for several purposes
such as fodder, fuel-wood, shade , green manure etc. When the plant grows unattended,
it will grow very fast and occupies large areas. It produces large amount of seeds which
could be germinated easily. Dense population could easily be seen along the toll road to
Soekarno Hatta International Airport, Jakarta, West Java and at waste places. Formerly
known as L. glauca.

References: 7, 29

Shrubby Leucaena leucocephala (left); inflorescence (top

right); young fruits (bottom right)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Ludwigia peruviana (L.) H. Hara

Family: Onagraceae
Synonym:
Jussiaea hirta Vahl
Jussiaea speciosa (L.) Sw. Ridl.
Local name: lombokan (Jav.)
Origin: Tropical America
Description: Perennial robust herb. Stem is brownish green, heavily branched, hairy.
Leaves are simple, alternate, ovate and hairy. The solitary flower is bisexual, axillary,
bright yellow. Capsule is hairy, the seed is light brown, sub-globular.
Distribution : Java and Sumatera
Notes: Introduced into Java long time ago. Habitat along the rivers and watercourses,
sometimes abundant, conspicuous by its large yellow flowers.

References: 18, 42, 61

A shrubby Ludwigia peruviana (left); flower (right)

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Maesopsis eminii Engl.

Family: Rhamnaceae
Synonym:
Maesopsis berchemoides (Pierre) Engl.
Local name: kayu afrika (Ind.)
Origin: India, Africa
Description: A large fast growing tree up to 30 m in height. The trunk is straight with a
clear bole up to 10 m. Branches are mostly horizontal, crown is flattened when young,
becomes rounded as the tree ages. Leaves are simple, opposite, elliptic lanceolate, margin
toothed, glossy above with a gland in each tooth. Inflorescence has many flowers in
axillary cyme, yellowish green in color. The fruit is a drupe, green at first, turning yellow
and purple-black when mature. It has a hard stone containing 1-2 black seeds.
Distribution: Java, as far as known
Notes: First introduced in West Java in 1920. Populations of M. eminii were found in
Bodogol Resort, Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park and Mount Tangkuban Perahu.

References: 47, 48, 70

A tree of Maesopsis eminii (left); flowers and fruit

(top right: http://commons.wikimedia.org);
young plants (bottom right)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Melastoma affine D. Don

Family: Melastomataceae
Synonym:
Melastoma malabathricum auct. non L.
Melastoma polyanthum Blume
Local name: kluruk, senggani (Ind., Jav.); harendong (Ind., Sund.)
Origin: Asia
Description: Shrub, 0.5 -4 m in height. Stem is reddish purple. The leaves are opposite,
oblong to ovate oblong, 3-5 nerves with three distinct ribs, rough to touch. Inflorescence
is several forming clusters of flower on the end of branchlets, pinkish or violet in color.
Fruits are long reddish berry, with fleshy pericarp. Seeds are numerous.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia
Notes: Perennial shrub, 0.5-4 m in height. M. affine is a common invasive plant in
Southeast Asia and elsewhere; has been confused with M. malabathricum which is a much
better known ornamental plant.

References: 18, 25, 51, 53, 61

Melastoma affine, notice the three distinct ribs of the leaves (left); flowers (top right); fruit
(bottom right)

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Sri Sudarmiyati Tjitrosoedirdjo, Imam Mawardi, Soekisman Tjitrosoedirdjo

Merremia peltata (L.) Merr.

Family: Convolvulaceae
Synonym:
Convolvulus peltatus L.
Ipomoea nymphaeifolia Blume
Ipomoea peltata (L.) Choisy
Operculina peltata (L.) Hallier f.
Local name : mantangan (Lampung)
Origin: unknown, perhaps is a native species
Description: A climbing vine with underground tuber. Sap is milky. Leaves are large,
broadly cordate to orbicular, 15 – 40 cm long, strongly nerved. A paniculate cyme with 13
or more flowers, broadly campanulate funnel form, yellow in color. Fruit capsule,
splitting into many lanceolate valves; seeds dull brown.
Distribution: Sumatera, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku, as far as known
Notes: A climbing vine. Reported very invasive at the open and disturbed area of Taman
Nasional Bukit Barisan Selatan, Sumatera.

References: 24, 43, 70

Merremia peltata at Bukit Barisan

Selatan National Park (top left); leaf
with distinct purple veins (top right);
flower (bottom right); cut stem with
white milky sap (bottom left)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Mikania micrantha Kunth

Family: Asteraceae/Compositae
Synonym:
Mikania orinocenis Kunth
Mikania subcrenata Hook.
Mikania umbellifera Gardner
Local name: caputuheun (Sund.); brojo lengo, brojo wengi, clerem, trayon, sembung
rambat (Jav.)
Origin: Central & South America
Description: A perennial, vigorous creeping and twining plant. Stem is branched. Leaves
are triangular or heart shaped on opposite pair. Inflorescence from leaf axils; flowers are
numerous, white; each head narrowly oblong; ray flowers are lacking. Achene black with
white pappus.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia
Notes: Bogor Botanical Garden received the species from Paraguay in 1949. In 1956 it
was used for soil cover in coconut plantations, from there escaped and has now spread
throughout Indonesia. M. micrantha is widely distributed in South America and the only
New World Mikania species has been introduced to other regions. More widely
distributed than its closely related species Mikania cordata, although M. cordata is native of
Africa and Asia. However, it is not easy now to find M. cordata in the fields, since it was
suppressed by M. micrantha.

References: 18, 53, 55, 59, 60, 61, 70

Young plant of Mikania micrantha (left); flowering plants (middle);

inflorescences (right)

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Mimosa diplotricha C. Wright ex Sauvalle

Family: Mimosaceae or Fabaceae/Leguminosae subfamily Mimosoideae
Synonym: Mimosa invisa Mart.
Local name: borang (Sund.); rembete (Jav.)
Origin: Tropical and Sub-tropical America (Brazil)
Description: A scrambling shrub, strongly branched. Stem is 5 angular, green or
purplish tinged, up to 5 m long, very prickly. Leaves are finely bipinnate, slightly sensitive
to touch. The stalk is prickly. Flowers are pink, in globose heads, borne from young axils
of young leaves. Pod is linear, containing 4 or more seeds, strongly compressed, sharply
bristled.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia
Notes: A scrambling shrub with strong branch and 5-angular stem. Very prickly. It was
naturalized in Java a long time ago. It is recorded for the first time in Central Java in 1900.
Previously known as M. invisa.

References: 17, 59, 60, 61, 70

Dense population of Mimosa diplotricha at Baluran National Park (left);

a branch with flower (right)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Mimosa pigra L.
Family: Mimosaceae or Fabaceae/Leguminosae subfamily Mimosoideae
Synonym:
Mimosa asperata Blanco
Local name: klampis air, putri malu raksasa (Ind.)
Origin: Tropical America
Description: A prickly bush growing up to 5 m in height, The leaves are bipinnate,
consisted of central prickly rachis, sensitive to touch and close at nightfall, have 5-15 fairs
of pinnae and 18-51 pairs leaflets. The flowers are mauve to pink and borne in tight
globose heads. Each head has about 100 flowers and produces 10-25 seed pods. The pods
are brown when mature, densely bristled all over and broken into segments, each contains
an oblong shaped seed.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia except Nusa Tenggara, as far as known
Notes: A prickly shrub. In Bogor, West Java there are two form types for this plant i.e. the
erect stem type and the prostrate stem type. In West Java the plant was naturalized since a
long time ago. In Indonesia, before 2000 the plant was recorded in Sumatera, Java,
Kalimantan and Papua. It is also reported now in South Sulawesi and Gorontalo. The
seeds are spread through the sand used for building road, housing and airport
constructions.

References: 3, 18, 60, 61, 70

Mimosa pigra at Singkarak Lake, West Sumatera (left); branches with flowers and
fruits (top right); mature fruits (middle right); flower (bottom right)

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Sri Sudarmiyati Tjitrosoedirdjo, Imam Mawardi, Soekisman Tjitrosoedirdjo

Mimosa pudica L.
Family: Mimosaceae or Fabaceae/Leguminosae subfamily Mimosoideae
Local name: si kejut, putri malu (Ind.); pis kucing (Jav.)
Origin: Tropical America or South America
Description: Perennial under-shrub or woody herb, erect or somewhat rambling with
support, much-branched, up to 0.75 m in height. Stem is reddish brown or purple, with
thorns and scattered prickles on internodes. Leaves are sensitive to touch, bristly.
Inflorescence is pinkish, head ovoid. Fruit, pods attached in clusters, oblong, almost flat,
hairy.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia
Notes: M. pudica was noticed for the first time in a tobacco plantation in Deli, Sumatera.
In Java, it was naturalized since a long time ago and spread throughout Indonesia.

