Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth., Fabaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Paraderris elliptica (Wall.) F. Adema; Pongamia elliptica Wallich

Common name(s): [more details]

Chamorro: bagin, tuba

Chuukese: up, uup

English: derris, tubaroot

Fijian: duva ni vavalagi, nduva, nduva ni vavalangi

Kosraean: oop, op

Palauan: deris, dub

Pohnpeian: peinuhp, uhp, up, upanai, upanyap, upkesetik

Yapese: yuub

Habit:  vine

Description:  "Scandent shrub or liane 5-12 m long, velvety pubescent; shoot apex often leafless for several meters. Leaves pinnate, 15-30 cm long, mostly with 11-15 leaflets; leaflets narrowly oblong-obovate, 4-25 cm long, rounded at base, entire, rounded to shortly acuminate, rusty-velvety, somewhat glabrescent, glaucous beneath; petiole 3-7 mm long. Flowers usually in stalked clusters of 3, combined into pseudorachemes 15-25 cm long, rusty pubescent. Calyx 6-8 mm long, shallowly toothed. Petals pink; standard 13-17 mm diam., with2 auricles at base, softly ferruginous-hairy outside; wings and keel with interlocking longitudinal folds. Fruit elliptic to oblong-elliptic, 3.5-7 cm long, flat, leathery, narrowly winged. Seeds 1-3, reniform, flat" (Du Puy, 1993; p. 210).

Habitat/ecology:  Cultivated and naturalized to 400 m in Fiji (Smith, 1985; pp. 167-168). Observed climbing over small trees and shrubs on Rota (Space, Waterhouse, Denslow & Nelson, 2000).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  India into Malesia. Introduced as a fish poison.

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	Pagan Island	introduced	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 36)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1984) (voucher ID: BISH 635222) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 108)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 593208) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island	introduced	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 36)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 108)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 154185) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Samuel, Poona (year unknown)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Dublon (Tonowas) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 108)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Dublon (Tonowas) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1935) (voucher ID: BISH 29150) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Fefan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 108)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Fefan Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 154221) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Lukunor (Núkúnooch) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 108)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Lukunor (Núkúnooch) Atoll		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1950) (voucher ID: BISH 154223) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Murilo (Mwiriné) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 108)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Namoluk (Nómwunuuk) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 108)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Namoluk (Nómwunuuk) Atoll		Marshall, Mae/Fosberg, F. R. (1975) (p. 36) Voucher cited: Marshall 45 (US)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Namonuito (Namonweito, Nómwun Wiité) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 108)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Satawan Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 108)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Satawan Atoll		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1950) (voucher ID: BISH 154216) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Udot Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 108)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Udot Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 154186) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Ulalu (Romonum) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1965) (voucher ID: BISH 154224) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 108)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 154219) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 154220) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 108)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	native	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy (2005) (p. 17) Voucher cited: Lorence 9418 (PTBG)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 154218) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1977) (voucher ID: BISH 435303) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 108)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Glassman, S. F. (1952) (p. 76) Voucher cited: Glassman 2568 (US)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 154217) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 154222) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1977) (voucher ID: BISH 435305) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 496983) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 108)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1936) (voucher ID: BISH 29181) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1948) (voucher ID: BISH 154214) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1936) (voucher ID: BISH 697352) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Rotuma Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1938) (voucher ID: BISH 614900) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 167-168) Vouchers cited: DA 16029, DA 14579, DA 10899
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1968) (voucher ID: BISH 32848) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1965) (voucher ID: BISH 32849) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1971) (voucher ID: BISH 448548) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced cultivated	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (pp. 330-331) Rarely cultivated.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 108)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawaiian Islands	introduced cultivated	Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral/Imada, Clyde T. (2000) (p. 21)
Japan (offshore islands) Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands	Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands	introduced invasive	Toyoda, Takeshi (2003) (p. 281) Naturalized
Japan (offshore islands) Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands	Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands	introduced	Kato, Hidetoshi (2007)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 108)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 85)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1981) (voucher ID: BNM 3113) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 108)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 80)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1950) (voucher ID: BISH 154187) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1953) (voucher ID: BISH 154215) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Malakal Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 80)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 80)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2009)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Niuatoputapu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1976) (voucher ID: BISH 456086) Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2009)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Indonesia Indonesia	Irian Jaya (West Papua) (Indonesia) (western New Guinea Island)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2009)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)

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	native	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1993) (p. 18)
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2009)
India (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Andaman Islands	Andaman Islands	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2009)
India (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Nicobar Islands	Nicobar Islands	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2009)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2009)

Comments:  Often confused with D. malaccensis.

