img

Rivina humilis

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-CoreEudicot Order: Caryophyllales Family: Petiveriaceae Genus: Rivina

coral berry, rouge plant

img

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Erect, slender herbs, 4–10 dm tall, rarely taller.

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate, usually widely spaced. Blades 4–12 cm long, 1.5–4 cm wide. Surfaces glabrous or puberulent especially along veins. Margins entire. Petioles 1–3.5 cm long, usually puberulent along upper surface. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in racemes 7–15 cm long, pedicels 2–3 mm long in anthesis, elongating up to ca. 4 mm long and recurved in fruit, each flower subtended by a single bract, and 2 bracteoles; bract ca.1–2 mm long, ± caducous, bracteoles ca. 0.2–0.3 mm long. Flowers bisexual (perfect), actinomorphic, nodding. Calyx of 4 sepals, white or pink, subequal, oblong, ca. 2–3 mm long. Corolla (petals) absent. Stamens 4, alternate with the sepals; anthers dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary superior, 1-carpellate, placentation basal; ovule 1 per carpel, campylotropous; style short; stigma capitate.

Fruit: Drupes orange; red; or purple; subglobose; ca. 4 mm in diameter. Seeds 1 per fruit; lenticular; ca. 2.5–3.5 mm in diameter; puberulent; embryo curved around perisperm; true endosperm absent.

Ploidy: 2n = 108

Habitat: Dry to mesic; shaded; disturbed areas.

Elevation Range: 10–130 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

img
img
img

Synonyms (47)

Piercea acuminata Raf. (1838)
Piercea glabra Mill. (1768)
Piercea obliquata Raf. (1838)
Piercea tomentosa Mill. (1768)
Rivina acuminata Raf. (1838)
Rivina andamanensis L.J.Singh & M.C.Naik (2020)
Rivina aurantiaca Warsz. ex Schenk (1862)
Rivina bengalensis S.C.Srivast. & T.K.Paul (2003)
Rivina brasiliensis Nocca (1793)
Rivina brasiliensis var. viridis (F.W.Schmidt) Moq. (1849)
Rivina canescens D.Don ex Steud. (1841)
Rivina glabrata Kunth (1817)
Rivina gracilis Salisb. (1796)
Rivina herbacea C.Huber (1871)
Rivina humilis var. bracteata D.Maity, Sonia Mitra, Manasi Mandal & Maiti (2014)
Rivina humilis var. canescens L. (1753)
Rivina humilis var. glabra L. (1753)
Rivina humilis var. laevis (L.) Millsp. (1900)
Rivina humilis var. orientalis (Moq.) H.Walter (1909)
Rivina humilis var. plumbaginifolia Moq. (1849)
Rivina humilis var. puberula (Kunth) Moq. (1849)
Rivina laevis L. (1767)
Rivina laevis f. brasiliensis (Nocca) Voss (1895)
Rivina laevis f. humilis (L.) Voss (1895)
Rivina laevis f. viridiflora (Bello) Voss (1895)
Rivina laevis var. pubescens Griseb. (1859)
Rivina lanceolata Willd. (1814)
Rivina mexicana Moc. & Sessé ex Moq. (1849)
Rivina obliquata Raf. (1838)
Rivina orientalis Moq. (1849)
Rivina pallida Salisb. (1796)
Rivina paraguayensis D.Parodi (1878)
Rivina plumbaginifolia Willd. ex Moq. (1849)
Rivina portulaccoides Nutt. (1835)
Rivina procumbens Ruiz ex Moq. (1849)
Rivina puberula Kunth (1817)
Rivina purpurascens Schrad. (1797)
Rivina purpurascens var. mollis Moq. (1849)
Rivina tetrandra Desf. (1815)
Rivina tinctaria Buch.-Ham. ex G.Don (1832)
Rivina vernalis Terán & Berland. (1832)
Rivina viridiflora Bello (1883)
Rivina viridis F.W.Schmidt (1791)
Solanoides laevis (L.) Moench (1794)
Solanoides pubescens Moench (1794)
Solanoides undulata Moench (1802)
Tithonia humilis (L.) Kuntze (1891)

