Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)

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Abrus precatorius
L., Fabaceae
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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Reject, score: 16 (Go to the risk assessment).

Other Latin names:  Glycine abrus L.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chamorro: kolales halomtano, kulales halom tano

Chinese: ji mu zhu, xian xi teng, xiang si zi

English: Indian licorice, bead vine, black-eyed Susan, coral bead plant, coralbean, crab's-eye, gidee-gidee, jequirity, jequirity bean, jumbie bean, licorice plant, licorice vine, love bean, lucky bean, minnie-minnies, prayer beads, prayerbead, precatory, precatory bean, red beadvine, rosary pea, weatherplant, weathervine

Fijian: lele, lere ndamu, leredamu, ndiri ndamu, nggiri ndamu

French: abrus à prière, arbre à chapelet, cascavelle, grain d'église, graine diable, guen léglise, herbe de diable, jéquirity, liane à règlisse, pater noster, pois rouge, réglisse, réglisse marron, soldat

Hawaiian: pūkiawe, pūkiawe lei, pūkiawe lenalena, pūpūkiawe

Japanese: toazuki

Korean: hong du

Maori (Cook Islands): kōviriviri mata tako, kirikiri rangi, koviriviri mata-tako, pitipiti‘ō, uiui

Niuean: mata‘ila, pomea mata‘ila

Pohnpeian: kaigus, kaikes en iak

Samoan: fuefue laulili‘i, matamoso

Spanish: ojos de cangrejo, peronías

Tahitian: pepitio, pitipiti‘o

Tongan: matamoe, matamoho, moho

Habit:  vine

Description:  "Lianas. Stem slender, much branched, sparsely white strigose. Leaves paripinnate; leaflets 8-13-paired, opposite; petiolule short; blades suboblong, 1-2 x 0.4-0.8 cm, membranous, sparsely white strigose abaxially, glabrous adaxially, rounded at base, truncate and with mucro at apex. Racemes axillary, 3-8 cm. Flowers small, dense. Calyx campanulate, 4-toothed, white strigose. Corolla purple; standard with triangular claw; wings and keels narrower. Stamens 9. Ovary hairy. Legumes oblong, 2-3.5 x 0.5-1.5 cm, leathery, dehiscent, with 2-6 seeds. Seeds lustrous, black in lower part, red in upper part, subglobose"  (Flora of China online).

"An annual woody, slender climber, sometimes reaching a length of 10 m, branching, deciduous; leaves paripinnate, 5-8 cm long, with 10-20 pairs of thin, pale-green, oblong, very short-petiolulate, blunt-tipped but minutely mucronate leaflets each 1-3 cm long; flowers many on elongated axillary racemes, pink, lavender, or white; pods elliptic, up to 4 cm long, dehiscent, turgid, at first silky-pubescent, beaked; seeds 3-6, globose, scarlet-red with a large black spot, glossy, hard, about 3.5 mm thick, pink when immature."  (Stone, 1970; p. 322).

Habitat/ecology:  "Tropical hammocks, open forests, pine rockland, disturbed sites.  The plant establishes well in disturbed sites and spreads rapidly after fires"  (Weber, 2003; p. 11).  In Hawai‘i, "naturalized in low elevation, dry, disturbed sites" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 638-639); "a weed of pastures and non-cropland"  (Motooka et al., 2003). In Tonga, "frequent in thickets" (Yuncker, 1959; p. 144).

"In Puerto Rico, crab's eye grows in subtropical moist (1000 to 2000 mm of precipitation), subtropical dry forest (below 1000 mm of precipitation), and the lower extreme of the subtropical wet forest type on all drainage classes except very poorly drained and on soils of all textures and parent materials. All types of topography are colonized from near sea level to 1,000 m in elevation (in India) (Parrotta 2001). Crab's eye competes well with weeds and brush in abandoned farmland, disturbed areas, and early secondary forest. It requires disturbance to maintain itself in dense, closed stands"  (Wildland shrubs of the United States and its territories).

Propagation:  Seed, spread by birds (Weber, 2003; p. 11).  "Humans have been responsible for the long-distance transport that has resulted in the current pantropical distribution. Birds may move the seeds short distances either through curiosity or by being momentarily deceived into thinking that they are edible (personal communication with Joseph Wonderly, IITF, R¡o Piedras, Puerto Rico). Lateral extension of the vines also disperses the seeds short distances"  (Wildland shrubs of the United States and its territories).