Additional information:
Report (PDF format) from US Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Haleakala Field Station, Hawaii "Plants of Hawaii".
Poison vine (Derris elliptica): an alien plant report.
Information from the World Agroforestry Centre's AgroForestryTree Database.

Additional online information about Derris elliptica is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Derris elliptica as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Derris elliptica may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

Other Latin names:  Paraderris elliptica (Wall.) F. Adema; Pongamia elliptica Wallich

References:

Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.). 1981. Voucher specimen #BNM3113(Timberlake, J. 3113).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1935. Voucher specimen #BISH 29150 (Takamatsu, M. 74).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1936. Voucher specimen #BISH 29181 (Takamatsu, M. 1816).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1936. Voucher specimen #BISH 697352 (Takamatsu, M. 1816).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1938. Voucher specimen #BISH 614900 (St.John, H. 19618).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1946. Voucher specimen #BISH 154185 (Fosberg, F.R. 24733).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1946. Voucher specimen #BISH 154186 (Fosberg, F.R. 24495).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1946. Voucher specimen #BISH 154217 (Fosberg, F.R. 26324).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1946. Voucher specimen #BISH 154218 (Fosberg, F.R. 26547).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1946. Voucher specimen #BISH 154219 (Fosberg, F.R. 24436).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1946. Voucher specimen #BISH 154220 (Fosberg, F.R. 26023).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1946. Voucher specimen #BISH 154221 (Fosberg, F.R. 24513).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1946. Voucher specimen #BISH 154222 (Hosaka, E.Y. 3513).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1948. Voucher specimen #BISH 154214 (Wong, C.C.Y. 457).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1950. Voucher specimen #BISH 154187 (Fosberg, F.R. 32093).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1950. Voucher specimen #BISH 154216 (Anderson, D. 1078).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1950. Voucher specimen #BISH 154223 (Anderson, D. 2120).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1953. Voucher specimen #BISH 154215 (Beardsley, J.W.; collector's voucher number unknown).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1965. Voucher specimen #BISH 32849 (Koroiveibau, D. 14579).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1965. Voucher specimen #BISH 154224 (Stone, B.C.M. 5276).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1968. Voucher specimen #BISH 32848 (Parham, J.W. 16029).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1971. Voucher specimen #BISH 448548 (Weiner, M.A. MW-71-7-104).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1976. Voucher specimen #BISH 456086 (Kirch, P.V. 258).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1977. Voucher specimen #BISH 435303 (Stemmermann, R.L. 2654).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1977. Voucher specimen #BISH 435305 (Stemmermann, R.L. 2963).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1982. Voucher specimen #BISH 496983 (Hobdy, R.W. 1644).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1982. Voucher specimen #BISH 593208 (Herbst, D.R. 6662).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1984. Voucher specimen #BISH 635222 (Herbst, D.R. 7243).

Fosberg, F. R./Otobed, D./Sachet, M.-H./Oliver, R. L./Powell, D. A./Canfield, J. E. 1980. Vascular plants of Palau with vernacular names. Department of Botany, The Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 43 pp.

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce. 1979. A geographical checklist of the Micronesian dicotyledonae. Micronesica 15:1-295.

Glassman, S. F. 1952. The flora of Ponape. Bishop Mus. Bull. 209: 1-152.

ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre. 2009. International Legume Database & Information Service. Online searchable database.

Kato, Hidetoshi. 2007. Herbarium records of Makino Herbarium, Tokyo Metropolitan University. Personal communication.

Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy. 2005. Botanical survey of the Yela River valley, Kosrae, F.S.M. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Kalaheo, Hawaii. 19 pp.

Marshall, Mae/Fosberg, F. R. 1975. The natural history of Namoluk Atoll, eastern Caroline Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 189. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 53 pp + photos.

Mune, T. L./Parham, J. W. 1967. The declared noxious weeds of Fiji and their control. Third edition. Department of Agriculture, Fiji. Bulletin No. 48. 87 pp.

Orchard, Anthony E., ed. 1993. Flora of Australia. Vol. 50, Oceanic islands 2. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.

Raulerson, L. 2006. Checklist of Plants of the Mariana Islands. University of Guam Herbarium Contribution 40:1-69. .

Samuel, Poona. 0. Poona Samuel, pers. com.

Smith, Albert C. 1985. Flora Vitiensis nova: a new flora of Fiji. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii. Volume 3. 758 pp.

Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar. 2003. Report to the Republic of Palau on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 174 pp.

Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral/Imada, Clyde T. 2000. Survey of invasive or potentially invasive cultivated plants in Hawai‘i. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers No. 65. 35 pp.

Stone, Benjamin C. 1970. The flora of Guam. Micronesica 6:1-659.

Toyoda, Takeshi. 2003. Flora of the Bonin Islands. Aboc & Co. 522 pp.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2009. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.