Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)

  [   PIER species lists  ]   [   PIER home  ]

Derris elliptica
(Roxb.) Benth., Fabaceae
Click on an image for links to BIGGER PICTURES


Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 7 (Go to the risk assessment)

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

Common name(s): [more details]

Chamorro: bagin, tuba

Chinese: mao yu teng

Chuukese: up, uup, wuup

English: derris, poison vine, tubaroot

Fijian: duva ni vavalagi, nduva, nduva ni vavalangi

Kosraean: oop, op, up

Palauan: deris, dub, duub

Pohnpeian: einuhp, pei nuhb, peinuhp, peinuhpw en Pohnpei, sahl, uhp, uhpin Pohnpei, up, up kitik, upanai, upanyap, upin kitik, upkisetik

Rotuman: fuha niu kini

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
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.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Saipan
Saipan Island introduced
Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 36)
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 [xxx] introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 108)
Federated States of Micronesia
Chuuk Islands
Lukunor (Núkúnooch) Atoll [xxx]   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 introduced
invasive
Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 95)
Vouchers cited: M.J. Balick 3815 (NY, PTBG), M.J. Balick 3895 (NY, PTBG), M.J. Balick 4059 (NY, PTBG), M.J. Balick 4175 (NY), M.J. Balick 4185 (NY, PTBG), A. Dores 80 (BISH, NY, PTBG), E. Eperiam 26 (NY), F.R. Fosberg 26324 (BISH), R. Hobdy 1644 (BISH), E.Y. Hosaka 3513 (BISH), A. Raynor 79 (NY), F. Sohl 29 (NY, PTBG), L. Stemmermann 2963 (BISH), R.L. Ward s.n. (BISH)
Naturalized
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
Pohnpei Islands
Pohnpei Island   National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1997) (voucher ID: PTBG 34653)
Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Federated States of Micronesia
Pohnpei Islands
Pohnpei Island   National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2024) (voucher ID: PTBG 34886)
Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Federated States of Micronesia
Pohnpei Islands
Pohnpei Island   National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1998) (voucher ID: PTBG 34543)
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
Hawai‘i (Big) Island introduced
invasive
Parker, James L./Parsons, Bobby (2012) (p. 60)
Voucher cited: J. Parker & R. Parsons BIED42 (BISH)
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands introduced
cultivated
Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral/Imada, Clyde T. (2000) (p. 21)
Japan (offshore islands)
Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands
Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands introduced
invasive
Toyoda, Takeshi (2003) (p. 281)
Naturalized
Japan (offshore islands)
Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands
Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands introduced
Kato, Hidetoshi (2007)
Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group)
Babeldaob Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 108)
Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group)
Babeldaob Island introduced
invasive
Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 85)
Palau
Palau (Belau ) (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 (Belau ) (main island group)
Koror (Oreor) Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 108)
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. 80)
Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group)
Koror (Oreor) Island   Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1950) (voucher ID: BISH 154187)
Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group)
Koror (Oreor) Island   Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1953) (voucher ID: BISH 154215)
Taxon name on voucher: Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth.
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. 80)
Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group)
Ngerkebesang Island introduced
invasive
Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 80)
Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group)
Peleliu (Beliliou) Island   Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Papua New Guinea
Bismarck Archipelago
Bismarck Archipelago cultivated
Peekel, P. G. [translated by E. E. Henty] (1984) (p. 243)
Common throughout the Archipelago; lanted near houses and in gardens for use in fishing, and half-wild around plantation areas.
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)
Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island) introduced
invasive
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Naturalized
Philippines
Philippine Islands
Philippine Islands native
cultivated
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Philippines
Philippine Islands
Philippine Islands native
Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 299)
In thickets along streams, secondary forsts, etc., at low and medium altitudes; often abundant.
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. (2013)
China
China
China (People's Republic of) introduced
cultivated
Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
As Paraderris elliptica (Wallich) Adema. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan.
Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia (Republic of) introduced
invasive
cultivated
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Java, Kalimantan, Sumatra
Naturalized
Indonesia
Indonesia
West Papua Province (Indonesia) (western New Guinea Island) (formerly Irian Jaya) introduced
invasive
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Naturalized
Malaysia
Malaysia
Malaysia (country of) native
cultivated
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Taiwan
Taiwan Island
Taiwan Island introduced
cultivated
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
Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (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 native
Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1993) (p. 18)
La Réunion (France)
La Réunion Island
La Réunion Island introduced
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
India (Indian Ocean offshore islands)
Andaman Islands
Andaman Islands native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
India (Indian Ocean offshore islands)
Nicobar Islands
Nicobar Islands native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Mauritius
Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)
Mauritius Island introduced
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)

Comments:  Often confused with D. malaccensis.

Control:  If you know of control methods for Derris elliptica, please let us know.


Need more info? Have questions? Comments? Information to contribute? Contact PIER! (pier@hear.org)

  [   PIER species lists  ]   [   PIER home  ]

This page was created on 1 JAN 1999 and was last updated on 6 DEC 2009.