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Birds

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 121 (1753)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1016 (K, O, H); Meidell et al. 1997:17 (WM); Oppenheimer 2003:18 (Mo); Staples & Herbst 2005:452 (DESCR); Oppenheimer 2007:28 (EM)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Rivina humilis 23 mi S of jct Saddle Rd along Hwy 190 Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 5294 Hawaii BISH 1984-02-28
2 Rivina humilis Malaekahana State Recreational Park Preserved_Specimen Ramadan, M. Oahu BISH 1990-05-22
3 Rivina humilis Oahu garden Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 3664 Oahu BISH 1928-11-12
4 Rivina humilis along road to Waianae Kai from hwy Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 5122 Oahu BISH 1983-12-11
5 Rivina humilis Kamoa State Historical Park, North Kona Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Hawaii BISH 1985-09-03
6 Rivina humilis Kona District; Kailua-Kona, on rd to Ke-ahole Airport Growing in Prosopis thicket. Preserved_Specimen Erect herb w. white flowers, red fruit. Herbst, D.R. 5396 Hawaii BISH 1975-06-26
7 Rivina humilis Honolulu, 2347 University Ave garden Preserved_Specimen 1'; flowers small, white; fruit red, full of red juice Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1946-02-13
8 Rivina humilis Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, East below Crater Hill, along the Nihoku Fenceline, Plot C3. Coastal Mesic Schinus Forest W/ Schinus, Lantana, Syzygium cumini, Psidium cattleianum, P. guajava, Casuarina, Leucaena, Chrysophyllum, Setaria, Chamaecrista nictitans, Rivina, Canavalia cathartica, Solanum seaforthianum, Senna Preserved_Specimen Covering 90% of ground in this area. Flws white w/ red in petal apex. Berries red, calyx dark green. Stem w/ thin tank flakey bark w/ green inner bark. Astringent smell. Petioles w/ red tint at base. Leaves dark green above and dull light green w/ dark reticulate venation below. Tangalin, N. 3419 Kauai BISH 2013-01-21
9 Rivina humilis Honolulu, 1940 Manoa Rd infrequently mowed part of a grass lawn; partial shade Preserved_Specimen .5 m subshrub. Flower white to chartreuse. Mature fruit crimson Lau, J. 1534 Oahu BISH 1985-10-19
10 Rivina humilis Honouliuli Forest Reserve, Ekahanui Gulch and Management Unit, at trail junction on access trail. Associated canopy: Psidium cattleyanum, Schinus terebinthifolius, Fraxinus uhdei, Eucalyptus spp., Coffea arabica. Understory: Oplismenus hirtellus, Psidium cattleyanum, Passiflora suberosa, Urochloa maxima. Preserved_Specimen Naturalized somewhat leggy herb/shrub, up to 1-1.5 m tall, stems with short hairs. Leaves thin, hairy on both surfaces, light green, up to 10 cm long, petioles with short hairs. Flowers small, white, 4-petaled, in racemes. Fruit orange, 5 mm across. Estimated 20+ plants, various size classes present; did not note seedlings in particular. Growing with different form of Rivina (USARMY 499); both seen along access trail and in bottom of fenced management unit, sometimes growing right next to each other. Beachy, J. 500 Oahu BISH 2018-10-23
11 Rivina humilis Mapulehu Roadside. Preserved_Specimen Weed; flowers white, fruit bright red. Oppenheimer, H.L. 110135 Molokai BISH 2001-11-18
12 Rivina humilis East Maui, Hana District, Kauiki Naturalized in red cindery soil near boat ramp and pier in Hana Bay. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 50731 Maui BISH 2007-05-27
13 Rivina humilis W Maui, Honokawai Valley Area consistant with alian dominated lowland riparian zone. Assoc. veg.: Aleurites moluccana, Eugenia cumini, Leucaena leucocephala & Panicum maximum. Plant located on a shaded bank above a dry streambed. Preserved_Specimen Erect herb 30 cm highcolony, plants attaining ca. 0.5 m. One of hundreds observed in a few separate colonies in the area. Meidell, J.S. 112 Maui BISH 1996-05-15
14 Rivina humilis Makaha Valley, behind golf course moist Preserved_Specimen flowers white to pink Davis, J. 105 Oahu BISH 1979-05-11
15 Rivina humilis Maui In small intermittent stream channel in Prosopis/Cenchrus Dry Forest with relict native elements. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 50608 Maui BISH 2006-05-07
