Preferred Scientific Name
- Sanchezia speciosa Leonard
Preferred Common Name
- shrubby whitevein
International Common Names
- English: large-bract sanchezia
- Spanish: sanchesia, cachimbillo amarillo
Datasheet
Sanchezia speciosa (shrubby whitevein)
Index
- 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
- Rainfall
- Rainfall Regime
- Soil Tolerances
- Means of Movement and Dispersal
- Pathway Causes
- Pathway Vectors
- Impact Summary
- Environmental Impact
- Risk and Impact Factors
- Uses
- Uses List
- References
- Links to Websites
- Contributors
- Distribution Maps
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Top of pageSummary of Invasiveness
Top of pageS. speciosa is a large erect shrub included in the Global Compendium of Weeds (Randall, 2012) and also listed as invasive in the Cook Islands, Hawaii, Fiji, New Caledonia, and Reunion (Meyer & Lavergne, 2004). The species is also reported to be invasive near streams in Jamaica (Adams, 1972). S. speciosa is commonly planted as an ornamental and can be found naturalized in wet and shady areas in the understory of low elevation wet forests. It grows forming dense covers in the understory of native and secondary wet forests and presumably competing with native species (Meyer and Lavergne, 2004).
Taxonomic Tree
Top of page- Domain: Eukaryota
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Phylum: Spermatophyta
- Subphylum: Angiospermae
- Class: Dicotyledonae
- Order: Scrophulariales
- Family: Acanthaceae
- Genus: Sanchezia
- Species: Sanchezia speciosa
Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature
Top of pageThe family Acanthaceae includes about 221 genera and 4000 species widespread in both New and Old World Tropics (Scotland and Vollesen, 2000; Stevens, 2012). Species within this family are herbs or woody shrubs, lianas and trees. The genus Sanchezia is included in the subfamily Ruellieae. This genus is native to the New World and comprises 59 species which are diverse morphologically, ecologically, and geographically (Tripp et al., 2013). Sanchezia species are important horticulturally and are widely planted as street shrubs or living fences (Scotland and Vollesen, 2000; Tripp et al., 2013).
Description
Top of pageS. speciosa is a semiwoody evergreen shrub growing up 3 m with smooth bright green or purple stems, large variegated leaves and colourful flowers. Leaves simple, opposite, blade oblong to elliptic, 10-40 cm long, green or with yellow veins. Flowers continuously through the year; flowers several, borne in clusters on an erect terminal spike sometimes divided at the base, with an ovate orange to red bract below each flower cluster. Corolla of fused petals, tubular, 4.5-5.5 cm long with five short, rounded lobes, yellow to orange, bearing oblanceolate orange sepals half as long, two protruding stamens. Fruit a narrowly cylindrical capsule, infrequently formed in cultivation (Whistler, 2000).
Distribution
Top of pageS. speciosa is native to the wet forests of Colombia and Ecuador (USDA-ARS, 2014). It is naturalized in low elevation wet forests in Central America, the Caribbean, and several islands in the Pacific Ocean (Adams, 1972; Meyer and Lavergne, 2004; Acevedo and Strong, 2012; Randall, 2012; PIER, 2014).
