Crotalaria juncea L., Fabaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Evaluate, score: 1 (Go to the risk assessment)

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: shu ma

English: Indian hemp, Madras hemp, sann hemp, sunhelp, sunn crotalaria, sunn hemp

Filipino: karay-kagay, putokputukan

French: chanvre du Bengale, crotolaire jonciforme

Hindi: san

Spanish: cáñamo san

Habit:  herb

Description:  "An annual herb up to 2.5 m tall; stems erect, ribbed, subappressed pubescent; leaves simple, oblong to oblanceolate, apex acute to obtuse, stipules filiform, ca. 2 mm long; flowers 15-20 mm long, in terminal inflorescences 10-25 cm long, bracts narrowly lanceolate, 3-5 mm long, calyx 15-20 mm long, weakly bilabiate, the lobes 3-4 times as long as the tube, velutinous; petals 15-25 mm long, bright yellow, with dark red or brown streaks, the standard to 25 mm long, the keel to 20 mm long, with a twisted beak, the wings shorter than the keel; pods cylindrical 2.5-3.5 (-5.5) cm long, velutinous, sessile; seeds 6-15 per pod, cordiform, 4-6 mm long, light brown to black"  (Wagner et al., 1997; pp. 56-57).

Habitat/ecology:  "Although generally considered a tropical or subtropical crop, sunn hemp is drought resistant and is widely adaptable to different soil types. Its tolerance to salt and frost is low. For fibre production, light, loamy well-drained soils are preferred; on low-lying or clay soils it achieves vigorous growth, but the bast fibre is coarser and yields are lower. PH of 5-8.4 is a suitable range. Mean annual temperature: 9-30 deg. C. Mean annual rainfall: 170-1 500 mm. Altitude: 0-300 m"  (Agroforestree database).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Considered native to India, it is widely cultivated as a cover crop and for fiber  (Wagner et al., 1997; p. 57). Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, exact native range in south Asia obscure; cultivated throughtout the tropics (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim (2008) (p. 13)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 269) Voucher cited: DA (FDA 13401)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Shannon, Robynn K./Herbst, Derral R. (1997) (p. 57) Voucher cited: Wagner et al. 6392 (US)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced cultivated	Staples, George W./Imada, Clyde T./Herbst, Derral R. (2003) (p. 11) Voucher cited: Imada 2001-71 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Staples, George W./Imada, Clyde T./Herbst, Derral R. (2003) (p. 11) East Maui. Voucher cited: R. Hobdy 3593 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Shannon, Robynn K./Herbst, Derral R. (1997) (p. 57) Voucher cited: Sasakawa s.n. (BISH)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll	extirpated	Vander Velde, Nancy (2003) (p. 96)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 148) Voucher cited: CHR 150545
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Palau Islands (main island group)		Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim (2010) (p. 29)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)

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	introduced invasive	National Herbarium of New South Wales (2013) Naturalised
Australia Australia (continental)	Northern Territory	introduced invasive	National Herbarium of New South Wales (2013) Naturalised
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive	National Herbarium of New South Wales (2013) Naturalised
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced invasive cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) "Sparse forests, along trails; below 100-2000 m".
China China	Hong Kong	introduced cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 141)
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 184)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 29) Naturalised
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) "Sparse forests, along trails; below 100-2000 m".

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	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
India (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Andaman Islands	Andaman Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced	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)

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	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Crotalaria juncea, please let us know.