Native range:  "Tropical Africa and Madagascar to tropical Asia, eastward to Australia and in the Pacific to the Tuamotus, now widely naturalized in America" (Smith, 1985; pp. 162-164).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. &
Island group
Location Cited status &
Cited as invasive &
Cited as cultivated &
Cited as aboriginal introduction?
Reference &
Comments
American Samoa
Manu‘a Islands
Ofu Island   Whistler, W. A. (1980) (p. 160)
American Samoa
Manu‘a Islands
Ofu Island   Yuncker, T. G. (1945) (p. 42)
Voucher cited: Garber 1111 (BISH)
American Samoa
Manu‘a Islands
Ofu Island   National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2001) (voucher ID: PTBG 35362)
Taxon name on voucher: Abrus precatorius L.
American Samoa
Manu‘a Islands
Ta‘u Island   National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1990) (voucher ID: PTBG 10382)
Taxon name on voucher: Abrus precatorius
American Samoa
Tutuila Islands
Aunu‘u Island   Whistler, W. A. (1980) (p. 160)
American Samoa
Tutuila Islands
Tutuila Island   Whistler, W. A. (1980) (p. 160)
American Samoa
Tutuila Islands
Tutuila Island   Setchell, William Albert (1924) (pp. 89-90)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Northern Mariana Islands
Agrigan (Agrihan) Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Northern Mariana Islands
Agrigan (Agrihan) Island introduced
invasive
Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 26)
Vouchers cited: Fosberg 31616 (US), Falanruw 2168 (US), Falanruw 2340 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Northern Mariana Islands
Aguijan (Agiguan, Aguihan) Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Northern Mariana Islands
Alamagan Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Northern Mariana Islands
Alamagan Island introduced
invasive
Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 26)
Vouchers cited: Fosberg 31695 (US), Falanruw 1872 (US), Kondo in 1949 (BISH)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Northern Mariana Islands
Alamagan Island introduced
Ohba, T. (1994) (p. 58)
Voucher cited: CBM-BS-5885?
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Northern Mariana Islands
Anatahan Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Northern Mariana Islands
Anatahan Island introduced
invasive
Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 26)
Voucher cited: Falanruw 1608 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Northern Mariana Islands
Asuncion Island   Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Northern Mariana Islands
Pagan Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Northern Mariana Islands
Pagan Island introduced
invasive
Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 26)
Vouchers cited: Marche 152 (P), Moore 336 (US), Fosberg 31389 (US), Anderson 574 (US, BISH, Fo, NY)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Northern Mariana Islands
Rota Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Northern Mariana Islands
Tinian Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Saipan
Saipan Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Cook Islands
Southern Cook Islands
Aitutaki Atoll native
abo. intro.
McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands
Southern Cook Islands
‘Atiu Island native
abo. intro.
McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands
Southern Cook Islands
Mangaia Island native
abo. intro.
McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands
Southern Cook Islands
Ma‘uke Island native
abo. intro.
McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands
Southern Cook Islands
Miti‘aro Island native
abo. intro.
McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands
Southern Cook Islands
Rarotonga Island native
abo. intro.
McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands)
Floreana Group
Floreana Island introduced
invasive
cultivated
Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands)
Santa Cruz Group
Santa Cruz Island introduced
invasive
cultivated
Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Federated States of Micronesia
Chuuk Islands
Dublon (Tonowas) Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Federated States of Micronesia
Chuuk Islands
Parem (Param) Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Federated States of Micronesia
Chuuk Islands
Weno (Moen) Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Federated States of Micronesia
Pohnpei Islands
Pohnpei Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Federated States of Micronesia
Pohnpei Islands
Pohnpei Island   Glassman, S. F. (1952) (pp. 73-74)
Voucher cited: Glassman 2781 (US), Hosokawa 6121 (US)
Federated States of Micronesia
Pohnpei Islands
Pohnpei Island introduced
invasive
Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 87)
Vouchers cited: E. Albert 196 (NY, PTBG), R. Gallen 41 (NY, PTBG), S.F. Glassman 2781 (BISH), T. hosokawa 6121 (BISH)
Naturalized
Federated States of Micronesia
Pohnpei Islands
Pohnpei Island   National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2001) (voucher ID: PTBG 38933)
Taxon name on voucher: Abrus precatorius L.
Federated States of Micronesia
Pohnpei Islands
Pohnpei Island   National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2004) (voucher ID: PTBG 43864)
Taxon name on voucher: Abrus precatorius
Federated States of Micronesia
Yap Islands
Yap (Waqab) Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Fiji
Fiji Islands
Fulanga Island native
Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 162-164)
Voucher cited: Smith 1176
Fiji
Fiji Islands
Koro Island native
Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 162-164)
Voucher cited: Smith 1034
Fiji
Fiji Islands
Navutu-i-Loma Island native
Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 162-164)
Voucher cited: Bryan 386
Fiji
Fiji Islands
Ngau Island native
Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 162-164)
Voucher cited: Smith 7929
Fiji
Fiji Islands
Ongea Ndriki Island native
Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 162-164)
Voucher cited: Bryan 386
Fiji
Fiji Islands
Taveuni Island native
Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 162-164)
Voucher cited: Seeman 110
Fiji
Fiji Islands
Vanua Levu Island native
Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 162-164)
Vouchers cited: Seemann 110, DA 15288, Tothill 117c, DA 5754
Fiji
Fiji Islands
Viti Levu Island native
Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 162-164)
Vouchers cited: DA 13573,Greenwood 242
Fiji
Fiji Islands
Yasawas Island native
Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 162-164)
Vouchers cited: DA 13663, St. John 18030
French Polynesia
Gambier Islands
Mangareva (Gambier) Island introduced
invasive
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Naturalisée
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands
Eiao Island introduced
invasive
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Naturalisée
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands
Fatu Hiva Island introduced
invasive
Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands
Fatu Hiva Island introduced
invasive
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Voucher cited: D.H. Lorence 6215 (PAP)
Naturalisée
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands
Fatu Hiva Island   National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1988) (voucher ID: PTBG 6434)
Taxon name on voucher: Abrus precatorius
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands
Hatuta'a (Hatutu) Island introduced
invasive
Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands
Hatuta'a (Hatutu) Island introduced
invasive
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Vouchers cited: J.-C. Thibault 1118 (PAP), S.P. Perlman 10072 (PAP)
Naturalisée
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands
Hatuta'a (Hatutu) Island   National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1988) (voucher ID: PTBG 8296)
Taxon name on voucher: Abrus precatorius
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands
Hiva Oa Island introduced
invasive
Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands
Hiva Oa Island introduced
invasive
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Voucher cited: M.-H. Sachet 1269 (PAP)
Naturalisée
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands
Hiva Oa Island   National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1975) (voucher ID: PTBG 13217)
Taxon name on voucher: Abrus precatorius
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands
Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island introduced
invasive
Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands
Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island introduced
invasive
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Vouchers cited: J. Florence 4411 (PAP), J. Florence 6671 (PAP), J. Florence 6683 (PAP), J. Florence 6689 (PAP), J. Florence 8479 (PAP)
Naturalisée
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands
Tahuata (Tuhuata) Island introduced
invasive
Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands
Tahuata (Tuhuata) Island   National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2003) (voucher ID: PTBG 40392)
Taxon name on voucher: Abrus precatorius
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands
Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island introduced
invasive
Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands
Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island introduced
invasive
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Voucher cited: J. Florence 7246 (PAP)
Assez commune en forêt riveraine.
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands
Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island introduced
invasive
Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands
Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island introduced
invasive
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Naturalisée
French Polynesia
Society Islands
Bora Bora Island native
Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 137)
Voucher cited: Grant 5021
French Polynesia
Society Islands
Huahine Island   Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 46)
French Polynesia
Society Islands
Huahine Island introduced
invasive
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Voucher cited: J. Florence & R. Tahuaitu 11764 (PAP)
Naturalisée
French Polynesia
Society Islands
Maupiti (Maurua) Island   Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 46)
French Polynesia
Society Islands
Mehetia (Mahetia, Meetia) Island native
Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 137)
Voucher cited: Grant 4692
French Polynesia
Society Islands
Mehetia (Mahetia, Meetia) Island introduced
invasive
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Naturalisée
French Polynesia
Society Islands
Moorea Island introduced
