Barleria lupulina (hophead Philippine violet)
Index
- Pictures
- Identity
- Summary of Invasiveness
- Taxonomic Tree
- Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Description
- Plant Type
- Distribution
- Distribution Table
- History of Introduction and Spread
- Risk of Introduction
- Habitat
- Habitat List
- Biology and Ecology
- Climate
- Air Temperature
- Soil Tolerances
- Means of Movement and Dispersal
- Pathway Causes
- Pathway Vectors
- Impact Summary
- Environmental Impact
- Risk and Impact Factors
- Uses
- Uses List
- Similarities to Other Species/Conditions
- References
- Contributors
- Distribution Maps
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Top of pagePreferred Scientific Name
- Barleria lupulina Lindl.
Preferred Common Name
- hophead Philippine violet
Other Scientific Names
- Barleria macrostachya Bojer
- Barleria monostachya Bojer ex Bouton
- Barleria norbertii Benoist
International Common Names
- English: hophead; hophead barleria; hop-headed barleria; snake bush
- Spanish: lengua de culebra
Local Common Names
- Australia: hophead barleria
- Haiti: barré bolé; barré volé; barre voleur
- India: cem-mulli; kanta bishalyakarani; mullu kanagaambaram; semmulli
- Indonesia: landik; sujen trus
- Lesser Antilles: dog bush
- Thailand: phimsen ton; salet phangphong
- Venezuela: lengua de culebra
Summary of Invasiveness
Top of pageB. lupulina is a fast growing perennial plant widely commercialized as an ornamental. It has repeatedly escaped from cultivation and has become naturalized in disturbed sites and secondary forests (Aguilar, 2001; Smith, 2002; PIER, 2015). B. lupulina has a great spreading capability. Seeds are dispersed short distances when capsules rupture and by water and stem fragments and stolons can be dispersed accidentally in garden waste disposal. This species has become invasive in secondary dry forests, open woodlands, and along watercourses in Australia, Hawaii, Réunion, and East Timor (Weeds of Australia, 2015; PIER, 2015). It can form thorny thickets which are difficult to walk through, replace native species, and can block access to waterways and impede stock movements.
Taxonomic Tree
Top of page- Domain: Eukaryota
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Phylum: Spermatophyta
- Subphylum: Angiospermae
- Class: Dicotyledonae
- Order: Scrophulariales
- Family: Acanthaceae
- Genus: Barleria
- Species: Barleria lupulina
Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature
Top of pageAcanthaceae is a family of flowering plants comprising about 220 genera and about 4000 species widespread in both New and Old World Tropics (Scotland and Vollesen, 2000; Stevens, 2012). Species within the Acanthaceae includes herbs or woody shrubs, lianas and trees. Barleria (Acanthaceae) is a large, polymorphic, widespread genus of herbs, shrubs and rarely climbers comprising approximately 300 species distributed worldwide (Balkwill and Balkwill, 1998). The greatest representation of this genus occurs in Africa and Asia, with its greatest centre of diversity in tropical East Africa (Balkwill and Balkwill, 1997). The genus Barleria is readily distinguished from other genera in the Acanthaceae by a combination of three features:
(1) a four-merous calyx with two large outer sepals and two smaller inner ones.
(2) globose, honey-combed pollen.
(3) predominance of double cystoliths (calcium oxalate crystals) in the epidermal cells (Balkwill and Balkwill, 1998).
Although each of these features occurs in other Acanthaceae species, their regular co-occurrence is restricted to Barleria (Balkwill and Balkwill, 1997).
The genus name Barleria is derived from the name of a Dominican monk and French botanist, Jacques Barrelier.
Description
Top of pageB. lupulina is a glabrous, erect and branched shrub, up to 1.5 m tall, with axillary spines; leaves linear-oblong, 3-9.5 cm long, base cuneate, apex obtuse, midrib red above, petiole short, red. Inflorescence a terminal spike with overlapping bracts, up to 9 cm long, bracts broadly ovate, 1.2 cm long, ciliolate, purple tinged, on the back with cupular glands, bracteoles lanceolate, 4 mm long; calyx lobes broadly ovate, pubescent, outer 10 mm long, inner ca 8 mm long; corolla tube 3 cm long, bent at base, expanded above, lobes 5, orange-yellow, stamens 4, didynamous, 2 exserted; longer stamen filaments approximately 2 cm long; shorter stamens fertile. Style approximately 3 cm long, glabrous. Fruit a capsule, ovoid, 2-seeded (Aguilar, 2001; PIER, 2015).
