Alysicarpus vaginalis (L.) DC., Fabaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Evaluate, score: 5 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Alysicarpus nummularifolius auct.; Hedysarum vaginale L.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: lian jia dou

English: alyce clover, alysicarpus, buffalo clover, buffalo-bur, one-leaf clover, white moneywort

French: alysicarpus

Spanish: maní cimarrón, mani cimarrón

Tongan: akataha hina

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Herbs, perennial. Stem erect or procumbent, 30-90 cm tall, glabrous or slightly pubescent. Leaves 1-foliolate; petiole 5-14 mm, glabrous; blade often ovate-oblong or oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate, to 6.5 x 1-2 cm on upper stem, cordate, nearly orbicular, or ovate, 1-3 x ca. 1 cm on lower stem, abaxially slightly pubescent, adaxially glabrous. Racemes axillary or terminal, 1.5-7 cm, 6-12-flowered, binate at each node; inter-nodes 2-5 mm. Pedicel 3-4 mm. Calyx 5-6 mm, slightly longer than first article of legume. Corolla red, reddish purple, purplish blue, or yellow, slightly longer than calyx, ca. 5 mm; standard obovate. Ovary pubescent, 4-7-ovuled. Legume compressed, cylindric, 1.5-2.5 cm x 2-2.5 mm, pubescent, 4-7-jointed, not constricted between articles, with raised linear ridges. Seeds ellipsoidal, slightly compressed"  (Flora of China online).

"A more or less prostrate, somewhat suffruticose hispid branching herb; leaves somewhat dimorphic, the proximal elliptic, the distal narrower, lanceolate, 'simple', 3-10 mm long, rounded at tips, obtuse, or truncate at base, with short petioles about 1-5 mm long; flowers reddish purple, in terminal racemes; flower 6 mm long; pods cylindric, rugulose, jointed, nearly 2 cm long, 5-7-seeded; seeds pale brown, 1.5 mm long, oval"  (Stone, 1970; p. 323).

Habitat/ecology:  "Occasional in lawns and waste places" (Whistler, 1988; p. 21).

In Guam, "Usually found in lawns, by roadside ditches, and in waste ground exposed to the sun"  (Stone, 1970; p. 323).  In Hawai‘i, "naturalized in dry, disturbed areas such as along roadsides and in vacant lots, 20-150 m" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 645-646).  In Fiji, "originally cultivated but now considered a weed, often abundant in pastures and cultivated areas and along roadsides from near sea level to about 750 m" (Smith, 1985; pp. 199-200).  In Tonga, "occasional as a weed in waste areas" (Yuncker, 1959; pp. 141-142). In New Caledonia, "devenu localement abondant, surtout en gazons et en bordures humides des routes" (MacKee, 1994; p. 80).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Old World tropics; cultivated and naturalized (GRIN).