References: 18, 30, 34, 61

Rambling plant of Mimosa pudica (left); flower (top right); mature pods (bottom right)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Momordica charantia L.
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Local name: paria, paria hutan (Ind.); pare, pare alas (Jav.); paria leuweung (Sund.)
Origin: the place of origin is unknown, except that it was found in the Old World
Description: A perennial herbaceous climber, much-branched with tendril exceeding 5
m on support or prostrate. Stem is 5-angled and foul smelling. Leaves are alternate.
Deeply palmately 5 to 9 lobed. Flower is yellow, axillary, solitary from leaf axil, male and
female. Fruit is pendulous, 5-10 cm long, much shorter than the cultivated one, green and
become yellowish orange when it is ripe; seeds are numerous, covered by bright red pulp.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia
Notes: M. charantia is an important invasive plant in many plantations in Indonesia. The
young fruit has a much bitter taste than the cultivated one. The ripe fruit splits and the
seeds are dispersed. The sticky bright red pulp covering the seeds are eaten by birds and
the seeds are spread further.

References: 18, 54, 61

Dense population of Momordica charantia at the sugarcane

plantation (left); female flower (top right); young fruit
(bottom right)

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Sri Sudarmiyati Tjitrosoedirdjo, Imam Mawardi, Soekisman Tjitrosoedirdjo

Montanoa hibiscifolia (Benth.) Kuntze

Family: Asteraceae/Compositae
Local name: perdu daisi (Ind.)
Origin: Mexico and Central America
Description: Woody shrub up to 6 m in height. Leaves are broadly ovate, dark green
above, hairy, with deep lobe, a pair of ear-like projection on the base of the leaf.
Inforescence terminal in heads, ray flowers white, disk flowers yellow, unpleasant odor.
Achene is reddish brown.
Distribution: West Java
Notes: One of the plant collection of Cibodas Botanical Garden, escaped and
commonly found at Wornojiwo forest, Cibodas Botanical Garden. Recently found at the
forest of Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park.

References: 45, 53

Montanoa hibiscifolia, the edge of the Wornojiwo

forest, C. aurantiacum at the background (left),
notice the broadly ovate deep lobed leaves (top
right); flowers (bottom right)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Mucuna bracteata DC.

Family: Papilionaceae or Fabaceae Legumi Nosal subfamily Papilionoidae
Origin: North Eastern India
Description: Fast growing vines, branching from each node. The plant is a creeping
type, create a shade covering the soil. Nodules are formed on the roots. Leaves are large
trifoliate. Inflorescence raceme, flowers black-purplish. Pods are large, oblong linear,
thick, covered with very irritating hairs.
Distribution: Sumatera, Java, Kalimantan, as far as known
Notes: A creeping and climbing legume. Widely used as legume cover crop in
Indonesian plantations. A fast growing plant. When unattended, the plant climbs young
plantation crops and make the young plantation crops suffer.

References: 4, 35

Mucuna bracteata DC. smothers young oil palm tree (left); creeping habit (right)

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Muntingia calabura L.
Family: Elaeocarpaceae/Muntingiaceae
Local Name : talok, kersen (Ind., Jav.); ceri (Sund.)
Origin : Central and South America
Description: A fast growing tree, 7 – 10 m in height, with spreading nearly horizontal
branches. Leaves are evergreen, alternate, lanceolate or oblong, dark green and minutely
hairy on the upper surface. Flowers are borne single, or two or three from the leaf axils,
white in color with prominent yellow stamens; the flower last only for one day. The fruits
are round, green and turned red when mature, edible, sweet and juicy, contain a large
number of tiny yellow seeds.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia
Notes: Commonly used as roadside tree. Easily found at waste places, along the toll road.
Produce several thousand tiny seeds, spread spontaneously.

Reference: 68

Spreading branches of Muntingia calabura (left); flower and young fruit (top right); young and
mature fruit (bottom right)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Musa acuminata Colla

Family: Musaceae
Local name: pisang hutan (Ind.); cau kole (Sund.)
Origin: Southeast Asia
Description: A large shrub, evergreen perennial. The trunk is a pseudostem made of
tightly packed layers of the leaf sheaths emerging completely or partially buried corms,
up to 6 m in height. Leaves are arranged spirally, up to 2.7 m long and 0.6 m wide. The
inflorescence grows horizontally or obliquely from the trunk. Male flowers are borne at
the tip of the inflorescence. Beneath the male flowers, separated by several sterile flowers,
are the female flowers which develop into fruits; female flowers are located in between
leathery bracts. Seeds are subglobose or angular and very hard.
Distribution: Java, as far as known
Notes: Commonly found at the forest of Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park.
Dense population on forest floor preventing the seeds of forest trees to germinate. M.
acuminata is the wild ancestor of the cultivated banana.

References: 38, 45

Young plant of Musa acuminata (left); M.

acuminata at Gunung Gede Pangrango
National Park (top right); fruits (bottom
right)

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Passiflora edulis Sims

Family: Passifloraceae
Origin: South America (Brazil, Paraguay, Northern Argentine)
Local name: markisa (Ind.); konyal (Sund.)
Description: A vigorous climbing vine, supported by tendrils. The leaves are alternate,
deeply 3-lobed when mature. A single fragrant flower is borne at each node. The fruit is
nearly round or ovoid, waxy, light yellow in color; fruit cavity more or less was filled with
aromatic mass of double walled, membraneous sacs filled with pulpy juice and as many as
250 small, hard, black seeds.
Distribution:Java, Sumatera, Sulawesi
Notes: A vine, climbers, commonly used as fence plant, when escaped, the plant climbs
and covers the trees and cause the trees to suffer. A problem at Gunung Gede Pangrango
National Park. It is cultivated by people at Pasirhantap, escaped and enters the forest.
The fruits are edible, purplish or pale yellow in color.

References: 47, 68

Passiflora edulis fruits, notice the deep 3 lobes of the leaves (left); flower (right)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Passiflora foetida L.
Family: Passifloraceae
Local name: rambusa (Ind.); ceplukan blungsun (Jav.); permot, rajutan, keceprek (Sund.)
Origin: Tropical America
Description:
A herbaceous vine 1.5 -5 m long with cylindrical stems, filiform stipules and long tendril.
The leaves are ovate, 3 lobes, hairy and light green. Bisexual flowers are axillary, solitary or
in twos. The berry is globular green, turns orange when ripe, surrounded by involucres.
Seeds are numerous, compressed, black or dark brown, covered by white or transparent
fragrant aril.
Distribution: Fully established in Sumatera, Java and Madura, Kalimantan, Sulawesi
Notes: Easily found at waste places. Covering trees and shrubs with other lianas along
the toll road to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

References: 18, 53, 61, 75

Passiflora foetida with flower and young fruit (top left); flower (top right); young
fruit (bottom left); ripe fruit surrounded by involucres (bottom right)

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Passiflora ligularis A. Juss

Family: Passifloraceae
Origin: South America
Local name: markisa (Ind., Jav.); konyal (Sund.)
Description: A vigorous vine, woody at the base, climbs by tendrils, tops the highest
trees, shades out and kills the understory. Leaves are broadly heart-shaped, conspicuously
veined. At the leaf axils, there are paired, leaf-like stipules, oblong-ovate. The flowers are
sweet and musky odored, usually 2 to a node, on a peduncle bearing 3 leaf-like oblong-
ovate pointed bracts. The fruit is broad-elliptic, green with purple blush on sunny side and
minutely dotted when unripe, orange-yellow with white specks when ripe. The pulp (arils)
is whitish-yellow or more or less orange, very juicy, aromatic flavor and encloses
numerous black, flat seeds.
Distribution: West Java, Sumatera, as far as known
Notes: An important invasive plant species at Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park
and at the forest gap of Cibodas Botanical Garden. As climbers, climbs up to the canopy
th
of forest trees. The plant is known as early as the 19 century. Population explosion
happened in 1984-1985 when a storm hit big trees to the ground and formed numerous
forest gaps. The fruit is eatable and sold in the market. This species is found at Gunung
Gede Pangrango National Park. In some publications it was misidentified as Passiflora
suberosa.