16 Rivina humilis Honolulu, Duker residence garden Preserved_Specimen .7 m shrub; flowers white; berries red Fosberg, F.R. 9388 Oahu BISH 1933-04-01
17 Rivina humilis Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park Collected along coastal and inland trail. Predominantly exotic vegetation. Area highly modified by ancient Polynesians. Preserved_Specimen Flowers white fading pink, fruit red. Higashino, P.K. 10247 Hawaii BISH 1984-04-07
18 Rivina humilis Waimanalo, along Kalanianaole Hwy shade of Leucaena leucocephala thickets near base of cliffs Preserved_Specimen small shrub, softly puberulent. Fruit orange never becoming red. Nagata, K.M. 2592 Oahu BISH 1983-01-22
19 Rivina humilis W Maui, Lahaina District, Honokowai Growing near edge of reservoir. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 110009 Maui BISH 2000-11-16
20 Rivina humilis PTBG, Lawai Valley moist, shade Preserved_Specimen 2' shrubby herb. Leaves thin, bright green. Fruit bright red, flowers whitish Herbst, D.R. 2248 Kauai BISH 1971-12-21
21 Rivina humilis Honolulu, vicinity of Koko Head Riding Stables Disturbed area near stable entrance Preserved_Specimen Allison, A. Oahu BISH 2020-11-15
22 Rivina humilis Ekahanui. Central Waianae Mountains Lowland dry forest dominated by various Eucalyptus spp., Schinus terebinthifolius, and Toona ciliata. Also get various random Araucaria here and there. Understory mostly dominated by Rivina humilis and Christella spp. Preserved_Specimen Small herbaceous shrubby plant thingys. Flowers white. Berries typically red but occasionally yellow-orange. Thomas, M.K. 550 Oahu BISH 2022-11-15
23 Rivina humilis UH Manoa, behind East West Center moist shaded banks of Manoa Stream Preserved_Specimen sub-shrub; flowers white, fruit scarlet. Herbst, D.R. 5278 Oahu BISH 1975-04-14
24 Rivina humilis Former Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Northern Trap & Skeet Range Under very shady Prosopis canopy. With Panicum maximum, Asystasia gangetica, Leucaena leucocephala, Cenchrus ciliaris, and Plumbago zeylanica (779248). Preserved_Specimen BISH staff 30 Oahu BISH 2021-04-30
25 Rivina humilis Nokukano Development Site makai of the belt road in Capt. Cook, Hawaii This shrubby weed is common under the monkeypod and kukui trees. Preserved_Specimen Shrubby weed. Funk, E.J. Hawaii BISH 1991-11-01
26 Rivina humilis Honolulu, 1940 Manoa Rd infrequently mowed part of a grass lawn; partial shade Preserved_Specimen .5 m subshrub. Flower white to chartreuse. Mature fruit crimson Lau, J. 1534 Oahu BISH 1985-10-19
27 Rivina humilis Waianae Stream dry scrub; maybe recently burned over; Abutilon, Coffea, Indigofera and Acacia Preserved_Specimen Lennstrom, H. 199463 Oahu BISH 1994-02-11
28 Rivina humilis Honouliuli Forest Reserve, Ekahanui Gulch and Management Unit, at trail junction on access trail. Associated canopy: Psidium cattleyanum, Schinus terebinthifolius, Fraxinus uhdei, Eucalyptus spp., Coffea arabica. Understory: Oplismenus hirtellus, Psidium cattleyanum, Passiflora suberosa, Urochloa maxima. Preserved_Specimen Naturalized compact herb/shrub, up to 1-1.5 m tall, slightly woody at base, stems glabrous. Leaves thin, glabrous, medium green, 3-7 cm long, petioles with some hairs. Flowers small, white, 4-petaled, in racemes. Fruit red, 3-5 mm across (mostly closer to 3 mm). Estimated 20 plants, various size classes present; did not note seedlings in particular. Growing with different form of Rivina (USARMY 500). Beachy, J. 499 Oahu BISH 2018-10-23
29 Rivina humilis Kaimuki garden Preserved_Specimen Topping, D.L. 2989 Oahu BISH 1925-01-21
30 Rivina humilis Mokuauia Islet, Oahu in center part of island Preserved_Specimen Rare. A couple plants scattered under and near sea grape trees. Starr, F. 502228 Oahu BISH 2007-02-22
31 Rivina humilis PTBG, Lawai Valley Preserved_Specimen Mature fruit bright red Flynn, T.W. 716 Kauai BISH 1984-01-04
32 Rivina humilis Honolulu, 3115 Kaloaluiki Place Preserved_Specimen 2.5' weedy herb; flowers white; berries bright red. Kadowaki, A. Oahu BISH 1990-03-03
33 Rivina humilis Punahou, Frear home Preserved_Specimen ripe fruit red McGuire, T. Oahu BISH 1952-11-05
34 Rivina humilis east Maui, Hana District, Hana, Nanualele, north side of Hana Bay. Preserved_Specimen Naturally and locally common. Oppenheimer, H.L. 71804 Maui BISH 2018-07-16
Back to Top