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: 18 May 2022| Continent/Country/Region | Distribution | Last Reported | Origin | First Reported | Invasive | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Africa |
|||||||
| Egypt | Present | ||||||
| Mayotte | Present | Introduced | |||||
| Réunion | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
Asia |
|||||||
| India | Present | Introduced | Cultivated | ||||
| Malaysia | Present | Introduced | Cultivated | ||||
| Singapore | Present | Introduced | |||||
North America |
|||||||
| Barbados | Present | Introduced | |||||
| Bonaire, Saint Eustatius and Saba | |||||||
| -Saba | Present | Introduced | |||||
| Cuba | Present | Introduced | |||||
| Guadeloupe | Present | Introduced | |||||
| Jamaica | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
| Martinique | Present | Introduced | |||||
| Panama | Present, Only in captivity/cultivation | Introduced | |||||
| United States | Present | Present based on regional distribution. | |||||
| -Florida | Present, Only in captivity/cultivation | Introduced | Cultivated | ||||
| -Hawaii | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
Oceania |
|||||||
| American Samoa | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
| Cook Islands | Present | Introduced | Listed as “potential invader” | ||||
| Fiji | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
| French Polynesia | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
| Nauru | Present | Introduced | Cultivated | ||||
| New Caledonia | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
| Palau | Present | Introduced | |||||
| Samoa | Present | Introduced | Invasive | Original citation: Space and Flynn (2002) | |||
| Solomon Islands | Present | Introduced | |||||
| Tonga | Present | Introduced | |||||
South America |
|||||||
| Chile | Present | Present based on regional distribution. | |||||
| -Easter Island | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
| Colombia | Present | Native | |||||
| Ecuador | Present | Native | |||||
| -Galapagos Islands | Present | Introduced | |||||
History of Introduction and Spread
Top of pageS. speciosa was first introduced to La Réunion from Ecuador in 1866 (Lavergne, 1982), and was reported as “subspontaneous” in the 1940s (Bosser and Heine, 2000). In Fiji this species was introduced in 1886 (Smith, 1991). In Hawaii, S. speciosa was reported as naturalized and becoming invasive in 2010 (Parker and Parsons, 2011). In the Caribbean, it is listed as “casual” and was first collected in 1906 in Cuba, in 1924 in Haiti, and in 1945 in Grenada (US National Herbarium).
Risk of Introduction
Top of pageThe risk of introduction of S. speciosa is high. It has been widely commercialized and cultivated as an ornamental and as a hedge, screen or border plant in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The ability of this species to tolerate shaded conditions and spread vegetatively means that it has the potential to spread much further than it has to date (Meyer and Lavergne, 2004).
Habitat
Top of pageS. speciosa grows best in moist environments. It is present in the understory of native and secondary wet forests, along streams and riverbanks, and in forest edges and disturbed secondary forests at lower elevations (Adams, 1972; Smith, 1991; Meyer and Lavergne, 2004; Parker and Parsons, 2012; PIER, 2014).
Habitat List
Top of page| Category | 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 | Disturbed areas | Present, no further details | Productive/non-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 forests | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
| Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Natural forests | 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 pageGenetics
The chromosome number reported for the genus Sanchezia is n = 68 (Kaur, 1970).
Reproductive Biology
S. speciosa blooms almost throughout most of the year and its flowers are visited by birds, principally hummingbirds (Tripp et al., 2013).
Environmental Requirements
S. speciosa is most commonly found in wet habitats from sea level to about 200 m with warm temperature and high water availability (Smith, 1991). It can grow in both open sunny areas and shaded areas in the understory of native and disturbed forests. It is also tolerant to saline conditions (Black, 2003).
Climate
Top of page| Climate | Status | Description | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Af - Tropical rainforest climate | Preferred | > 60mm precipitation per month | |
| 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 | Tolerated | < 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]) |
Rainfall
Top of page| Parameter | Lower limit | Upper limit | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean annual rainfall | 800 | 3000 | mm; lower/upper limits |
Means of Movement and Dispersal
Top of pageS. speciosa rarely produces fruits and seeds in cultivation. It spreads vegetatively by stem fragments and cuttings (Meyer and Lavergne, 2004).
Pathway Causes
Top of page| Cause | Notes | Long Distance | Local | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Botanical gardens and zoos | Cultivated as an ornamental | Yes | Yes | Meyer and Lavergne (2004) |
| Escape from confinement or garden escape | Naturalized outside cultivation | Yes | Yes | Meyer and Lavergne (2004) |
| Hedges and windbreaks | Cultivated as a hedge, screen and border plant | Yes | Yes | Meyer and Lavergne (2004) |
| Nursery trade | Widely commercialized | Yes | Yes | Paydar et al. (2013) |
Pathway Vectors
Top of page| Vector | Notes | Long Distance | Local | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debris and waste associated with human activities | Plant fragments and cuttings | Yes | Yes | Smith (1991) |
Impact Summary
Top of page| Category | Impact |
|---|---|
| Economic/livelihood | Positive and negative |
| Environment (generally) | Positive and negative |
Environmental Impact
Top of pageS. speciosa is an invasive species that can grow forming dense thickets in the understory of native and secondary low elevation wet forests. Consequently, it is outcompeting native plant species within these forests. In Jamaica, it is invasive in areas near streams and riparian vegetation. This invasive species is impacting principally insular environments across the wet tropics (Meyer and Lavergne, 2004).