invasive
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Voucher cited: J. Florence 4980 (PAP)
Naturalisée
French Polynesia
Society Islands
Raiatea (Havai) Island native
Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 137)
Vouchers cited: Grant 5021, Moore 614
French Polynesia
Society Islands
Taha‘a Island introduced
invasive
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Voucher cited: J. Florence 5242 (PAP)
Naturalisée
French Polynesia
Society Islands
Tahiti Island native
Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 137)
Voucher cited: Florence 2848
French Polynesia
Society Islands
Tahiti Island introduced
cultivated
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Voucher cited: J. Florence 2848 (PAP)
Planté
French Polynesia
Tuamotu Archipelago
Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island introduced
invasive
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Voucher cited: J. Florence 3039 (PAP)
Naturalisée
French Polynesia
Austral (Tubuai) Islands
Raivavae (Raevavae) Island introduced
invasive
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Naturalisée
French Polynesia
Austral (Tubuai) Islands
Rimatara (Rimitara) Island introduced
invasive
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Naturalisée
French Polynesia
Austral (Tubuai) Islands
Rurutu Island introduced
invasive
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Voucher cited: J. Florence (legerunt D. Cordonnier & G. Cordonnier) 6585 (PAP)
Naturalisée
Guam
Guam Island
Guam Island introduced
Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 322)
Vouchers cited: Stone 3919 (GUAM), Stone 5053 (GUAM)
Guam
Guam Island
Guam Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands
Hawai‘i (Big) Island introduced
invasive
cultivated
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 638)
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands
Kaua‘i Island introduced
invasive
cultivated
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 638)
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands
Maui Island introduced
invasive
cultivated
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 638)
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands
Moloka‘i Island introduced
invasive
cultivated
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 638)
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands
Ni‘ihau Island introduced
invasive
cultivated
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 638)
New Caledonia
Récifs D'Entrecasteaux (D'Entrecasteaux Reefs)
Île Surprise introduced
MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 80)
New Caledonia
Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)
Île Lifou introduced
MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 80)
New Caledonia
New Caledonia Archipelago
Île Grande Terre introduced
invasive
MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 80)
Vouchers cited: Deplanche 559, Pancher s.n. s.loc., Eloin s.n. (BR), Balansa 29a, Cribs 973, Sarlin 50 s.loc., MacKee 2444, MacKee 30953, MacKee 31991
New Caledonia
New Caledonia Archipelago
Île Grande Terre   National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1982) (voucher ID: PTBG 31548)
Taxon name on voucher: Abrus precatorius
Niue
Niue
Niue Island introduced
invasive
Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 144)
Voucher cited: CHR 170441
Niue
Niue
Niue Island native
Whistler, W. A./Atherton, J. (1997) (p. 33)
Niue
Niue
Niue Island introduced
invasive
Yuncker, T. G. (1943) (p. 63)
Vouchers cited: Yuncker 9751 (BISH), Yuncker 10202 (BISH)
"Frequent in thickets".
Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group)
Angaur (Ngeaur) Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group)
Koror (Oreor) Island   Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1979) (voucher ID: BNM 1265)
Taxon name on voucher: Abrus precatorius L.
Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group)
Malakal (Ngemelachel) Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Papua New Guinea
Bismarck Archipelago
Bismarck Archipelago   Peekel, P. G. [translated by E. E. Henty] (1984) (p. 245)
Frequent in secondary forest and about villages. The seeds serve as ornaments.
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)
Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island) native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Philippines
Philippine Islands
Philippine Islands native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Philippines
Philippine Islands
Philippine Islands   Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 303)
At low and medium altitudes, common in thickets. Probably a native of tropical Asia.
Pitcairn Islands
Pitcairn Islands
Pitcairn Island introduced
invasive
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Voucher cited: J. Florence & S. Waldren 11038 (PAP)
Naturalisée
Pitcairn Islands
Pitcairn Islands
Pitcairn Island   National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1991) (voucher ID: PTBG 16611)
Taxon name on voucher: Abrus precatorius
Tonga
Ha‘apai Group
Ha‘apai Islands native
Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 25)
Vouchers cited: Yuncker 15724, Hotta 4581, Soakai 674, Soakai 678, Buelow 395, Whistler 6615
Tonga
Ha‘apai Group
Kao Island native
Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 25)
Vouchers cited: Yuncker 15951, Scarth-Johnson 6
Tonga
Ha‘apai Group
Kao Island   Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 144)