References: 38, 47, 50, 75

Passiflora ligularis at Gunung Gede Pangrango

National Park, an important invasive plant smothers
shrubs and trees of the forest (left); flower (top
right); fruits (bottom right)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Piper aduncum L.
Family: Piperaceae
Synonym:
Arthante adunca (L.) Miq.
Piper angustifolium Ruiz & Pavon
Piper elongatum Vahl
Local name: sirih hutan, sirihan (Ind.); babanjaran; sereh tangkal, seuseureuhan (Sund.)
Origin: South America
Description: Shrub or small tree up to 7 m in height. Foliage and twigs are aromatic.
Leaves are alternate, 2-ranked, elliptic, shortly petiolate, softly hairy beneath.
Inflorescence a leaf opposed, curve spike, pale cream turning green with maturity;
flowers crowded along the spike. Fruit a 1-seeded berry. Seeds are brown to black.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia
Notes: Easily occupies waste places, open and disturbed forests

References: 8, 18, 33, 53, 61, 65, 70, 71

Piper aduncum at the edge of the forest (left); young shrub (right)

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Pistia stratiotes L.
Family: Araceae
Local name: ki ambang, apu-apu (Ind.); ki apu (Sund.); apu-apu (Jav.)
Origin: uncertain
Description: Perennial, free floating, stoloniferous, root feathery. Leaves are rosette
forming a dense mats. Inflorescence is monoecious, in upper face of the rosette. Fruit is
berry, seeds are few to numerous, oblong
Distribution: Widely distributed in Indonesia
Notes: A troublesome invasive plant at open water

References: 18, 42, 61

Dense mats of Pistia stratiotes (left); plant with feathery roots (top right); flowers seen at the
upper face of the rosette (bottom right)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Podachaenium eminens (Lag.) Sch.Bip.

Family: Asteraceae/Compositae
Synonym:
Podachaenium paniculatum Benth.
Podachaenium skutchii (S.F. Blake) H. Rob.
Local Name: daisi raksasa (Ind.)
Origin: Mexico
Description: Large shrub, up to 8 m in height. Upper leaves are broadly ovate to sub-
orbicular, shallowly angulate-lobate margins. Inflorescence terminal, 12 or more flowers;
ray flowers white, spreading or drooping, disk flowers yellow.
Distribution: West Java
Notes: It was introduced to Cibodas Botanical Garden and escaped. Recently found at
the forest of Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park.

Reference: 45

Shrub or small tree of Podachaenium eminens (left);

branch with inflorescence (top right); inflorescences
(bottom right)

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Ricinus communis L.
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Origin: Eastern Africa and India
Local name: jarak (Ind.); jarak kepyar, jarak kaliki (Sund.)
Description: A fast growing perennial shrub up to 3 m in height. Leaves are alternate,
glossy, palmately shaped with 7-9 deep lobes, with finely tooth margin; have unpleasant
smell when crushed. Inflorescence is large, borne in terminal panicle, arising from the
leaf axils; flowers are small, the male flowers are yellow, the female flowers are red. The
fruit capsules are more showy than the flowers, spiny, green to red-purple capsules,
covered with soft spines, bean like.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia
Notes: The plant is naturalized in Java and grows in many areas as a ruderal plant. It
scattered on roadsides, along the railway, waste places, riversides etc. It is now grown in
drier areas of Indonesia. The seeds are highly poisonous.

References: 18, 61, 73

A shrubby Ricinus communis at Singkarak Lake, West Sumatera (left); flowers and fruit (right)

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Rivina humilis L.
Family: Phytolacaceae
Synonym:
Rivina laevis L.
Origin: Southern USA, Mexico, Central America
Description: A woody small shrub. The stems become slightly woody with age. The
leaves are alternate, simple, oblong or narrowly egg-shaped in outline with margin entire
and pointed tips. Inflorescence is an elongated clusters; numerous small flowers are
produced in each of the clusters; each flower is borne in a short stalked, white color. The
fruit is a small berry that contains a single seed, turns from green to bright shiny red as
they mature.
Distribution: Sumatera, Java and Bali, as far as known
Notes: Ornamental plant, escaped and become a difficult invasive species to control.
Important weed of oil palm plantations in North Sumatera.

References: 57, 62

Rivina humilis at an oil palm plantation in North Sumatera

(left); flowers (top right); ripe fruits (bottom right)

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Rottboellia cochinchinensis (Lour.) W.D. Clayton

Family: Poaceae/Gramineae
Synonym:
Rottboellia exaltata L. f.
Local name: jukut kikisan, majarakan (Sund.), branjangan, bludru, rayung (Jav.)
Origin: India
Description: A grass with erect branch, hairy stem up to 3 m in height, with rhizomes
and stilt roots. The leaves are long and broadly linear, with well marked white midribs and
sharp edges. Leaf sheaths bear white bristles, which cause irritation when they come in
contact with human skin. Inflorescence consists of a number of un-branched, narrow
cylindrical spikes arising in the axils of the upper stem leaves. At maturity each spike
breaks at joints into hard cylindrical section about 6-7 mm long.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia except Kalimantan, as far as known
Notes: An aggressive annual tufted grass, produces a large number of seeds. Important
weed of Gunung Madu sugarcane plantation, Lampung.

References: 18, 49, 61

Dense population of tufted grass Rottboellia cochinchinensis at

Baluran National Park (left); unbranched narrow cylindrical
young spike of the inflorescence (top right); hairy sheath
(bottom right)

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 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitchell

Family: Salviniaceae
Synonym:
Salvinia auriculata (non Aubl.) D.S. Mitchell
Local name: kayambang, lukut cai, mata lele (Sund.), Kiambang (Ind., Jav.)
Origin: South America
Description: Free floating aquatic fern. Fronds are in pairs along the stem, older leaves
are folded, upper surface is covered with long hairs; young leaves are flattened.
Underwater leaves look like filament-like roots. Reproduced by spores. Under favorable
conditions plants can form thick mats.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia.
Notes: An aquatic fern. S. molesta displays considerable morphological variations related
to environmental conditions. The primary factors being crowded condition and the
availability of nutrient.

References: 18, 61, 70, 72

Salvinia molesta, at Lake Malintang, East Kalimantan

(left); notice the folded leaves (top right); underwater
part of the plants with spores (bottom right)

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Solanum chrysotrichum Schltdl.

Family: Solanaceae
Origin: Tropical Central America
Description: A shrub up to 3 m in height, stem is rusty, sparse prickles on petioles and
leaf vein. Leaves are broadly ovate, leaves margin are lobed. Inflorescence is branched,
flowers are white. Fruit is green or yellow, becomes brown when ripe.
Distribution: West Java, as far as known
Notes: Newly recorded as important alien invasive plant species at Gunung Gede
Pangrango National Park.

References: 74

Solanum chrysotrichum at Gunung Gede National Park (left); branch with flowers and young fruits
(right)

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Solanum verbascifolium L.
Family: Solanaceae
Synonym:
Solanum donianum Walp.
Local name: ki teter (Sund.)
Origin: Carribean
Description: A shrub or small tree, 1-4 m in height, hairy, the stem is rusty; prickles are
usually sparse on petioles and leaf veins. Leaves are ovate, oblong-ovate or elliptic ovate,
the lower surface is hairy. Inflorescence is branched, up to 50 flowers; flowers are white in
dichotomous corymbs. Fruit is berry, fleshy, green or yellow, rounded, smell unpleasant.
Distribution : Java and Madura, as far as known
Notes: Habitat is at the edge of the forest, sunny or slightly shaded forest, waste places,
open places, roadsides. At Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park the plant is found at
the elevation of 1,000 – 1,400 m asl.

References: 2, 38, 47

Shrub of Solanum verbascifolium (left); flowers (top right); fruits (bottom right)

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Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv.

Family: Bignoniaceae
Synonym:
Spathodea danckelmaniana Buettner
Spathodea nilotica Seem.
Spathodea tulipifera (Schum.) G.Don
Local name: ki acret, ki engsrot, kembang kecrutan (Sund.), crut-crutan (Jav.)
Origin: Tropical West Africa
Description: A large upright fast growing tree up to 25 m in height with spreading crown
and a slightly buttressed trunk. The large leaves are compound, pinnate with 7-17 leaflets,
oppositely arranged. The large and very showy reddish orange flowers are arranged in
dense clusters at the tip of the branches on a stalk up to 10 cm long. Individual flowers are
borne on short stalk; has distinctive horn-shaped calyx, reddish orange in color. The
capsules are large and elongated, resemble pods, flattened and turn to brown when
mature. When mature the capsules split open and release about 500 papery seeds.
Distribution: Java, Sulawesi, as far as known
Notes: An ornamental tree with showy reddish orange flowers or yellow (rare). Planted at
roadsides. The first herbarium specimen was collected by van Steenis (2854 BO) in 1929
and in Malino, Sulawesi by Eyma (3295 BO) in 1938.