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	introduced	Ragone, Diane/Lorence, David H. (2003) (p. 47)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ofu Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2001) (voucher ID: PTBG 35357) Taxon name on voucher: Alysicarpus vaginalis (L.) DC.
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Olosega Island		Flynn, Tim (year unknown)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 21) Voucher cited: Lamoureax 3076
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island	introduced	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 36)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Saipan	Saipan Island	introduced	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 36)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Parem (Param) Island		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
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 Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy (2010) (p. 16) Naturalized
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1996) (voucher ID: PTBG 24882) Taxon name on voucher: Alysicarpus vaginalis (L.) DC.
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: E. Albert 172 (NY, PTBG), F.R. Fosberg 58506 (BISH) Naturalized
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2004) (voucher ID: PTBG 43897) Taxon name on voucher: Alysicarpus vaginalis
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Gagil (Gagil-Tamil) Island		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Kandavu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 199-200) Voucher cited: DA 2998
Fiji Fiji Islands	Lakemba Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 199-200) Voucher cited: Garnock-Jones 979
Fiji Fiji Islands	Naitamba Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 199-200) Voucher cited: Tothill 105
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ovalau Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 199-200) Voucher cited: DA 1348
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 199-200) Voucher cited: DA 8848
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 199-200) Vouchers cited: Greenwood 34, Vaughan 3209, DA 10284, Greenwood 34A, Tothill 78, DA 9289 (McKee 2859), Greenwood 34C, DA 11981, DA 2777, DA 12559, DA 2725, DA 12606
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1988) (voucher ID: PTBG 31559) Taxon name on voucher: Alysicarpus vaginalis
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Totegegie Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Bora Bora Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 12063 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence & R. Tahuaitu 11737 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J.-F. Butaud & F.A. Jacq 72 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Mehetia (Mahetia, Meetia) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 10257 (PAP), J. Florence 10331 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 139) Voucher cited: Florence 3524
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	University of California (2006) "Common on lawns and disturbed areas, recently introduced".
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 2135 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 139) Vouchers cited: BRY 25376, BRY 26703
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 10343 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 139) Voucher cited: Florence 4469
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 3272 (PAP), J. Florence 4469 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1981) (voucher ID: PTBG 37291) Taxon name on voucher: Alysicarpus vaginalis (L.) DC.
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rimatara (Rimitara) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 6157 (PAP) Adventice
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 323) Vouchers cited: Stone 3775 (GUAM), Stone 4336 (GUAM), Stone 4724 (GUAM)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1987) (voucher ID: PTBG 23446) Taxon name on voucher: Alysicarpus vaginalis
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 644-646)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 644-646)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 644-646)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank (2007) (p. 23) Vouchers cited: Oppenheimer H80619 (BISH, PTBG), Oppenheimer & Perlman H110626 (BISH, PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 644-646)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kwajalein (Kuwajleen) Atoll	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A./Steele, O. (1999) (pp. 50-51) Vouchers cited: Whistler 11205, Whistler 11272
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Wotje (Wõjjã) Atoll	introduced	Vander Velde, Nancy/Vander Velde, Brian (2009) (p. 3) Voucher cited: Vander Velde 0516200907
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Wotje (Wõjjã) Atoll		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2009) (voucher ID: PTBG 49764) Taxon name on voucher: Alysicarpus vaginalis
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced invasive	Thaman, R. R./Fosberg, F. R./Manner, H. I./Hassall, D. C. (1994) (p. 136) Vouchers cited: Fosberg 58744 (US), Fosberg 58763 (US), Scully 115N (US), Thaman & Manner 88 (SUVA)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Lifou	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 80) Voucher cited: MacKee 37206
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 88)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 80) Vouchers cited: Franc 2122, MacKee 11480, MacKee 36711, MacKee 38087
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 21) Voucher cited: Whistler 4965
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 38)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 100) Voucher: BMW 6539 (BISH, BRI, GUAM)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 62) Voucher: Lorence 9830 (PTBG, BNM, NY)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1975) (voucher ID: BNM 10042) Taxon name on voucher: Alysicarpus vaginalis (L.) DC.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1982) (voucher ID: BNM 3157) Taxon name on voucher: Alysicarpus vaginalis (L.) DC.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1996) (voucher ID: BNM 26372) Taxon name on voucher: Alysicarpus vaginalis (L.) DC.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2008) (voucher ID: PTBG 124) Taxon name on voucher: Alysicarpus vaginalis
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 96)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1978) (voucher ID: BNM 1241) Taxon name on voucher: Alysicarpus vaginalis (L.) DC.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Malakal (Ngemelachel) Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 96)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Malakal (Ngemelachel) Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 62)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 96)
Palau Rock Islands (Chelbacheb)	Aulupse‘el (Ulebsechel) 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. 239) Common, on roadsides and grassy patches, in gardens and plantations.
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	native cultivated	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. 292) In open grasslands at low and medium altitudes.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 21) Voucher cited: Whistler 2446
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 88)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	native cultivated	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 45)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Ha‘apai Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 26) Vouchers cited: Soakai 531, Soakai 628
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Lifuka Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp. 141-142) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15788
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 26) Voucher cited: Soakai 987 (EI)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 26) Voucher cited: Soakai 178
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp. 141-142) Voucher cited: Yuncker 16155
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis (‘Uvea) Island	introduced invasive	Morat, Ph./Veillon, J.-M. (1985) Morat & Veillon, 1985, cited in Meyer, 2007
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis and Futuna Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 21)

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)	Northern Territory	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Open grassy slopes, roadsides, sandy seashores, grasslands in parks; 100-700 m.
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	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Japan Ryukyu Islands	Ryukyu Islands	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	uncertain if introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 12) Weed of uncertain origin
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
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
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced invasive	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 103)
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Cocos (Keeling) Islands	Cocos (Keeling) Islands	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1993) (p. 37)
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. Arthur (1996) (p. 27)
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1995) (voucher ID: PTBG 37907) Taxon name on voucher: Alysicarpus vaginalis (L.) DC.
Comoros Comoro Islands	Comoro Islands	uncertain if native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Maldives Maldive Islands	Maldive Islands	uncertain if native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Maldives Maldive Islands	Malè Atoll		Fosberg, F. R. (1957) (p. 20) Voucher cited: Fosberg 36866 (US)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Rodrigues Island	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Alysicarpus vaginalis, please let us know.