Voucher cited: Yuncker 1595
Tonga
Ha‘apai Group
Lifuka Island   Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 144)
Voucher cited: Yuncker 15724
Tonga
Tonga Islands
Tonga Islands   Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 144)
"Frequent throughout Tonga"
Tonga
Tongatapu Group
‘Eua Island native
Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 25)
Vouchers cited: Parks 16342!, Sykes 216
Tonga
Tongatapu Group
Tongatapu Island native
Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 25)
Vouchers cited: USEE (n.s.), Soakai 624, Whistler 6773
Tonga
Tongatapu Group
Tongatapu Island   Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 144)
Cited: U.S. Expl. Exped.
Tonga
Vava‘u Group
Late Island introduced
Sykes, W. R. (1981) (p. 350)
Tonga
Vava‘u Group
Late Island native
Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 25)
Vouchers cited: Hotta 4835, Buelow & Sykes 250
Tonga
Vava‘u Group
Niuafo‘ou Island native
Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 25)
Vouchers cited: Yuncker 16002, Whistler 6398
Tonga
Vava‘u Group
Niuafo‘ou Island   Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 144)
Voucher cited: Yuncker 16002
Tonga
Vava‘u Group
Niuatoputapu Island native
Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 25)
Voucher cited: Hurlimann 353
Tonga
Vava‘u Group
Niuatoputapu Island   Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 144)
Voucher cited: Hürlimann 353
Tonga
Vava‘u Group
Tafahi Island native
Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 25)
Vouhcer cited: Hurlimann 559
Tonga
Vava‘u Group
Vava‘u Island native
Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 25)
Vouchers cited: Crosby (n.s.), Yuncker 16125, Hotta 4718
Tonga
Vava‘u Group
Vava‘u Island   Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 144)
Voucher cited: Yuncker 16125
Tonga
Vava‘u Group
Vava‘u Island   Burkill, I. H. (1900) (p. 34)
Wallis and Futuna
Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands
Wallis (‘Uvea) Island introduced
invasive
Meyer, Jean-Yves (2007) (p. 34)
Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. &
Island group
Location Cited status &
Cited as invasive &
Cited as cultivated &
Cited as aboriginal introduction?
Reference &
Comments
Australia
Australia (continental)
Australia (continental) native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Western Australia
Australia
Australia (continental)
Northern Territory native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Australia
Australia (continental)
Queensland native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia (Kingdom of) native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America
Central America (Pacific rim)
Honduras (Republic of) introduced
invasive
Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 1)
China
China
China (People's Republic of) native
Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
"Hill forests. Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan".
China
China
Hong Kong native
Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 138)
Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia (Republic of) native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Japan
Japan
Japan introduced
Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 184)
Malaysia
Malaysia
Malaysia (country of) native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Mexico
Mexico
Mexico (United Mexican States) introduced
Weber, Ewald (2003) (p. 11)
Singapore
Singapore
Singapore (Republic of) introduced
invasive
Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 9)
Naturalised
Taiwan
Taiwan Island
Taiwan Island native
Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
"Hill forests".
Thailand
Thailand
Thailand (Kingdom of) native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam (Socialist Republic of) native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. &
Island group
Location Cited status &
Cited as invasive &
Cited as cultivated &
Cited as aboriginal introduction?
Reference &
Comments
Mauritius
Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)
Mauritius Island native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Seychelles
Seychelles Islands
Coetivy Island   Robertson, S. A./Fosberg, F. R. (1983) (p. 149)
Voucher cited: Robertson 3157 (K)
Seychelles
Seychelles Islands
Frégate Island   Robertson, S. A./Todd, D. M. (1983) (p. 51)
Voucher cited: Robertson 2680
Seychelles
Seychelles Islands
Seychelles Islands native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. &
Island group
Location Cited status &
Cited as invasive &
Cited as cultivated &
Cited as aboriginal introduction?
Reference &
Comments
United States (continental except west coast)
United States (other states)
USA (Florida) introduced
invasive
Motooka, Philip/Castro, Luisa/Nelson, Duane/Nagai, Guy/Ching, Lincoln (2003)

Comments:  Seeds are highly poisonous.

Planting of this species is prohibited in Miami-Dade County, Florida (U.S.) (Miami-Dade County Dept. of Planning and Zoning, 2010).

Control: 

Physical: Pull or dig out small plants.

Chemical: "Probably sensitive to foliar sprays of triclopyr.  Good control with triclopyr ester at 10% in oil applied to basal bark or cut surface and with triclopyr amine at 50% in water applied to cut surface"   (Motooka et al., 2003).


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This page was created on 19 JUN 2004 and was last updated on 4 JUL 2012.