General Information

COMMON NAMES: Giant Sensitive-weed, Giant Sensitive-plant TRADITIONAL NAMES: Pikika‘a Papa‘ā (AK); Other Polynesian - Vao Fefe Pālagi (SAM) GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION: NATIVE tropical Americas COOK ISLANDS STATUS: Introduced - Recent, Naturalised; S.Group only (AK only - common); Land, lowlands SIGNIFICANCE LIST: ; Weed - very serious (Aitutaki only) KEY FEATURES: A spreading shrub to 1.5m, covered in curved prickles. LEAVES alternate; twice compound; 3-8 leafstalks per leaf. LEAFLETS to 20 opposite pairs per leafstalk; thin-oval to oblong. FLOWERS held near stem; small bright-pink spiky globes. FRUIT held in clusters; flat & twisted pods, covered with bristles.

Cook Islands Distribution

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Southern Group: Present    Makatea: -
RR	MG	AT	MK	MT	AK	PL	TK	MN
-	-	-	-	-	+++	-	-	-

Northern Group: -
TN	MH	RK	PK	NS	SW
-	-	-	-	-	-

Mimosa invisa Martius 1837
Query: Mimosa invisa Martius, 1837, non Martius ex Colla, 1834

SYNONYMS: Mimosa invisa var. invisa; Mimosa diplotricha C. Wright ex Sauvalle

TAXONOMY: PLANTAE; ANTHOPHYTA (=Angiospermae); MAGNOLIOPSIDA (=Dicotyledones); ROSIDAE; Fabales (Legumes); MIMOSACEAE

SIGNIFICANCE NOTES -
NEGATIVE SIGNIFICANCE: Weed - very serious (Aitutaki only). Comments: Rated at the biodiversity workshop on Aitutaki in 2001 as the worst agricultural weed on the island. Very extensive since 1990, but reduced by extensive control programme since 1994 involving mechanical and cropping controls and an introduced biocontrol. A 2001 survey showed it to still be present in most of the earlier areas by uncommon. Its accidental introduction to other island is a major concern.

Vouchers:
None Recorded.

References:
Special Reference: Whistler - 'Weeds Handbook...' p.50, description and photo.

p.3/062 A.C.Smith - Flora Vitiensis Nova

Data Update History (information):
zTX, zB02, zM02, zD02

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