Distribution
Top of pageB. lupulina is native to Mauritius and eastern India, and can now be found widely naturalized in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Within India it has recently spread to the southern part of the country where it is now growing wild in parts of Tamil Nadu (Sankar and Ravikumar, 2004).
Distribution Table
Top of pageThe distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.
Last updated: 17 Dec 2021Continent/Country/Region | Distribution | Last Reported | Origin | First Reported | Invasive | Reference | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Africa |
|||||||
Congo, Democratic Republic of the | Present | Introduced | Cultivated | ||||
Madagascar | Present | Introduced | Naturalized | Naturalized | |||
Mauritius | Present | Native | |||||
Réunion | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
Asia |
|||||||
China | Present | Present based on regional distribution. | |||||
Hong Kong | Present | Introduced | Cultivated | ||||
India | Present | Native | |||||
-Bihar | Present | ||||||
-Haryana | Present | Native | |||||
-Madhya Pradesh | Present | ||||||
-Maharashtra | Present, Only in captivity/cultivation | ||||||
-Odisha | Present | ||||||
-Tamil Nadu | Present | Introduced | In gardens and growing wild in wasteland | ||||
-Uttar Pradesh | Present | ||||||
Indonesia | Present | Introduced | Cultivated | ||||
Singapore | Present | Introduced | Cultivated | ||||
Sri Lanka | Present, Only in captivity/cultivation | ||||||
Thailand | Present | Introduced | Cultivated | ||||
Vietnam | Present | Introduced | Cultivated | ||||
North America |
|||||||
Antigua and Barbuda | Present, Widespread | Introduced | Naturalized | Naturalized | |||
Bahamas | Present | Introduced | Naturalized | Naturalized | |||
Barbados | Present, Widespread | Introduced | Naturalized | Naturalized | |||
Dominica | Present, Widespread | Introduced | Naturalized | Naturalized | |||
Dominican Republic | Present | Introduced | |||||
Grenada | Present, Widespread | Introduced | Naturalized | Naturalized | |||
Haiti | Present | Introduced | |||||
Jamaica | Present | Introduced | |||||
Martinique | Present, Widespread | Introduced | Naturalized | Naturalized | |||
Montserrat | Present, Widespread | Introduced | Naturalized | Naturalized | |||
Puerto Rico | Present | Introduced | |||||
Saint Lucia | Present, Widespread | Introduced | Naturalized | Naturalized | |||
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Present, Widespread | Introduced | Naturalized | Naturalized | |||
U.S. Virgin Islands | Present | Introduced | St John, St Thomas | ||||
United States | Present | Present based on regional distribution. | |||||
-Florida | Present | Introduced | |||||
-Hawaii | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
Oceania |
|||||||
Australia | Present | Present based on regional distribution. | |||||
-Northern Territory | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
-Queensland | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
-Western Australia | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
Christmas Island | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
Federated States of Micronesia | Present | Introduced | Cultivated | ||||
Palau | Present | Introduced | Cultivated | ||||
Timor-Leste | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
South America |
|||||||
French Guiana | Present | Introduced | |||||
Venezuela | Present | Introduced |
History of Introduction and Spread
Top of pageB. lupulina has been intentionally introduced to be used as an ornamental and as a medicinal herb. In the West Indies, it was probably introduced in the mid-19th century and it appears in herbarium collections made in 1882 in the US Virgin Islands (St Thomas) and in 1899 in Jamaica (US National Herbarium).
Risk of Introduction
Top of pageThe risk of introduction of B. lupulina is high. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant and there is evidence that this species has the capability to escape from cultivation and become naturalized and invasive into new habitats.
Habitat
Top of pageB. lupulina often occurs in secondary bushland and thickets, when escaped from gardens (Aguilar, 2001). In Australia, it can be also found growing along roadsides and disturbed areas up to 300 m (1000 ft) elevation. In Madagascar it can be found naturalized in dry habitats (Madagascar Catalogue, 2015).
