Listed as indigenous, a taxon that is considered native but not endemic / early Polynesian introduction, introduced prior to European contact (Florence, J., Waldren, S. & Chepstow-Lusty, A.J. (1995)The flora of the Pitcairn Islands: a review, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 56, pp. 79119.);
Possibly a Polynesian introduction, locally abundant on the North Beach and in the understorey of the central Xylosma forest. The status is uncertain; in the Tuamotu Islands it is a common weed of Polynesian coconut plantations, but its occurrence in Xylosma forest suggests it may be native on Henderson. Florence 109 4; Florence, Chepstow-Lusty & Waldren 10886.(Florence, J., Waldren, S. & Chepstow-Lusty, A.J. (1995)The flora of the Pitcairn Islands: a review, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 56, pp. 79119.); It is sometimes being used ceremonially on Tonga (Whistler, 1992; Gothesson,1997). (Waldren, S., Wesiler, M.I., Hather, J.G. & Morrow, D. (1999)The non-native vascular plants of Henderson Island, South Central Pacific Ocean, Atoll Research Bulletin, 463, pp. 114. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00775630.463.1);
The settlers may have accidentally introduced this weed species, although the species might equally well have moved following adherence to birds feathers and the caryopses of the latter are probably capable of flotation. (Waldren, S., Wesiler, M.I., Hather, J.G. & Morrow, D. (1999)The non-native vascular plants of Henderson Island, South Central Pacific Ocean, Atoll Research Bulletin, 463, pp. 114. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00775630.463.1);
Florence, J., Waldren, S. & Chepstow-Lusty, A.J. (1995)The flora of the Pitcairn Islands: a review, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 56, pp. 79119.; Waldren, S., Wesiler, M.I., Hather, J.G. & Morrow, D. (1999)The non-native vascular plants of Henderson Island, South Central Pacific Ocean, Atoll Research Bulletin, 463, pp. 114. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00775630.463.1; UKOTs Team (2024). UKOTs Online Herbarium - Henderson. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet at http://brahmsonline.kew.org/UKOT (July 2024);