Derris malaccensis (Benth.) Prain, Fabaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Paraderris montana (Benth.) F. Adema

Common name(s): [more details]

Chuukese: wúún, wúúp

English: New Guinea creeper, tubaroot

Fijian: nduva, nduva ni niukini, tuva

Maori (Cook Islands): ‘ora pāpua, ‘ōra pāpua, rākau pāpua

Niuean: akau niukini, niukini

Samoan: ‘ava niukini, ‘ava niukini, fue fai ‘ava

Tongan: kava fisi

Yapese: yuub

Habit:  vine

Description:  "Liana or scrambling shrub; leaves with 5-7 leaflets, rachis and petioles glabrous or sparingly strigillose, the proximal pair of leaflets not with deflexed petiolules, the leaflet blades 10-15 (23) cm long and 5-7 (10) cm wide or sometimes smaller, elliptic, usually gradually caudate-acuminate; inflorescences 10-16 cm long; calyx pink; petals white to pink, the banner glabrous; pods to 7.5 cm long and 2.7 cm wide, the wings on both suture ca 2-4 mm wide."  (Welsh, 1998)

"A liana or scrambling shrub, cultivated and doubtless sometimes naturalized near sea level or slightly inland.  [T]he calyx is pink and the petals white to pink; the fruits, up to 7.5 x 2.7 cm, are winged on both sutures with wings about 2 mm and 4 mm broad."  (Smith, 1985; pp. 168-169).

Habitat/ecology:  "The vigorous climbing or trailing vines usually grow in semi-shade and form quite a dense covering over the ground or on other plants"  (Sykes, 1970; p. 150).  In Fiji, "cultivated and doubtless sometimes naturalized near sea level or slightly inland"  (Smith, 1985; pp. 168-169).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Southern Burma into Malaysia. Widely cultivated in the Pacific.

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 invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 39)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Olosega Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 42)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 34)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Aitutaki Atoll		Sykes, Bill (year unknown)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 80)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		Sykes, Bill (year unknown)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1991) (voucher ID: BISH 664488) Taxon name on voucher: Derris malaccensis (Benth.) Prain
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island		Sykes, Bill (year unknown)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island		Sykes, Bill (year unknown)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Miti‘aro Island		Sykes, Bill (year unknown)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Sykes, Bill (year unknown)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 154146) Taxon name on voucher: Derris malaccensis (Benth.) Prain
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 154147) Taxon name on voucher: Derris malaccensis (Benth.) Prain
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1927) (voucher ID: BISH 154148) Taxon name on voucher: Derris malaccensis (Benth.) Prain
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Merlin, M./Kigfas, A./Keene, T./Juvik, J. (1996) (pp. 91, 112)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Lakemba Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 168-169) Voucher cited: Garnock-Jones-769
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 168-169) Vouchers cited: Degener 15038, Gillespie 3664Vouchers cited:
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1927) (voucher ID: BISH 154135) Taxon name on voucher: Derris malaccensis (Benth.) Prain
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1941) (voucher ID: BISH 154136) Taxon name on voucher: Derris malaccensis (Benth.) Prain
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2008)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Bora Bora Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1993) (voucher ID: BISH 658441) Taxon name on voucher: Derris malaccensis (Benth.) Prain
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 148) Voucher cited: Fosberg 62986
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1992) (voucher ID: BISH 643302) Taxon name on voucher: Derris malaccensis (Benth.) Prain
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1987) (p. 35) Vouchers cited: Fosberg 64761 (US), Morris 28 (US)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1985) (voucher ID: BISH 614960) Taxon name on voucher: Derris malaccensis (Benth.) Prain
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 148) Voucher cited: Moore 570
French Polynesia Society Islands	Society Islands		Welsh, S. L. (1998)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1990) (voucher ID: BISH 642961) Taxon name on voucher: Derris malaccensis (Benth.) Prain
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tetiaroa Atoll	introduced	Sachet, M.-H./Fosberg, F. R. (1983) (p. 43) Voucher cited: Sachet 1644 (US)
New Guinea (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea) New Guinea Island	New Guinea Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 150) Voucher cited: CHR 150523
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 7)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A./Atherton, J. (1997) (p. 34) Voucher cited: Whistler 10774 Relict of former cultivation.
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1943) (pp. 52-63) Misidentified as Derris elliptica (Roxburgh) Bentham. Infrequent. Voucher cited: Yuncker 9984 Infrequent.
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2009)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1931) (voucher ID: BISH 154144) Taxon name on voucher: Derris malaccensis (Benth.) Prain
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 66)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 66)