References: 18, 61, 73

Spathodea campanulata tree (left);

branches with flowers (top right);
flowers (bottom right)

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Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski

Family: Asteraceae/Compositae
Synonym:
Wedelia trilobata (L.) A. Hitch
Serunium trilobatum (L.) Kuntze
Complaya trilobata (L.) Strother
Thelechitonia trilobata (L.) H. Rob. & Cuatrec.
Local name: seruni kuning (Ind.)
Origin: Tropical America
Description: Spreading, mat-forming perennial herb up to 30 cm in height. Has rounded
stems up to 40 cm long.
Stem is rooted at the internodes with the flowering stems ascending. Leaves are fleshy,
hairy, more or less oval in outline, normally with lateral lobes; has 3 distinct ribs. Flowers
are bright yellow with 8-13 ray flowers per head. The fruits are very small; the seeds are
tuberculate achenes.
Distribution: Sumatera and Java, as far as known
Notes: Commonly grown as an ornamental plant. From there it has escaped and become
weedy in open places, edges of forests, shrubbery, plantations etc. An important weed at
the rubber plantations in Sukabumi, West Java. Dense population forming thick mats is
found at Pasirhantap, Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park. Although S. trilobata is the
accepted name for this species, it is widely known as Wedelia trilobata.

References: 55, 73

Creeping plant of Sphagneticola trilobata (left);

flower (top right); young plants (bottom right)

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Stachytarpheta indica (L.) Vahl

Family: Verbenaceae
Synonym:
Stachytarpheta australis Moldenke
Stachytarpheta bogoriensis Zoll. & Moritzi
Local name: jarong, jarong lalaki (Sund.); gajihan, ngadi renggo (Jav.)
Origin: Tropical America
Description: Perennial herb, woody at the base, often branched from the base, 0.3-0.9 m
in height. Young stem is quadrangular, older stem is subcylindrical. Leaves are opposite,
blade is oval, margin toothed. Inflorescence is a very narrow spike, covered in pointed
bract; occasionally flowers bloom from between the bracts, the flowers are pale violet or
almost white. The flowers last a single day.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia
Notes: Small shrub with white flowers.

References: 18, 26, 61, 65

Stachytarpheta indica (left); white flowers (right)

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Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (L.) Vahl

Family: Verbenaceae
Local name: pecut kuda (Ind.)
Origin: Tropical America
Description: A shrub up to 1 m in height, sprawls, with branches typically horizontal,
forms a short central stem. Leaves are dull, light green, coarsely serrated, smooth above,
slightly hairy below; there are no prominent raised areas between the leaf veins. Blue or
light purple flowers are borne on a spike, flowers last only in a single day.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia
Notes: The name is sometimes misapplied to Stachytarpheta urticifolia

References: 18, 26, 51, 61, 65

Dense population of Stachytarpheta jamaicensis at the sea shore of Santolo, Garut, West Java
Province (left); inflorescence (right)

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Stachytarpheta urticifolia (Salisb.) Sims

Family: Verbenaceae
Synonym:
Stachytarpheta cayennensis (Rich.)Vahl.
Local name: pecut kuda (Ind.); jarong lalaki (Sund.)
Origin: Tropical Asia
Description: A shrub with woody rootstock, up to 2 m in height. Leaves are dark green,
have a wrinkled texture and sharply toothed margins. Inflorescence is long, curved and
slender spike at the top of the branches; flowers are dark blue or violet with a white center.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia
Notes: The name is sometimes misapplied with Stachytarpheta jamaicensis

References: 18, 26, 52, 61, 65

Stachytarpheta urticifolia with a slender and curved spike (left); flowers (right)

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Strobilanthes hamiltoniana (Steud.) Bosser & Heine

Family: Acanthaceae
Synonym:
Goldfussia colorata Nees
Ruellia hamiltoniana Steud.
Strobilanthes colorata Nees
Local name: lonceng hujan cina (Ind.)
Origin: Himalaya, China
Description: Shrub, much-branched, up to 1.5 m in height. Stem is 4-angled. Leaves are
sessile or subsessile, lanceolate to ovate, margin toothed. Inflorescence axillary or
terminal, in panicle, much-branched ; flowers are solitary on each node, distant on rachis,
showy lilac or deep pink with white tube. Fruit capsule green to dark purple, 4 seeded.
Distribution: Java, as far as known
Notes: Forest mountain species. Important invasive plant at Wornojiwo forest, Cibodas
Botanical Garden. Escaped from the garden collection.

References: 27, 45, 70

Strobilanthes hamiltoniana at the forest floor of Wornojiwo forest (left); flowers (right)

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Themeda villosa (Poir.) A. Camus

Family: Poaceae/Gramineae
Synonym:
Arthistiria villosa Poiret
Themeda gigantea var. villosa (Poiret) Hackel
Local name: manjah, manjarahan (Sund.); glagah arjuna, sisren (Jav.); ceceran (Mad.)
Origin: Southeast Asia
Description: Perennial grass, culms tufted, up to 2 to 3 m in height, internodes of non-
flowering plants are very short. Leaves are linear and sharp at the margin. The leaf
sheaths are compressed, ligule glabrous or hairy at the back. The inflorescence is a large
panicle up to 1 m long, usually drooping, with the ultimate branches thread-like and
bearing spathes. Each spathe bears pairs of spikelets that are sterile, male or bisexual. The
lemma of the ferile floret is extended into a long, twisted awn of 4-6 cm long
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia
Notes: Found at the margin of the forest, plantations, waste places.

Reference: 9

Themeda villosa at the edge of rubber

plantation (left); large inflorescence panicles
(top right); a drooping panicles (bottom
right)

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Thespesia lampas (Cav.) Dalzell & A. Gibson

Family: Malvaceae
Synonym:
Abelmoschus zollingeri (Alef.) Müll. Berol
Hibiscus lampas Cav.
Local name: kapas utan (Ind.); kapasan, kemiren (Jav.)
Origin: perhaps Asia
Description: An erect shrub 2-3 m in height, slightly branched. Leaves are ovate, 3-lobed
or nearly entire, broad and heart-shaped at the base, pointed at tip. Flowers are large,
borne in the apex of the branches at the axils of the leaves; corolla is bell shaped, yellow,
dark purple at the center. Capsules are ovoid with 4-5 valves.
Distribution: Java, as far as known
Notes: Important invasive plant of Baluran National Park, East Java Province.

References: 13, 70

Thespesia lampas at Baluran National Park (left);

flower (top right); mature fruits (bottom right)

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Thunbergia grandiflora Roxb.

Family: Acanthaceae
Synonym:
Flemingia grandiflora Roxb. ex Rottler
Thunbergia cordifolia Nees
Local name: bunga tunbergia (Ind.)
Origin: Northern India, China, Nepal
Description: An evergreen vine up to 15 m long, when supported by a host tree. Leaves
are opposite, borne on hairy stalk, variable in shape, elliptic to heart shaped, dark green;
the margin are also variable, entire, irregularly toothed or pointed lobes. Tubular flowers
are borne in elongated cluster on long drooping branches; pale blue, violet, mauve or
white petals and pale yellow or whitish colored throat. Fruit capsule, with rounded base.
Distribution: Java and Sumatera, as far as known
Notes: First herbarium specimen was collected by Hallier from Bogor. Cultivated as
ornamental creeper, not rarely running wild by it stolons, locally grown, sometimes in a
very great numbers. Flowers are pale blue or white with a pale yellow throat.

References: 18, 36, 45, 61

An evergreen vine Thunbergia grandiflora (left); tubular flowers (right)

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Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsley) A. Gray

Family: Asteraceae
Synonym:
Mirasolia diversifolia Hemsl.
Urbanisol targetiflora (Desf.) Kuntze
Local name: kembang mbulan, paitan (Jav.)
Origin: Mexico, Central and tropical South America
Description: An upright woody shrub, up to 3 m in height. Leaves are alternate, blade is
subovate with 3-5 pointed lobes, finely hairy and grayish-green in color. The showy large
flower heads are borne in a small groups at the ends of the leafy branches; ray flowers 7 -
15 bright yellow; numerous tiny tubular flowers in the centre of the flower heads. Fruit
achenes, covered with hairs, black and four angles.
Distribution: Sumatera and Java, as far as known
Notes: Introduced to Java long before 1900, cultivated as ornamental plants, as a hedge-
plant, to protect erosions and escaped. Found along roadsides, waste grounds, edge of
old plantations.

