Family: Hypoxidaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Curculigo capitulata (palm grass, weevil lily) is a tropical understory plant native to a broad region from Nepal and southern China to northeastern Queensland. It forms attractive clumps of long, pleated, palm-like leaves that arise from a short underground stem, giving it a lush, fern-like appearance. In landscaping, it is sometimes used as an ornamental groundcover or foliage accent in shaded tropical gardens due to its ability to create dense, green cover and tolerate low-light conditions. In some regions, related species have also been used in traditional medicine, though ornamental use is most common today.

Risks & Threats
In Hawaiʻi, Curculigo capitulata is already naturalized on Kauaʻi and Oʻahu and is potentially beginning to naturalize on Maui. While it is valued as an ornamental plant, it does possess traits that are cause for concern, including its ability to spread vegetatively and form persistent clumps that can outcompete slower-growing native understory plants. In favorable moist and shaded environments, it may spread beyond intended plantings and become difficult to control. Because of these characteristics, caution is recommended when planting or managing this species to help ensure it does not negatively impact Hawaiʻi’s native ecosystems, and low-risk or native alternatives should be considered where possible.

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Naturalized on Kauai, Hawaiian Islands and naturalized or an escape from cultivation in Florida, Puerto Rico, Sri Lanka, Rio de Janeiro, and possibly elsewhere
  
• A weedy plant, difficult to remove once established
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Forms dense clumps, and can possibly exclude other vegetation
  
• A geophyte, able to resprout from tuberous, underground stems
  
• Able to reproduce by seeds (rarely in cultivation)
  
• Spreads vegetatively
  
• Planted intentionally by people
  
• Tolerates fire, and able to spread from stem fragments

Low Risk Traits:

• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Palatable to browsing animals in native range
  
• Not reported to be toxic
  
• Ornamental
  
• Rarely produces seeds in cultivation
  
• Reaches maturity in 4-10 years
  
• Limited seed production reduces risk of long-distance or inadvertent dispersal