General Impact
Miconia forms dense monospecific stands shading out native vegetation with its large leaves, and suppressing the growth and regeneration of the native species in the understory. In Tahiti, it covers more than 70% of the island. Between 40 to 50 rare endemic plant species are directly threatened in Tahiti (Society Is.). The tentacular root system is also suspected to favour soil erosion and landslides.
Location Specific Impacts:New Caledonia (Nouvelle Calédonie)  
Threat to endangered species: Between 40 and 50 of the 107 endemic plants of Tahiti, mostly grasses, shrubs and small understory trees, are directly threatened with extinction by miconia (Meyer and Florence, 1996). On Tahiti, endemic species of the genus Psychotria (Rubiaceae) show a significant decrease in the production of flowers and seeds with increased density of miconia (Meyer et al., 2003) and regeneration of the Critically Endangered endemic tree Myrsine longifolia (Myrsinaceae) (see Myrsine longifolia in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species) is weaker in understories that have been heavily invaded by miconia (Meyer, 2007).
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