References: 1, 18, 61

Large shrub of Tithonia diversifolia (left); flower head (right)

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Vachellia nilotica (L.) P.J.H. Hurter & Mabb.

Family: Mimosaceae or Fabaceae/Leguminosae subsp. Mimosoideae
Synonym:
Acacia adansonii Guill. & Perr. Acacia pseudoarabica Blume ex Miq.
Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Del. Mimosa arabica Lam.
Acacia arabica (Lamk.) Willd Mimosa nilotica L.
Acacia scorpioides (L.) W.Wight Mimosa scorpioides L.
Local name: akasia duri (Jav.), langai (Mad.)
Origin: Africa and Continental Asia
Description: Perennial shrub or tree, forming thorny thickets, 2 – 10 m in height. Stem
exudates, has reddish low quality gum. Branches are spreading, forming dense flat or
rounded crown. Spines (thorns) are thin, straight in axillary pairs of young trees, mature
trees are commonly without thorns. Leaves are bipinnate, often with petiole glands.
Flowers are golden yellow in spherical heads. Pods are strait or slightly curved, with
construction between seeds, fleshy when young, become black and hard at maturity.
Seeds are deep blackish-brown
Distribution: Java, Madura, Bali, Sulawesi, as far as known
Notes: In 1850 introduced to Java. In 1969 was planted in Baluran National Park to
prevent the fire coming to the forest surrounding the park, recently covers large areas of
the park. The pod and leaves consume by livestock. Local people use the seeds for coffee-
substitute and for bean sprout. Previously known as Acacia nilotica
References: 13, 18, 61, 62, 63

Dense population of Vachellia nilotica at Baluran National Park (top left); single plant of Vachellia
nilotica found in Palu, Central Sulawesi Province (top right); thorny stem (bottom left); yellow
flower (bottom middle); fruits (bottom right)

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Wedelia biflora (L.) DC.

Family: Asteraceae/Compositae
Synonym:
Seruneum aquatile Rumph.
Verbesina biflora L.
Wollastonia biflora L.
Wollastonia strigulosa K. Schum.
Origin: From East Africa to Pasific islands. Widely spread in Malesia
Description: Herb or shrub, 0.4 m or taller. Stem is ribbed, thick, thinly hairy. Leaves are
petiolated, blades oblong-ovate. Flower heads are solitary or sometimes paired, yellow
ray flowers. Achenes are obovoid-oblong, pappus consists of one short needle.
Distribution: Throughout Indonesia
Notes: Herb or shrub near the seashore, behind the Ipomoea pes-capre formation, roadside,
at the nypha and mangove formation, primary forest, plantations, secondary forest and
pasture invasive plant of Baluran National Park.

References: 1, 47, 69

Wedelia biflora at the seashore of Santolo, Garut, West Java Province (left); flower head (right)

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PHOTO CREDITS
All photographs are taken by the authors and BIOTROP's Invasive Alien Plant Species
Group members: Indah Wahyuni, Saiful Bachri and Setiabudi, except the following:

Asep Saepudin (SEAMEO BIOTROP): Cecropia peltata tree, branches of Spathodea

campanulata

Elfira Hoerand (Goettingen University, Germany): Bellucia axinanthera branches with

fruits. Clidemia hirta at the rubber plantation and Imperata cylindrica

FORIS Indonesia (Forest Invasive Species in Southeast Asia Project-Indonesia) :

Merremia peltata at Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park

Hafni Ramadhani (Bahlias Research Station, PT. London Sumatra): Merremia peltata
flower

Jani Master (Lampung University): Stem of Merremia peltata

Musyarofah Zuhri (Cibodas Botanic Garden): Leaf, flower and fruits of Calliandra
calothyrsus

Natalie Breidenbach (Goettingen University): flowers and fruits of Bellucia axinanthera

Remadja Sitepu (Gunung Madu Plantation): Momordica charantia, at the sugar cane
plantation. Rottboellia cochinchinensis inflorescences and hairy sheath of R. cochinchinensis

Sri Widayanti (SEAMEO BIOTROP): Asystasia gangetica subsp. micrantha at the Forest
Plantation and Eichhornia crassipes

Sutomo (Eka Karya Bali Botanic Garden) : Flowers of Acacia decurrens

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Sumatera Utara. Prosiding Konferensi Nasional ke XVI Himpunan Ilmu Gulma
Indonesia, Bogor 15-17 Juli 2003, Jilid I :23-6. Bogor (ID). (in Indonesian).

57. Tjitrosoedirdjo SS. 2004. Daun Tanah (Austroeupatorium inulifolium (Kunth) R.M.
King & H. Rob. Jurnal Gulma Tropika 2(2):86 (in Indonesian).

58. Tjitrosoedirdjo SS. 2005. Inventory of the Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia.
BIOTROPIA 25:60-73.

59. Tjitrosoedirdjo SS. 2005. Perkembangan Gulma Penting di Indonesia. Prosiding

Konferensi Nasional XVII Himpunan Ilmu Gulma Indonesia, Yogyakarta, 20-
21 Juli 2005. Yogyakarta (ID). (in Indonesian).

60. Tjitrosoedirdjo SS. 2005. Notes on Some Invasive Alien Plant Species in Indonesia.
Proceeding of 20th APWSS Conference, Ho Chi Min City (VN).

61. Tjitrosoedirdjo SS, Tjitrosoemito S. 2005. Compilation of the Introduced Species in

Indonesia. Ministry of Environment Republic Indonesia & SEAMEO
BIOTROP. BIOTROP Doc. No. BIOTROP/CAPSI/2005/1019 (Internal
report).

62. Tjitrosoedirdjo SS. 2010. Fokus Gulma: Rivina humilis L. Jurnal Gulma & Tumbuhan
Invasif Tropika 1(2):101-2 (in Indonesian).

63. Tjitrosoedirdjo SS. 2011. Asystasia ngangetica (L.) T. Anderson subsp. micrantha (Nees)
Ensermu. Fokus Gulma. Jurnal Gulma dan Tumbuhan Invasif Tropika 2(1):
39-40 (in Indonesian).

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64. Tjitrosoedirdjo SS. 2011. Fokus Gulma: Jatropa gossypifolia L. Jurnal Gulma dan
Tumbuhan Invasif Tropika 2(2):80 (in Indonesian).

65. Tjitrosoedirdjo SS, Tjitrosoedirdjo S, Mochtar M, Cicuzza D. 2011. Pengelolaan

Gulma Agroforestri Kakao di Sulawesi Tengah. IPB Press (ID). (in Indonesian).

66. Tjitrosoedirdjo S, Setiabudi, Mawardi I, Bachri S, Wahyuni I, Tjitrosoedirdjo SS.

2015. Risk Analysis of Alien Plant Species Invading Gunung Gede Pangrango
National Park and Recommendation of Containment. Proceeding the Regional
Seminar Workshop on Harmonizing Methods in Risk Assessment and
Management of Forest Invasive Alien Plant Species in South-East Asia. FAO-
SEAMEO BIOTROP.

67. Van Valkenburg, Bunyapraphatsara N (Eds.). 2001. Plant Resources of South-East

Asia No. 12(2). Medicinal & Poisonous Plants 2. Prosea, Bogor (ID).

68. Verhey EWM, Coronel RE (Eds.) 1992. Plant Resources of South-East Asia No.2:
Eatable Fruits & Nuts. PROSEA, Bogor (ID).

69. De Voogd CNA. 1950. Tanaman Apakah Ini Gerangan ? Buku Kecil untuk Teman
Berkelana. N.V. Uitgeverij W. van Hoeve, Bandung's Gravenhage.
Diterjemahkan oleh: Soetan Sanif (in Indonesian).

70. Wahyuni I, Tjitrosoedirdjo SS. 2013. Observation on the Development of Important

th
Weeds and Invasive Alien Plant Species in Indonesia. Proceeding 24 Asia Pasific
Weed Science Society Conference held on 22-25 October 2013. Bandung (ID).

71. Waterhouse BM. 2003. Know Your Enemy: Recent Records of Potentially Serious
Weeds in Northern Australia, Papua New Guinea and Papua (Indonesia).
Telopia 10(1):477-85.

72. Weber E. 2003. Invasive Plant Species of the World. A Reference Guide to
Environmental Weeds. CABI Publishing-CABI International. Wallingford
(UK).

73. Weber BL, Born C, Conn BJ, Hadiah JT, Zalamea P. 2011. What is A Name? That
which We Call Cecropia peltata by Any Other Name Would be As Invasive? Plant
Ecology & Diversity. 4(2-3):289-93.