Habitat List
Top of pageCategory | Sub-Category | Habitat | Presence | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
Terrestrial | ||||
Terrestrial | Managed | Disturbed areas | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Managed | Disturbed areas | Present, no further details | Natural |
Terrestrial | Managed | Rail / roadsides | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Managed | Rail / roadsides | Present, no further details | Natural |
Terrestrial | Managed | Urban / peri-urban areas | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Managed | Urban / peri-urban areas | Present, no further details | Natural |
Terrestrial | Managed | Urban / peri-urban areas | Present, no further details | Productive/non-natural |
Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Natural grasslands | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Natural grasslands | Present, no further details | Natural |
Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Riverbanks | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Riverbanks | Present, no further details | Natural |
Biology and Ecology
Top of pageReproductive Biology
Barleria has bisexual, zygomorphic flowers. In India, it has been recorded flowering between January and February (India Biodiversity, 2016).
Environmental Requirements
B. lupulina grows best in warm and humid conditions on sandy and loam sandy soils with pH ranging from 6.1 to 8.5.
Climate
Top of pageClimate | Status | Description | Remark |
---|---|---|---|
Am - Tropical monsoon climate | Preferred | Tropical monsoon climate ( < 60mm precipitation driest month but > (100 - [total annual precipitation(mm}/25])) | |
As - Tropical savanna climate with dry summer | Preferred | < 60mm precipitation driest month (in summer) and < (100 - [total annual precipitation{mm}/25]) | |
Aw - Tropical wet and dry savanna climate | Preferred | < 60mm precipitation driest month (in winter) and < (100 - [total annual precipitation{mm}/25]) |
Soil Tolerances
Top of pageSoil drainage
- free
Soil reaction
- alkaline
- neutral
Soil texture
- light
- medium
Means of Movement and Dispersal
Top of pageB. lupulina spread by seeds and vegetatively by stem segments. Seeds are spread short distances from the mother-plant when the “explosive” capsules rupture. They are also dispersed by water and by humans as ornamental plantings and in discarded garden refuse (Smith, 2002).
Pathway Causes
Top of pageCause | Notes | Long Distance | Local | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Disturbance | Escaped and naturalized in secondary bushland and thickets | Yes | Yes | Aguilar (2001) |
Escape from confinement or garden escape | Escaped from gardens | Yes | Yes | Aguilar (2001) |
Garden waste disposal | Seeds and stem segments escaped from cultivation | Yes | Yes | Aguilar (2001) |
Hedges and windbreaks | Cultivated as hedge plant | Yes | Yes | Smith (1991) |
Medicinal use | Used in traditional medicine | Yes | Yes | India Biodiversity Portal (2016) |
Ornamental purposes | Widely spread by humans as ornamental planting | Yes | Yes | Smith (2002) |
Pathway Vectors
Top of pageVector | Notes | Long Distance | Local | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Debris and waste associated with human activities | Seeds and stem fragments – garden waste disposal | Yes | Yes | PIER (2015) |
Water | seeds | Yes | Smith (2002) |
Impact Summary
Top of pageCategory | Impact |
---|---|
Economic/livelihood | Positive and negative |
Environment (generally) | Positive and negative |
Human health | Positive |
Environmental Impact
Top of pageOnce naturalized, B. lupulina grows as a weed and has the potential to outcompete and displace native plants (Aguilar, 2001). The individuals are spiny and therefore hard to control manually. In Australia, B. lupulina is invasive in open woodland habitats and along watercourses in the Northern Territory and was also recently reported as being invasive in Brisbane and in south-eastern Queensland (Weeds of Australia, 2015).
Risk and Impact Factors
Top of page- Proved invasive outside its native range
- Abundant in its native range
- Highly adaptable to different environments
- Is a habitat generalist
- Tolerates, or benefits from, cultivation, browsing pressure, mutilation, fire etc
- Pioneering in disturbed areas
- Highly mobile locally
- Benefits from human association (i.e. it is a human commensal)
- Long lived
- Fast growing
- Gregarious
- Reproduces asexually
- Ecosystem change/ habitat alteration
- Loss of medicinal resources
- Modification of hydrology
- Modification of successional patterns
- Monoculture formation
- Reduced native biodiversity
- Threat to/ loss of native species
- Competition - monopolizing resources
- Competition - smothering
- Hybridization
- Rapid growth
- Rooting
- Produces spines, thorns or burrs
- Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately
- Difficult to identify/detect in the field
Uses
Top of pageB. lupulina is an attractive ornamental used in gardens, parks and sometime used as a hedge plant (Smith, 1991). It is also cultivated to be used as a medicinal herb. The leaves and roots are chewed against toothache, and a poultice of the leaves is put on bites of insects, snakes or dogs, as an anti-inflammatory (Aguilar, 2001).