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)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2009)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2009)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)

Comments:  Often confused with D. elliptica.

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

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

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

Other Latin names:  Paraderris montana (Benth.) F. Adema

References:

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1927. Voucher specimen #BISH 154135 (Gillespie, J.W. 3664.1).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1927. Voucher specimen #BISH 154148 (Wilder, G.P. 550).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1929. Voucher specimen #BISH 154146 (Wilder, G.P. 829).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1929. Voucher specimen #BISH 154147 (Wilder, G.P. 829).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1931. Voucher specimen #BISH 154144 (Christophersen, E. 2480).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1941. Voucher specimen #BISH 154136 (Degener, O. 15038).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1985. Voucher specimen #BISH 614960 (Morris, J. 28).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1990. Voucher specimen #BISH 642961 (Florence 10497).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1991. Voucher specimen #BISH 664488 (Sykes, W.R. 474671).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1992. Voucher specimen #BISH 643302 (Florence 11674).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1993. Voucher specimen #BISH 658441 (Florence 11991).

Fosberg, F. R. 1997. Preliminary checklist of the flowering plants and ferns of the Society Islands. Ed. by David R. Stoddart. U. Cal. Berkeley.

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. 1987. Flora of Maupiti, Society Islands. The Smithsonian Institution. Atoll Research Bulletin 294:1-70.

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

Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. 2008. Flora of the Marquesas Islands. National Tropical Botanical Garden and the Smithsonian Institution. Online database.

McCormack, Gerald. 2008. Cook Islands Biodiversity Database, Version 2007.2. Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga.

Merlin, M./Juvik, J. 1996. Irá me neeniier nón Chuuk: Plants and their Environments in Chuuk. Program on Environment, East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, 121 pp. .

Merlin, M./Kigfas, A./Keene, T./Juvik, J. 1996. Giddi nge gakiiy nu Wa‘ab: Plants, People and Ecology in Yap State. Program on Environment, East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, 121 pp.

Sachet, M.-H./Fosberg, F. R. 1983. An ecological reconnaissance of Tetiaroa Atoll, Society Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 275. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 67 pp. + photos.

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./Flynn, Tim. 2000. Observations on invasive plant species in American Samoa.  USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 51 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2000. Report to the Government of Niue on invasive plant species of environmental concern.  USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 34 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2001. Report to the Kingdom of Tonga on invasive plant species of environmental concern.  USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 78 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2002. Report to the Government of the Cook Islands on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 146 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2002. Report to the Government of Samoa on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 83 pp.

Sykes, Bill. 0. Bill Sykes, pers. com.

Sykes, W. R. 1970. Contributions to the flora of Niue. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Bulletin 200, Wellington. 321 pp.

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

Welsh, S. L. 1998. Flora Societensis: A summary revision of the flowering plants of the Society Islands. E.P.S. Inc., Orem, Utah. 420 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 1984. Annotated list of Samoan plant names. Economic Botany 38:464.489.

Whistler, W. A. 1990. Ethnobotany of the Cook Islands: The plants, their Maori names, and their uses. Allertonia 5(4):347-424.

Whistler, W. A./Atherton, J. 1997. Botanical survey of the Huvalu Forest Conservation Area, Niue. Unpublished technical report. 76 pp.

Yuncker, T. G. 1943. The flora of Niue Island. Bishop Mus. Bull. 178. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 126 pp.