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74. Welman WG. 2003. The Genus Solanum (Solanaceae) in Southern Africa: Sub-genus
Leptostemon, the Introduced Sections Acanthophora and Torva. Bothalia 33(1):1-18.

75. de Wilde WJJO. 1972. Passifloraceae. Flora Malesiana Series I. Vol.7:409-17. Flora
Malesiana Foundation.

76. Zuhri M, Mutaqien Z. 2013. The Spread of Non-native Plant Species Collection of
Cibodas Botanical Garden into Mount Gede Pangrango National Park. The
Journal of Tropical Life Science 3(2):74-82.

WEB REFERENCES

Wikimedia commons. 2013. Maesopsis eminii . Available at http://commons.

wikimedia.org/wikifile: Maesopsis eminii-2.JPG. (Date accessed: 27 June 2016).

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GLOSSARY
Achene. A small, dry, hard, one seeded, indehiscent fruit, especially of Asteraceae
(Compositae)
Alternate. Placed singly on the parent axis, resulting a zigzag arrangement; occurring on
opposite sides of the stem at successive nodes
Angular. With x angles
Aril. An expansion of the funiculus which arises from the placenta and envelops the
seeds
Awn. A bristle-like appendage
Axillary. Situated in, growing from, or pertaining to an axil
Axis. The main stem of a plant or inflorescence
Berry. A simple fruit having a pulpy or fleshy ovary wall
Bipinnate. Twice pinnate
Blade (lamina). The expanded portion of a leaf
Bract. A modified leaf just below an inflorescence of flower
Branchlet. Small branch
Bristle. Thick stiff hair
Calyx. The outer ring of flower structure, made up of separate or jointed sepals
Campanulate. Used to describe a flower with the shape of a bell
Capsule. A dry deciscent fruit composed of more than one carpel, having many seeds,
usually opening at maturity by valves or teeth
Cauliflowers. Flowers attached at the stem
Ciliate. Fringed of the margin with short, usually stiff hairs
Conspicuous. Very clearly visible
Corolla. The petal of a flower; the inner perianth
Corymb. An inflorescence in which the upper pedicels are shorter than the lower so that
all the flowers are at approximately the same level
Culm. The stem of a grass, bamboo or sedges
Cyathium/Cyathia. An inflorescence unit consisting of a cup-like involucres with
several flowers; the inflorescence of Euphorbiaceae, consisting of involucral bracts

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with glands between simple stamens, each equivalent to a male flower, and trilocular
ovary
Cyme. A usually broad and more or less flat-topped determinate inflorescence, the
central or terminal flowers opening first
Cymose. Determinate
Deltoid. Triangular like
Dentate. Toothed with acute protrusion and blunt incisions
Denticulate. Minutely toothed
Dioecious. A sexual condition in which staminate and pistillate flowers occur on
separate individuals; a term properly applied to plants, not flowers
Disk flower. One of the central flower of Asteraceae/Compositae flower
Distichous. Leaves in two vertical series of ranks
Drupe. A fleshy, pulpy, or fibrous fruit with a hard endocarp enclosing a single seed
Elliptic. Regular oval; with the outline of an ellipse, about twice as long as wide
Eutrophic. A body of water rich in nutrients and subject to eutrophication
Filament. The part of a stamen that supports the anther
Floret. A small flower, usually one of a cluster, as found in member of Asteraceae or
grasses
Frond. The leaf of fern
Funiculus. The cord or thread which sometimes connects the ovules or seeds to the
placenta
Gall of Cecidochares connexa. A kind of swelling growth on external tissue of Chromolaena
odorata plant containing larvae of C. connexa
Glabrous. Without hairs
Globose. Almost sphaerical
Head flower. A group of flowers clustered into a head as in Asteraceae flowers
Homogamous. All the flowers of the same sex
Inflorescence. The arrangement of flowers on a plant; a flower cluster
Internode. Stem between nodes
Involucre. A whorl or rosette bracts, often resembling an ordinary calyx, subtending or
supporting a flower cluster or fruit

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Lanceolate. Shape like the head of a lance, several times longer than wide, broadest near
the base and tapering at both ends
Leaflet. A single division of a compound leaf
Lobed. (of leaves) Partially divided but not deeply enough to form separate leaflets
Midrib. Main nerve or costa
Monoecious. Having unisexual flowers with both sexes borne on the same plant
Node. The point on a main stem or branch where leaves or bud arise
Oblique. A leaf base with sides that do not match; inequilateral
Oblong. (of leaves) Longer than broad with roughly parallel sides
Obovate. Inversely ovate
Orbicular. Flat with circular outline
Ovate. A shape 2-3 times longer than broad, broadest at the base and narrowing toward
the apex, resembling egg attached by its broad end
Ovoid. A solid that is oval or ovate in outline; egg-shaped
Pedicel. Stalk of a flower or spikelet
Palmate. Radiating from a common point of origin; used for major veins of a leaf or
leaflets of a compound leaf
Panicle. A compound or branched inflorescence
Pappus. The bristle-like or hair-like structure at the junction of the achenes and at the
petal tube in Asteraceae, often terminally on the ripe fruit
Petiole. The leaf stalk
Perennial. A plant living for a two or more years
Pinnate. With the leaflets arranged on opposite sides of a common stalk
Pistil. The female part of a flower, usually consisting of ovary, style and stigma
Pericarp. The ripened wall of the ovary when it becomes a fruit
Petal. One of the inner, usually showy, perianth segments
Phyllode. A petiole with shape and function of a leaf
Pod. A type of fruit typical of the Papilionaceae which splits longitudinally into two
valves
Pulvinus. (pl. pulvini) is a joint-like thickening at the base of a plant leaf or leaflet that
facilitates growth-independent movement

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Raceme. A simple indeterminate inflorescence of pedicelled flowers on a common,

more or less elongated axis
Rachilla. A small or secondary rachis; in grasses and sedges, applies especially to the
floral axis of a spikelet as opposed to that of a spike
Rachis. An axis bearing flowers or leaflets
Ray flower. One of the outer flower of a composite flower when distinct from the disc
flower
Rhizome. The rootstock or flattened having root-like appearance, prostrate or
underground, sending of rootlets, the apex progressively sending up stems or leaves
Rosette. A cluster of closely crowded radiating leaves that appear to arise from the
ground
Sepal. One of the leaves of the calyx
Sessile. Without a stalk
Sheath. A long, more or less tubular basal portion of a leaf of a grass or sedge which
enclose the culm
Spathe. A basally sheathing bract, common in some monocot, sometimes petaloid
Spike. As inflorescence consisting of a central stalk bearing a number of sessile or sub-
sessile flowers
Spikelet. A small spike of one or more flowers surrounded by bracts. As applied to
grasses, the term referes to groups of one or more reduced flowers sub-tended by a
pair of bracts known as glumes
Spore. A small, unicellular reproductive body produced in large numbers by ferns and
other non flowering plants
Stamen. The pollen bearing organ of the flower, the male organ in the flowering plants
(consisting of filament, connective and anthers)
Staminate. Bearing stamens (usually with the implication that the pistil is lacking)
Stolon. A creeping stem of a short duration produced by a plant which has a central
rosette or erect stem
Tendril. Filiform coiled production, cauline or foliar, by which a plant may secure itself
in position
Trifoliate. (of leaves). Made up of three leaflets
Tuber. A short thickening portion of underground stem bearing dormant buds

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Turion. A type of bud that is capable of growing into a complete plant

Understory. In forestry and ecology comprises plant life growing beneath the forest
canopy without penetrating it to any great extent, but above the forest floor
Unisexual. Flowers bearing either functioning stamen or ovaries, but not both

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INDEX FOR SCIENTIFIC NAMES AND THEIR FAMILIES for

Guide book 2016

Note: Species and family names in bold indicate that the names are included in this
book. Species and family names in italic indicate synonym or mention in the text

