Crotalaria retusa L., 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)

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: diao qun cao

English: devil bean, devil-bean, rattlebox, rattlepod, rattleweed, wedge-leaf crotalaria, wedge-leaf rattlepod

Spanish: cascabel fétido

Tongan: piini?

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Annual herbs; stems erect, up to 13 dm long, ridged, appressed short-pubescent.  Leaves simple, oblanceolate, 3.3-9.2 cm long, 1-3.8 cm wide, veins 5-8 on each side of midvein, upper surface glabrous and punctate, lower surface appressed short-pubescent, apex rounded or occasionally acute, usually retuse, base cuneate, petioles up to 3 mm long, stipules narrowly rhombic-ovate, up to 0.5 mm long.  Flowers 17-24 mm long, 13-23 in terminal, somewhat lax inflorescences, rachis up to 27 cm long (incl. peduncle), bracts narrowly triangular, 2-2.5 mm long, recurved, usually persistent, bracteoles at or above mid-pedicel, narrowly triangular; calyx appressed short-pubescent, the tube 4.5-6.5 mm long, the lobes 5.5-10 mm long, lateral lobes distinct at apex; petals yellow with fine purple lines near base, standard 14-18 mm long, 17-25 mm wide, wings oblong-lanceolate, 13-15 mm long, 9-11 mm wide, keel petals short, beak twisted, margins ciliate; elongated anthers 2.8-3.1 mm long, short ones 0.8-1 mm long.  Pods dark brown to black at maturity, 3-4 cm long, nonstipitate, glabrous.  Seeds ca. 23 per pod, tan to brown, up to 4.5 mm long, smooth"  (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 662-663).

Habitat/ecology:  In Hawai‘i, "escaped from cultivation and naturalized in disturbed sites such as roadsides, dump sites and urban areas, 10-60 m" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 662-663).  In Fiji, "adventive in grassland and along roadsides near sea level" (Smith, 1985; pp. 268-269).  "Uncommon to occasional in disturbed places" (Whistler, 1988; p. 22). Arid lowlands in the Galápagos Islands (McMullen, 1999; p. 202). In New Guinea, "a weed of roadsides, stream banks and grazed grassland. At low altitudes, mainly in areas with low seasonal rainfall" (Henty & Pritchard, 1975; p. 117).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Asia or coastal eastern Africa (Smith, 1985; 268-269). Warm areas of Africa, Asia and Australia, exact native range obscure; widely naturalized in 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
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		Whistler, W. A. (1990) Voucher cited: Whistler 1383
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 90)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Anon. (1988) (p. 1)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island	introduced	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 36)
Cook Islands Cook Islands	Cook Islands	cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Chuuk Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 90)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced invasive	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 91) Voucher cited: A. rinehart LR25228 (BISH) Naturalized
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 90)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1968) (voucher ID: BNM 1249) Taxon name on voucher: Crotalaria retusa L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ovalau Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 268-269) Voucher cited: DA 5682
Fiji Fiji Islands	Taveuni Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 268-269) Voucher cited: Smith 8107
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 268-269) Vouchers cited: Greenwood 27, 27Z; DA 13678
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: B.G. Decker 2720 (PAP) Adventice
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 2154 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1963) (voucher ID: PTBG 13216) Taxon name on voucher: Crotalaria retusa
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2002) (voucher ID: PTBG 41422) Taxon name on voucher: Crotalaria retusa L.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Tahuata (Tuhuata) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
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		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2003) (voucher ID: PTBG 40852) Taxon name on voucher: Crotalaria retusa
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 146) Voucher cited: N. Kraus 1649
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 146) Voucher cited: H.M. Smith 78
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 146) Vouchers cited: BRY 25389, BRY 26406
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 3482 (PAP), J. Florence 3693 (PAP), J. Florence 10341 (PAP), P. Morat 6931 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 146) Voucher cited: Maclet 74
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: W.A. Whistler & M. Guérin 4 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1981) (voucher ID: PTBG 37295) Taxon name on voucher: Crotalaria retusa L.
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 9075 (PAP) Adventice
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 329) Vouchers cited: Stone 3977 (GUAM), Stone 4922 (GUAM), Fosberg 39243
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 107)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1980) (voucher ID: PTBG 23137) Taxon name on voucher: Crotalaria retusa
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1965) (voucher ID: PTBG 23138) Taxon name on voucher: Crotalaria retusa
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 662-663)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 662-663)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 662-663)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 662-663)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 662-663)
Kiribati Line Islands	Tabuaeran (Fanning) Atoll	introduced invasive	Wester, Lyndon (1985) (p. 24)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Tarawa Atoll		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 90) Presence not verified.
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced invasive	Thaman, R. R./Fosberg, F. R./Manner, H. I./Hassall, D. C. (1994) (p. 144) Voucher cited: Scully 158N (US)
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 90)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 82) Vouchers cited: Däniker 2881, MacKee 15845, Cherrier in MacKee 40538
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Peleliu (Beliliou) Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 8) Planted at the Dolphin Bay Resort. Voucher: Lorence 9740 (PTBG, BISH, BNM, NY, US)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Peleliu (Beliliou) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2008) (voucher ID: PTBG 32) Taxon name on voucher: Crotalaria retusa
Papua New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago	Bismarck Archipelago	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
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. 117) At low altitudes, mainly in areas with low seasonal rainfall.
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)		Waterhouse, D. F. (1997) (p. 60)
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. 273) In open usually damp places in the settled areas at low and medium altitudes.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Western Samoa Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 22)
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 22)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Niuatoputapu Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 138) Voucher cited: Hülimann 375
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Tafahi Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 138) Voucher cited: Hülimann 581
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)		Waterhouse, D. F. (1997) (p. 60)

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)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 103)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 103)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) "Montane grasslands, seashore sandy areas. Guangdong, Hainan".
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 141)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Negara Brunei Darussalam Brunei	Brunei (Negara Brunei Darussalam)	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. 29) Weed of uncertain origin
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	uncertain if native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (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) Cocos (Keeling) Islands	Cocos (Keeling) Islands	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1993) (p. 37)
Comoros Comoro Islands	Comoro Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Maldives Maldive Islands	Malè Atoll		Fosberg, F. R. (1957) (p. 21) Voucher cited: Fosberg 36989 (US)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Rodrigues Island	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Frégate Island		Robertson, S. A./Todd, D. M. (1983) (p. 51) Voucher cited: Robertson 2684
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

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