Aeschynomene indica L., Fabaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: he meng

English: Indian joint-vetch, budda pea, curly-indigo, hard sola, kat sola, northern joint-vetch, sensitive jointed vetch, sensitive vetch

Japanese: kusanemu

Pohnpeian: ikin sihk

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Shrublets or annual herbs, (15-) 30-100 (-150) cm tall. Stems erect, many branched, cylindric, hollow, glabrous, corky at base, often with nodule-bearing adventitious roots. Stipules elliptic to lanceolate, 4-11 x 1-2 cm, membranous, caducous, base auriculate, apex acuminate. Leaves 20-60-foliolate, often sensitive; petiole 2-4 mm; rachis with tuberculate-based trichomes; leaflet blades linear-oblong, 3-13 x 1-3 mm, papery, base oblique, apex obtuse and mucronate. Inflorescences axillary, racemose, sometimes short or reduced to a solitary flower; peduncle 4-7 mm, with tuberculate-based trichomes; bracts ovate, caducous, margin often denticulate. Bracteoles ovate-lanceolate, persistent. Calyx 3-4 mm, membranous, glabrous. Corolla pale yellow with purplish longitudinal striations. Legume linear-oblong, 2.2-3.4 cm x 3-5 mm, straight, herbaceous to leathery, abaxial suture straight, slightly indented; articles 2-8, quadrate, slightly muricate and with tuberculate-based trichomes. Seeds blackish brown, reniform, ca. 2 mm"  (Flora of China online).

"An erect herb with imparipinnate leaves, branching, with scattered spreading hairs on stems, rachises, and peduncles; leaves 5-10 cm long; stipules semisagittate, about 1 cm long; leaflets numerous, 15-30 pairs, linear-oblong, glaucous beneath, 10-15 mm long, rounded at tip; flowers few in racemes, pale yellow; pedicels with 2 bracteoles at base of calyx; bracts like the stipules; flower c. 1 cm long; calyx bilabiate, deeply cleft; pods linear, flat, 6-8-jointed, with a central prominent rugosity on each joint"  (Stone, 1970; p. 322).

Habitat/ecology:  "Most frequently found in poorly drained areas, wet pastures, along rivers and canals, and in or around paddy fields"  (Holm et al., 1997: p. 20).  In Guam, "found in man-disturbed areas and thickets, not common."  (Stone, 1970; p. 322).  In Fiji, "occurring as a weed from near sea level to low elevations on gravel banks of rivers, along roadsides, in waste places, and often in wet parts of ricefields and canefields" (Smith, 1985; pp. 257-258). In New Guinea, "a plant of wet situations; stream banks, swamp margins, roadside ditches, and sometimes as a weed in pastures. Widely distributed from low altitudes to 800 m" (Henty & Pritchard, 1975; p. 111).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Probably native to America (Smith, 1985; pp. 257-258), exact native range obscure (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
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) (p. 74) Voucher cited: Glassman 2899 (US)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced invasive	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 88) Vouchers cited: B. Ekiek 120 (NY, PTBG), F.R. Fosberg 58421 (BISH), F.R. Fosberg 58421 (BISH, PTBG), F.R. Fosberg 60406 (BISH), F.R. Fosberg 60427 (BISH), S.F. Glassman 2899 (BISH), D.H. Lorence 7911 (PTBG, US), P. Raynor 134 (NY, PTBG), F. Sohl 27 (NY, PTBG) Invasive
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1996) (voucher ID: PTBG 21195) Taxon name on voucher: Aeschynomene indica
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1978) (voucher ID: PTBG 23979) Taxon name on voucher: Aeschynomene indica
Fiji Fiji Islands	Taveuni Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 257-258) Voucher cited: DA L.13235
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 257-258) Voucher cited: DA 18 May 1949
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 257-258) Vouchers cited: Greenwood 214, DA 11752, DA 10420, DA 14359, DA 10165, DA 4957, DA 10750, DA 11820, Greenwood 214A, DA 5620, DA 11472, DA 2615
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 138) Vouchers cited: BRY 25978, BRY 26040, Florence 3888, Grant 5446
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 3182 (PAP), J. Florence 3888 (PAP), J. Florence , C. Ollier & R. Tahauitu 11486 (PAP) Adventice
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (pp. 322-323) Voucher cited: Stone 5086 (GUAM)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 80) Vouchers cited: MacKee 14774, Déméné in MacKee 23923
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	invasive	Henty, E. E./Pritchard, G. H. (1975) (p. 111) Widely distributed from low altitudes to 800 m.
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	probably native	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 63, 76)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands		Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (pp. 282-283) In open wet places, old rice paddies, etc., at low and medium altitudes.

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)	New South Wales		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 18)
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Australia Australia (continental)	Northern Territory		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 18)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 18)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	probably native	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 63, 76)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) "Field margins, ditches, grasslands, trailsides and river margins in sunny places; 100-1300 m".
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 138)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	probably native	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 63, 76)
Indonesia Indonesia	West Papua Province (Indonesia) (western New Guinea Island) (formerly Irian Jaya)	probably native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Japan Japan	Japan	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Japan Ryukyu Islands	Ryukyu Islands	probably native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
North Korea North Korea	North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of)	probably native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
South Korea South Korea	South Korea (Republic of)	probably native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	probably native	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 63, 76)
Negara Brunei Darussalam Brunei	Brunei (Negara Brunei Darussalam)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 10) Naturalised
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 18)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 18)
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) "Field margins, ditches, grasslands, trailsides and river margins in sunny places; 100-1300 m".
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1984) (voucher ID: PTBG 37902) Taxon name on voucher: Aeschynomene indica L.
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	probably native	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 63, 76)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	probably native	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 63, 76)
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
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Rodrigues Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (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)	United States (other states)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Aeschynomene indica, please let us know.