Abelmoschus zollingeri (Alef.) Müll. Berol 71 Araceae 56

Acanthaceae 69 Arecaceae 6
Acacia adansonii Guill. & Perr. 74 Arenga obtusifolia Mart. 6
Acacia arabica (Lamk.) Willd 74 Arthante adunca (L.) Miq.
Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Arthistiria viloca Poiret 90
Benth. 1 Asteraceae 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 19, 22, 25, 27,
Acacia decurrens (Wendl.) Willd 2 43, 48, 57
Acacia decurrens Willd. var. angulata Asystasia coromandeliana var. micrantha Nees 7
(Desv.) Benth. 2 Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anderson 7
Acacia decurreus var. mollis Linde, 2 Asystasia intrusa (Blume) 7
Acacia leucocephala (Lam.) Link. 38 Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anders sub-sp.
Acacia mearnsii de Willd. 2 gangetica 7
Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Del. 74 Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anders sub-
sp micrantha (Nees) Ensermu 7
Acacia moniliformis Griseb. 1
Austroeupatorium inulifolium (Kunth.)
Acacia pseudoarabica Blume ex Miq. 74
R.M. King & H. Rob. 8
Acacia scorpioides (L.) W.Wight 74
Axinanthera macrophylla H. Karst 10
Acacia mangium Willd. 3
Bartlettina sordida (Less.) R.M. King &
Achasma coccineum (Blume) Valeton 28 H. Rob. 9
Ageratina riparia (Regel) R.M. King & Bellucia axinanthera Triana 10
H. Rob. 4
Bellucia costaricensis Cogn. 10
Alpinia coccinea (Blume) D. Dietr. 28
Bellucia pentamera Naudin 10
Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.)
Bellucia weberbaueri Cogn. 10
Griseb. 5
Bidens biternata (Lour.) Merr. & Shreff
Amaranthaceae 5
ex Shreff 11
Amomum coccineum (Blume) K. Schum. 28
Bidens chinensis Willd 11
Anneslia callothyrsa (Meisn.) Kleinhoonte
14 Bidens pilosa L. 12
Anneslia callothyrsus (Meisn.) Donn. Sm. Bidens pilosa L. var. chinensis L. 11
14 Bidens sundaica Blume var. minor (Blume) 12

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Bignoniaceae 64 Compositae 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 19, 25, 27, 43, 48,

Brugmansia candida (Pers.) Saff. 13 57
Brugmasia suaviolens (Humb. & Convolvulaceae 32, 33, 42
Boupl. ex Willd.) Bercht. & Presl. 13 Convolvulus acuminatus Vahl.
Brugmansia versicolor (Lageh.) Saff. 13 Convolvulus cairicus L. 32
Bucholzia philoxeroides Mart. 5 Convolvulus peltatus L. 42
Calliandra callothyrsus Meisn. 14 Convolvulus pendulus (R.Br.) Spreng. 32
Calliandra houstoniana var. callothyrsus Coreopsis biternata Lour. 11
(Meisn.) Barneby 14 Crassocephalum crepidioides (Benth.) S.
Cardamomum coccineum (Blume) Kuntze 28 Moore 25
Cecidochares connexa (Macquart) (Diptera: Crassocephalum diversifolium Hiem 25
Tephritidae) 19 Crassocephalum sonchifolium (L.) Less.
Cecropia adenopus Mart. ex Miq. 15 Crassocephalum valerianifolium Less. 27
Cecropiaceae 15 Cucurbitaceae 47
Cecropia pachystachya Trecul 15 Datura suaviolens (Humb. & Bonpl. Ex
Cecropia peltata L. 15 Willd.) Bercht. & J. Presl 13
Cenchrus polystachios (L.) Morrone 16 Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms 26
Cestrum aurantiacum Lindl. 17 Eichhornia speciosa Kunth 26
Cestrum elegans (Scheidw.) Schlecht. 17 Elaeocarpaceae 50
Chimonobambusa quadrangularis Elettaria coccinea Blume 28
Makino 18 Erechtites valerianifolia (Wolf) DC. 25, 27
Chinchona pubescens Vahl 20 Etlingera coccinea (Blume) S. Sakai &
Chinchona succirubra Pav. ex Klotzh 20 Nagam 28
Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King Eupatorium conyzoides Vahl 19
& H. Rob. 19 Eupatorium ianthinum Hemsl. 9
Cissus sicyoides L. 21 Eupatorium inulifolium Kunth. 8
Cissus verticillata (L.) Nicolson & C.E. Eupatorium inulifolium (H.B.K.) R.M. King &
Jarvis 21 H. Rob. 8
Clibadium surinamensis L. 22 Eupatorium javanicum auct. non Blume 8
Clidemia crenata DC. 23 Eupatorium megalophyllum (Lem.)
Clidemia elegans (Aubl.) D. Don 23 N.E. Br. 9
Clidemia hirta (L.) D. Don 23 Eupatorium odoratum L. 19
Cobaea scandens Cav. 24 Eupatorium pallescens DC. 8
Complaya trilobata (L.) Stroter 65 Eupatorium riparium Regel 4

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Eupatorium sordidum Less. 9 Jatropha gossypifolia L. 36

Euphorbiaceae 29, 36, 58 Jussiaea hirta Vahl 39
Euphorbia geniculata Ortega 29 Jussiaea speciosa (L.) Sw. Ridl. 39
Euphorbia heterophylla L. 24 Lantana aculeata L. 37
Euphorbia prunifolia Jacq. 29 Ludwigia peruri (L. Hara) 39
Fabaceae 1, 2, 3, 14, 38, 44, 45 Lantana camara L. 37
Flemingia grandiflora Roxb. ex Rottler 72 Leguminosae sub-family Mimosoideae 1, 2, 3,
Goldfussia colorata Nees 14, 38, 44, 45, 74
Gramineae 18, 31, 60 Leguminoseae sub-family Papilionoideae 49
Gynura crepidioides Benth. 25 Leucaena glauca Benth. 38
Gynura rosea Ridl. 27 Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. 38
Hibiscus lampas Cav. 71 Maesopsis eminii Engler 40
Hydrilla lithuanica (Rchb.) Dandy 30 Maesopsis berchemioides (Pierre) A. Chev. 40
Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Boyle 30 Malvaceae 71
Hydrocharitaceae 30 Mangium montanum Rumph. 3
Imperata arundinacea Cyr. 31 Melastomataceae 10, 23, 41
Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv. 31 Melastoma affine D. Don 41
Ipomoea acuminata (Vahl.) Roem 34 Melastoma elegans Aubl. 23
Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet 32 Melastoma hirta L. 23
Ipomoea carnea Jacq. 33 Melastoma malabatricum auct. non L. 41
Ipomoea carnea Jacq. ssp. fistulosa (Mart. Melastoma polyanthum Blume 41
ex Choisy) D. Austin 33 Merremia peltata (L.) Merr. 42
Ipomoea crassicaulis (Bth.) B.L. Robins 33 Mikania micrantha Kunth 43
Ipomoea fistulosa Mart. ex Choisy 33 Mikania cordata 43
Ipomoea indica (Burm. f.) Merr. 34 Mikania orinocenis Kunth 43
Ipomoea congesta R. Br. 34 Mikania subcrenata Hook. 43
Ipomoea nymphaeifolia Blume 42 Mikania umbellifera Gardner 43
Ipomoea palmata Forssk. 32 Mimosa angulata (Desv.) Poir. 2
Ipomoea peltata (L.) Choisy 42 Mimosa arabica Lam. 74
Ipomoea pendula R. Br. 32 Mimosa asperata Blanco 45
Ipomoea stipulata Jacq. 32 Mimosaceae 1, 2, 3, 14, 38, 44, 45, 74
Ipomoea triloba L. 35 Mimosa decurrens Wendl. 2
Jatropa elegans (Pohl) Klotzsch

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Mimosa diplotrica C. Wright ex Pennisetum polystachion (L.) Schult. 16

Sauvalle 43 Pennisetum setosum (Sw.) L. Rich. 16
Mimosa invisa Mart. 43 Pennisetum triticoides (Poir) R. & S. 16
Mimosa leucocephala Lam. 38 Phytolacaceae 59
Mimosa leucophloea Roxb. 38 Piper aceae 55
Mimosa nilotica L. 74 Piper aduncum L. 55
Mimosa pigra L. 45 Piper angustifolium Ruiz & Pavon 55
Mimosa pudica L. 46 Piper elongatum Vahl 55
Mimosa scorpioides L. Pistia stratiotes L. 56
Mimosa sepiana auct. non Benth Poaceae 16, 18, 31, 60
Mirasolia diversifolia Hemsl. 73 Podachaenium eminens (Lag.) Sch.Bip. 57
Momordica charantia L. 47 Podachaenium paniculatum Benth. 57
Montanoa hibiscifolia (Benth.) Kuntze Podachaenium skutchii (S.F. Blake) H. Rob. 57
48
Polemoniaceae 24
Moraceae 15
Pontederiaceae 26
Mucuna bracteata DC. 49 Racosperma auriculiforme (Benth.) Pedley 1
Muntingiaceae 50 Racosperma mangium (Wild.) Pedley 3
Muntingia calabura L. 50
Rhamnaceae 40
Musa acuminata Colla 51
Rivina humilis L. 59
Musaceae 51
Ricinus communis L. 58
Neochetina bruchi (Coleoptera:
Curculionidae) 26 Rivina laevis L. 59
Onagraceae 39 Rottboellia cochinchinensis (Lour.) W.D.
Clayton 60
Operculina peltata (L.) Hallier f. 42
Rottboellia exaltata L. 60
Osmia odorata Schultz-Bips 19
Rubiaceae 20
Palmae 6
Ruellia hamiltoniana Steud.
Panicum longisetum Poir. 16
Salviniaceae 61
Papilionaceae
Salvinia molesta D.S. Michell 61
Passiflora edulis Sims. 52
Salvinia auriculata (non Aubl.) D.S. Michell
Passifloraceae 52, 53, 54 61
Passiflora foetida L. 53 Senecio valerianifolius Wolf 27
Passiflora ligularis A. Juss 54 Serpicula verticillata L. f. 30
Passiflora suberosa L. 54 Serunium aquatile Rumph.95