Uses List
Top of pageEnvironmental
- Amenity
- Boundary, barrier or support
Medicinal, pharmaceutical
- Traditional/folklore
Ornamental
- Potted plant
- Propagation material
Similarities to Other Species/Conditions
Top of pageB. lupulina looks very similar to a closely related species Barleria prionitis. These two species can be distinguished by the following features (Weeds of Australia, 2015):
- B. lupulina has narrow leaves with a prominent reddish-colored midvein.
- B. prionitis has relatively broad leaves that do not have a prominent reddish-colored midvein.
References
Top of pageAcevedo-Rodríguez P; Strong MT, 2012. Catalogue of the Seed Plants of the West Indies. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany, 98:1192 pp. Washington DC, USA: Smithsonian Institution. http://botany.si.edu/Antilles/WestIndies/catalog.htm
Aguilar NO, 2001. Barleria lupulina Lindley. Plant Resources of South-East Asia No. 12(2): Medicinal and poisonous plants 2:100.
Balkwill MJ; Balkwill K, 1997. Delimitation and infra-generic classification of Barleria (Acanthaceae). Kew Bulletin, 1:535-573.
Balkwill MJ; Balkwill K, 1998. A preliminary analysis of distribution patterns in a large, pantropical genus, Barleria L. (Acanthaceae). Journal of Biogeography, 25:95-110.
Broome R; Sabir K; Carrington S, 2007. Plants of the Eastern Caribbean. Online database. Barbados: University of the West Indies. http://ecflora.cavehill.uwi.edu/index.html
Chong KY; Tan HTW; Corlett RT, 2009. A checklist of the total vascular plant flora of Singapore: native, naturalised and cultivated species. Singapore: Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, National University of Singapore, 273 pp. http://lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg/nus/pdf/PUBLICATION/LKCNH%20Museum%20Books/LKCNHM%20Books/flora_of_singapore_tc.pdf
Hokche O; Berry PE; Huber O, 2008. Nuevo Catálogo de la Flora Vascular de Venezuela (New catalogue of the vascular flora of Venezuela). Caracas, Venezuela: Fundación Instituto Botánico de Venezuela, 860 pp.
India Biodiversity Portal, 2016. Online Portal of India Biodiversity. http://indiabiodiversity.org/species/list
Lorence DH; Flynn T, 2010. Checklist of the plants of Kosrae. Unpublished checklist. National Tropical Botanical Garden. Lawai, Hawaii: National Tropical Botanical Garden, 26.
Madagascar Catalogue, 2015. Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Madagascar. St. Louis, Missouri, USA and Antananarivo, Madagascar: Missouri Botanical Garden. http://www.tropicos.org/project/mada
Pauwels L, 2013. Cultivated and/or Exotic Plants in Central Africa (R.D.Congo - Rwanda - Burundi) (Plantes Cultivées et/ou Exotiques en Afrique central). http://users.telenet.be/cr28796/CultAfrC.htm
PIER, 2015. Pacific Islands Ecosystems at Risk. Honolulu, USA: HEAR, University of Hawaii. http://www.hear.org/pier/index.html
Scotland RW; Vollesen K, 2000. Classification of Acanthaceae. Kew Bulletin, 55:513-589.
Smith AC, 1991. Flora Vitiensis nova: A new flora of Fiji. Lawai, Kauai, Hawai`i. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Volume 5, 626 pp.
Smith NM, 2002. Weeds of the wet/dry tropics of Australia - a field guide., Australia: Environment Centre NT, Inc, 112 pp.
Space JC; Lorence DH; LaRosa AM, 2009. Report to the Republic of Palau: 2008 update on Invasive Plant Species. Hilo, Hawaii, USA: USDA Forest Service, 227. http://www.sprep.org/att/irc/ecopies/countries/palau/48.pdf
Stevens PF, 2012. Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/
Swarbrick JT, 1997. Environmental weeds and exotic plants on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. Report to Parks Australia. J.T. Swarbrick, Weed Science Consultancy, 131 pp.
