Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Synonyms Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Hemigraphis alternata (Burm. f.) T. Anderson

Synonyms

Hemigraphis colorata (Blume) Hallier fil.
Ruellia alternata Burm. f.

Family

Acanthaceae

Common Names

cemetery plant, metal leaf, metal-leaf, metallic plant, purple waffle plant, red ivy, red flame ivy, red-flame ivy, redivy

Origin

This species originated in south-eastern Asia (i.e. on Java in Indonesia).

Naturalised Distribution

This species is currently only known to be naturalised in a few locations in far northern Queensland.

It has also become naturalised in other parts of the world, including on several Pacific islands (i.e. American Samoa, Western Samoa, Palau, the Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji, Niue, French Polynesia and Hawaii) and in south-eastern USA (i.e. Florida).

Notes

Red ivy (Hemigraphis alternata) is regarded as an emerging or potential environmental weed in northern Queensland. It currently has a relatively localised distribution, but is on the Cape York Peninsula Priority Weed List because of its potential to become an important environmental weed in this region. This species is shade-tolerant, and is capable of invading the understoreys of wetter forests in warmer climates.

On Niue, red ivy (Hemigraphis alternata) has formed large mats of vegetation in disturbed open and closed forests, while in Fiji it is becoming naturalised along trails in forests, particularly those that are close to habitation. In American Samoa, it has become naturalised at several locations, including conservation areas (e.g. in the Vailima Reserve and at the entrance to the O le Pupu Pue National Park), where it forms dense low stands that exclude other species.