Where did miconia originate?
Original Distribution: Miconia calvescens is native to the tropical forests of Central and parts of South America.
Where is the miconia from?
Miconia calvescens, the velvet tree, miconia, or bush currant, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melastomataceae. It is native to Mexico and Central and South America and it has become one of the world's most invasive species.
How did miconia get to Hawaii?
Miconia was imported to Hawaii Island as a botanical specimen sometime between the late 1950s/early 1960s. According to lore, the first imported plants died, and the pot was abandoned under a dark greenhouse bench on private property. Sometime later, new plants germinated in the discarded pot.
How did miconia plant get to Hawaii?
Oʻahu: Originally introduced and traded amongst botanical gardens in the early 1960's, miconia has since spread into several locations in the Koʻolau range. The potential population boundary extends to 9,500 acres (including areas considered “seed banks”).
When was miconia introduced to Hawaii?
Oʻahu: Originally introduced and traded amongst botanical gardens in the early 1960's, miconia has since spread into several locations in the Koʻolau range.
How does the invasive miconia plant in Hawaii spread so fast?
Further Information on Miconia
The hundreds of small, pink fruits each contain 150 seeds, and are attractive to fruit-eating birds, which spread the seeds great distances. Introduced to a botanical garden on Tahiti in 1937, Miconia quickly escaped by bird carried seeds.
What is the most invasive plant in Hawaiʻi?
The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources considers formosa koa one of Hawaii's most invasive horticultural plants.
What invasive species are in the Hawaiʻi Ocean?
Five species of alien algae have become invasive in Hawai'i: Prickly Seaweed (Acanthophora spicifera), Leather Mudweed (Avrainvillea amadelpha), Hookweed (Hypnea musciformis), Smothering Seaweed (Kappaphycus spp.), and Gorillo Ogo (Gracilaria salicornia).
Is miconia invasive in Hawaiʻi?
Listed as a Noxious Weed in Hawaiʻi by the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and one of the top threats to Hawaiʻi's watersheds and forest ecosystems., the fast-growing tree in the melastome family invades areas from agricultural landscapes to forests by forming dense stands and shading out other native forest trees ...
Who brought Miconia to Hawaiʻi?
Large oval-shaped leaves, green on top, purple underneath, with three main midribs running from stem to leaf-tip. Small, purple berries containing seeds are spread mainly by birds. Native to South and Central America, introduced to Hawaii as a garden plant in 1961 and spread around by plant enthusiasts.