USDA-ARS, 2015. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online Database. Beltsville, Maryland, USA: National Germplasm Resources Laboratory. https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysearch.aspx
USDA-NRCS, 2015. The PLANTS Database. Baton Rouge, USA: National Plant Data Center. http://plants.usda.gov/
Weeds of Australia, 2015. Weeds of Australia, Biosecurity Queensland Edition. http://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/03030800-0b07-490a-8d04-0605030c0f01/media/Html/search.html?zoom_query=
Wu TL, 2001. Check List of Hong Kong Plants. Hong Kong Herbarium and the South China Institute of Botany. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Bulletin 1 (revised):384 pp. http://www.hkflora.com/v2/flora/plant_check_list.php
Distribution References
Aguilar NO, 2001. Barleria lupulina Lindley. In: Plant Resources of South-East Asia No. 12(2): Medicinal and poisonous plants, 2 100.
Broome R, Sabir K, Carrington S, 2007. Plants of the Eastern Caribbean., Barbados: University of the West Indies. http://ecflora.cavehill.uwi.edu/index.html
CABI, Undated. CABI Compendium: Status inferred from regional distribution. Wallingford, UK: CABI
Chong KY, Tan HTW, Corlett RT, 2009. A checklist of the total vascular plant flora of Singapore: native, naturalised and cultivated species., Singapore, Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, National University of Singapore. 273 pp. http://lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg/nus/pdf/PUBLICATION/LKCNH%20Museum%20Books/LKCNHM%20Books/flora_of_singapore_tc.pdf
Hokche O, Berry PE, Huber O, 2008. New catalogue of the vascular flora of Venezuela. (Nuevo Catálogo de la Flora Vascular de Venezuela)., Caracas, Venezuela: Fundación Instituto Botánico de Venezuela. 860 pp.
India Biodiversity Portal, 2016. Online Portal of India Biodiversity., http://indiabiodiversity.org/species/list
Lorence DH, Flynn T, 2010. Checklist of the plants of Kosrae. Unpublished checklist., Lawai, Hawaii, National Tropical Botanical Garden. 26.
Madagascar Catalogue, 2015. Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Madagascar., St. Louis, Missouri; Antananarivo, USA;, Madagascar: Missouri Botanical Garden. http://www.tropicos.org/project/mada
Pauwels L, 2013. Cultivated and/or Exotic Plants in Central Africa (R.D.Congo - Rwanda - Burundi). (Plantes Cultivées et/ou Exotiques en Afrique central)., http://users.telenet.be/cr28796/CultAfrC.htm
PIER, 2015. Pacific Islands Ecosystems at Risk., Honolulu, USA: HEAR, University of Hawaii. http://www.hear.org/pier/index.html
Space JC, Lorence DH, LaRosa AM, 2009. Report to the Republic of Palau: 2008 update on Invasive Plant Species., Hilo, Hawaii, USA: USDA Forest Service. 227. http://www.sprep.org/att/irc/ecopies/countries/palau/48.pdf
Swarbrick JT, 1997. Environmental weeds and exotic plants on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. Report to Parks Australia. In: Weed Science Consultancy, [ed. by Swarbrick JT]. 131 pp.
USDA-ARS, 2015. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online Database. Beltsville, Maryland, USA: National Germplasm Resources Laboratory. https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysimple.aspx
USDA-NRCS, 2015. The PLANTS Database. Greensboro, North Carolina, USA: National Plant Data Team. https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov
Weeds of Australia, 2015. Weeds of Australia, Biosecurity Queensland Edition., http://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/03030800-0b07-490a-8d04-0605030c0f01/media/Html/search.html?zoom_query=
Wu TL, 2001. Check List of Hong Kong Plants. In: Hong Kong Herbarium and the South China Institute of Botany. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Bulletin 1 (revised), 384 pp. http://www.hkflora.com/v2/flora/plant_check_list.php
Contributors
Top of page30/04/15 Original text by:
Julissa Rojas-Sandoval, Department of Botany-Smithsonian NMNH, Washington DC, USA
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