Risk and Impact Factors
Top of page
Invasiveness
- Proved invasive outside its native range
- Tolerates, or benefits from, cultivation, browsing pressure, mutilation, fire etc
- Tolerant of shade
- Benefits from human association (i.e. it is a human commensal)
- Long lived
- Fast growing
- Reproduces asexually
- Ecosystem change/ habitat alteration
- Monoculture formation
- Reduced native biodiversity
- Competition - monopolizing resources
- Rapid growth
- Rooting
- Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately
Uses
Top of pageS. speciosa is economically important in the horticultural and nursery trade. It is widely commercialized as an ornamental and it is also planted as street shrub, living fence, hedge and border plant (Meyer and Lavergne, 2004; Tripp et al., 2013). Extracts from leaves and stems have been analysed as potential sources of natural anti-oxidants (Paydar et al., 2013).
Uses List
Top of pageEnvironmental
- Amenity
- Boundary, barrier or support
General
- Botanical garden/zoo
Ornamental
- Propagation material
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
Adams C, 1972. Flowering plants of Jamaica. Mona, Jamaica: University of the West Indies.
Black RJ, 2003. Salt tolerant plants for Florida. Florida, USA: University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences.
Bosser J; Heine H, 2000. Flore des Mascareignes, La Réunion, Maurice, Rodrigues, 135. Convolvulacées à Acanthacées ([English title not available]). La Réunion, Mauritius: The Sugar Industry Research Institute.
Charles Darwin Foundation, 2008. Database inventory of introduced plant species in the rural and urban zones of Galapagos. Galapagos, Ecuador: Charles Darwin Foundation.
Chong K; Hugh TW; 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.
Flora of India, 2014. Flowers of India, Online resources. http://www.flowersofindia.net/
Hancock IR; Henderson CP, 1988. Flora of the Solomon Islands. Research Bulletin No. 7. Honiara, Solomon Islands: Dodo Creek Research Station.
Kaur J, 1970. Chromosome numbers in Acanthaceae. Science and Culture, 36:103-106.
Lavergne R, 1982. [English title not available]. (Neufs Fleurs d'Acanthe.) In: Fleurs de Bourbon, Tome 5. Saint-Denis, Réunion: Imprimerie Cazal, 29-42.
Lorence DH; Flynn T, 2010. Checklist of the plants of Palau. Unpublished checklist. Lawai, Hawaii, USA: National Tropical Botanical Garden, 44 pp.
McCormack G, 2013. Cook Islands Biodiversity Database, Version 2007. Cook Islands Biodiversity Database. Rarotonga, Cook Islands: Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust. http://cookislands.bishopmuseum.org/search.asp
Meyer JY, 2008. Report of the expert mission to Rapa Nui, 2-11 June 2008. Strategic action plan to control invasive alien plants on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) (Rapport de mission d'expertise a Rapa Nui du 02 au 11 Juin 2008: Plan d'action strategique pour lutter contre les plantes introduites envahissantes sur Rapa Nui (Île de pâques)). Papeete, Tahiti: Délégation à la Recherche, Ministère de l'Education, l'Enseignement supérieur et la Recherche, 62 pp. http://www.li-an.fr/jyves/Meyer_2008_Rapport_Expertise_Rapa_Nui.pdf
Parker JL; Parsons B, 2012. New Plant Records from the Big Island for 2010-2011. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers, 113:65-74.
Paydar M; Wong YL; Moharam BA; Wong WF; Looi CY, 2013. In vitro Anti-oxidant and Anti-cancer Activity of Methanolic Extract from Sanchezia speciosa Leaves. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 16:1112-115.
PIER, 2014. Pacific Islands Ecosystems at Risk. Honolulu, USA: HEAR, University of Hawaii. http://www.hear.org/pier/index.html
Randall RP, 2012. A Global Compendium of Weeds. Perth, Australia: Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, 1124 pp. http://www.cabi.org/isc/FullTextPDF/2013/20133109119.pdf
Scotland RW; Vollesen K, 2000. Classification of Acanthaceae. Kew Bulletin, 55:513-589.