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Serunium trilobatum (L.) Kuntze 65 Thelechitonia trilobata (L.) H. Rob. &

Silphium trilobatum L. 65 Cuatrec. 65
Solanaceae 13, 17, 62, 63 Themeda gigantea var villosa (Poir.) Hackel 70
Solanum chrysotrichum Schltdl. 62 Themeda villosa (Poir.) A. Camus 70
Solanum donianum Walp. 63 Thespesia lampas (Cav.) Danzell & A.
Gibson 71
Solanum verbascifolium L. 63
Thunbergia cordifolia Nees 72
Spathodea danckelmaniana Buettner 64
Thunbergia grandiflora Roxb. 72
Spathodea nilotica Seem. 64
Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsley) A. Gray 73
Spathodea tulipifera (Thonn.) G.Don 64
Urbanisol tagetiflora (Desf.) Kuntze 73
Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv. 64
Urticaceae 15
Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski 65
Vachellia nilotica (L.) P. J. H. Hunter &
Stachytarpeta australis Moldenke 66
Mabb. 74
Stachytarpeta bogoriensis Zoll. & Moritzi 66
Verbenaceae 37, 67, 68
Stachytarpeta cayennensis (Rich.)Vahl. 68
Verbesina biflora L. 75
Stachytarpeta indica (L.) Vahl 66 Vitaceae
Stachytarpeta jamaicensis (L.) Vahl 68 Wedelia biflora L. 75
Stachytarpeta urticaefolia (Salisb.) Sims 67, Wedelia trilobata (L.) A. Hitch. 65
68
Wolastonia biflora L. 75
Strobilanthes colorata Nees 64
Wolastonia strigulosa K. Schum. 75
Strobilanthes hamiltoniana (Steud)
Zingiberaceae 28
Bosser & Heine 64

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INDEX TO LOCAL NAME

Ajeran 12 Eceng gondok 26
Alang-alang 31 Eurih 31
Akasia 1 Gajihan 66
Akasia duri 74 Ganggang 30
Akasia gunung 2 Ganggeng 30
Akasia mangium 2 Ganggeng cai 30
Akar kala 23 Glagah arjuna 70
Ambang-ambang 11 Gendot 26
Apu-apu 56 Harendong 10, 41
Asistasia 7 Harendong bulu 23
Babakoan 9 Harendong gede 10
Babanjaran 19 Harendong raja 10
Bambu kimono 18 Ilalang 31
Bambu krisik 18 Irengan 4
Bengok 26 Jambu tangkalak 10
Borang 44 Jamolok 10
Branjangan 60 Jarak 58
Brojo lengo 43 Jarak merah 36
Brojo wengi 43 Jarak kaliki 58
Bunga terompet 13 Jarak kepyar 58
Bunga tunbergia 72 Jarak kosta 36
Caputuheun 43 Jarak ulung 36
Cau kole 51 Jaringan 12
Ceceran 43 Jarong 66
Ceplukan blungsun 53 Jarong lalaki 66
Ceri 50 Jewor 25
Clerem 43 Jukut bolostrong 27
Crut-crutan 64 Jukut cai 30
Daisi raksasa 57 Jukut hareuga 12
Daun tanah 8 Jukut jamalok 25
Darismin19 Jukut kikisan 60
Eceng 26 Kaliandra 14

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Kaliandra merah 14 Langkap 6

Kambengan 31 Lombokan 39
Kapasan 71 Lonceng hujan cina 69
Kapas utan 71 Lukut cai 61
Kayambang 61 Mandingan 38
Kayu afrika 40 Mange hutan 3
Keceprek 53 Manjah 70
Kecubung hutan 13 Manjarahan 70
Kembang bopong 26 Manjarakan 60
Kembang kecrutan64 Mantangan 42
Kembang mbulan 73 Markisa 53, 54
Kembang telek 37 Mata lele 61
Kemiren 71 Nampong 8
Kemlandingan 38 Ngadi renggo 66
Kersen 50 Paitan 73
Kerangkongan 33 Pare 47
Ketul 11, 12 Pare alas 47
Ki apu 56 Paria 47
Ki ambang 56, 61 Paria hutan 47
Ki acret 64 Paria leuweng 47
Ki engsrot 64 Patikan emas 29
Ki hia 1 Pecut kuda 67
Ki jogo 17 Permot 53
Kina 20 Petai cina 38
Ki papatong 8 Perdu daisi 48
Ki rinyuh 8, 19 Pisang hutan 51
Ki teter 63 Pis kucing 46
Klampis air 45 Putihan 19
Kluruk 41 Putri malu 46
Konyal 53, 54 Putri malu raksasa 45
Lalang 31 Rajutan 53
Lamtoro 38 Rambusa 53
Langai 74 Rembete 44

100 SEAMEO Regional Centre for Tropical Biology

 75 Important Invasive Plant Species in Indonesia

Rumput ekor kucing 16 Sisus bentol 21

Rumput jurig 16 Soga pedut 21
Sekropia 15 Sulibra 20
Saliara 37 Tahi ayam 37
Semak merdeka 19 Tahi kotok 37
Sembung rambat 43 Talok 50
Senggani 41 Teklan 4
Sereh tangkal 55 Telekan 37
Seruni kuning 65 Tembelekan 37
Seuseureuhan 55 Tepus 28
Si kejut 46 Tongke hutan 3
Sintrong 25, 27 Trayon 43
Sirihan 55 Ubi kates 32
Sirih hutan 55 Wewehan 26
Sisren 70 Weweyan 26

SEAMEO Regional Centre for Tropical Biology 101

 About the authors
Sri Sudarmiyati Tjitrosoedirdjo is a retired lecturer on
botany and plant systematic in the Biology Department,
Faculty of Mathematic and Natural Sciences, Institut
Pertanian Bogor (IPB/Bogor Agricultural University) from
1981 to 2012). She was a full time scientist on weeds at the
Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Tropical Biology
(SEAMEO BIOTROP) from 1974 to 2012. Currently she
is an affiliate scientist at SEAMEO BIOTROP after her
retirement. Her study covers Asteraceae and Gesneriaceae of Sumatera as well as the
biology of weeds and invasive plant species. She is also the Curator of the SEAMEO
BIOTROP Herbarium (BIOT) since 1990.

Imam Mawardi is SEAMEO BIOTROP staff since 1991.

He has been involved in helping with the research on the
weeds management and invasive alien plant species.
Presently he is helping with the research on the chemical
control of Invasive Alien Plant Species using herbicides.

Soekisman Tjitrosoedirdjo is a retired lecturer on plant

physiology at the Biology Department of Faculty of
Mathematic and Natural Sciences of Institut Pertanian
Bogor (IPB/Bogor Agricultural University). He is also a
retired lecturer on weed science and invasive plant species at
the Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture,
Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB/Bogor Agricultural
University) from 1981 to 2007.
He was a full time scientist on weeds at the Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Tropical
Biology (SEAMEO BIOTROP) from 1974 to 2012. After his retirement, he is
currently an affiliate scientist at SEAMEO BIOTROP. He has been conducting research
work on the biology, ecology and management of waterhyacinth and Imperata cylindrica
and other weeds in plantation crops and forest, biological control of weeds, and the
management of Invasive Alien Plant Species at several national parks in Indonesia
(Baluran, Bukit Duabelas, Bukit Barisan Selatan and Gunung Gede Pangrango). From
2004 to 2007 he was the technical team on the Pest Management Project at the silviculture
intensive area in Kalimantan). Currently, he is a consultant of FORIS (Removing Barrier
of Invasive Species Management in Protection and Production Forest in Southeast Asia).