Sedas Ade; Hernández F; Carranza R; Correa M, 2009. Guía de arboles y arbustos del Campus Central de la Universidad de Panamá Dr. Octavio Méndez Pereira ([English title not available])., Panama: Litografía e Imprenta LIL.
Smith AC, 1991. Flora Vitiensis nova: A new flora of Fiji. Lawai, Kauai, Hawai`i. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Volume 5, 626 pp.
Space JC; Flynn T, 2000. Observations on invasive plant species in American Samoa. Honolulu, USA: USDA Forest Service, 51 pp.
Space JC; Flynn T, 2002a. Report to the Government of Samoa on invasive plant species of environmental concern. Honolulu, USA: USDA Forest Service, 83 pp.
Stevens PF, 2012. Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/
Thaman RR; Fosberg FR; Manner HI; Hassall DC, 1994. The flora of Nauru. Atoll Research Bulletin, 392:1-223.
USDA-ARS, 2014. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online Database. Beltsville, Maryland, USA: National Germplasm Resources Laboratory. https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysearch.aspx
Whistler WA, 2000. Tropical ornamentals. Portland, Oregon, USA: Timber Press.
Distribution References
Adams C D, 1972. Flowering plants of Jamaica. Mona, Jamaica: University of the West Indies. 848 pp.
Black RJ, 2003. (Salt tolerant plants for Florida)., Florida, USA: University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences.
CABI, Undated. Compendium record. Wallingford, UK: CABI
CABI, Undated a. CABI Compendium: Status inferred from regional distribution. Wallingford, UK: CABI
Charles Darwin Foundation, 2008. Database inventory of introduced plant species in the rural and urban zones of Galapagos., Galapagos, Ecuador: Charles Darwin Foundation.
Chong K, Hugh TW, 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.
Flora of India, 2014. Flowers of India, Online resources., http://www.flowersofindia.net/
Lorence DH, Flynn T, 2010. Checklist of the plants of Palau. Unpublished checklist., Lawai, Hawaii, National Tropical Botanical Garden. 44 pp.
Meyer JY, 2008. Report of the expert mission to Rapa Nui, 2-11 June 2008. Strategic action plan to control invasive alien plants on Rapa Nui (Easter Island). ((Rapport de mission d'expertise a Rapa Nui du 02 au 11 Juin 2008: Plan d'action strategique pour lutter contre les plantes introduites envahissantes sur Rapa Nui (Île de pâques)))., Papeete, Tahiti, Délégation à la Recherche, Ministère de l'Education, l'Enseignement supérieur et la Recherche. 62 pp. http://www.li-an.fr/jyves/Meyer_2008_Rapport_Expertise_Rapa_Nui.pdf
Parker JL, Parsons B, 2012. New plant records from the Big Island for 2010-2011. In: Bishop Museum Occasional Papers, 113 65-74.
PIER, 2014. Pacific Islands Ecosystems at Risk., Honolulu, USA: HEAR, University of Hawaii. http://www.hear.org/pier/index.html
Sedas Ade, Hernández F, Carranza R, Correa M, 2009. ([English title not available]). (Guía de arboles y arbustos del Campus Central de la Universidad de Panamá Dr. Octavio Méndez Pereira)., Panama: Litografía e Imprenta LIL.
Space JC, Flynn T, 2000. Observations on invasive plant species in American Samoa., Honolulu, USA: USDA Forest Service. 51 pp.
Thaman RR, Fosberg FR, Manner HI, Hassall DC, 1994. The flora of Nauru. In: Atoll Research Bulletin, 392 1-223.
USDA-ARS, 2014. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online Database. Beltsville, Maryland, USA: National Germplasm Resources Laboratory. https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysimple.aspx
Links to Websites
Top of page| Website | URL | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Catalogue of Seed Plants of the West Indies | http://botany.si.edu/antilles/WestIndies/catalog.htm | |
| GISD/IASPMR: Invasive Alien Species Pathway Management Resource and DAISIE European Invasive Alien Species Gateway | https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.m93f6 | Data source for updated system data added to species habitat list. |
Contributors
Top of page25/3/2014 Original text by:
Julissa Rojas-Sandoval, Department of Botany-Smithsonian NMNH, Washington DC, USA
Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez, Department of Botany-Smithsonian NMNH, Washington DC, USA
Distribution Maps
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