Indigofera spicata Forssk., Fabaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  More information needed, score: 6 (Go to the risk assessment)

Common name(s): [more details]

English: creeping indigo

Habit:  herb

Description:  See Indigofera hendecaphylla.

"Indigofera hendecaphylla Jacq. and Indigofera spicata Forssk. used to be considered as the same species and were then named Indigofera spicata.  They are now considered to be different species.  The literature is therefore confusing.  In Indigofera hendecaphylla the staminal tube is 4-5 mm long, distinctly larger than the calyx, the apex of the keel rounded to obtuse, the leaves have 9-11, narrowly oblong-elliptical to narrowly oblanceolate leaflets.  In Indigofera spicata the staminal tube is 3.0-3.5 mm long, not exceeding the calyx, the keel apex acute, while the leaves have 5-8 obovate leaflets with a cuneate base"   (Hanum &Van der Maesen, 1997; p. 157).

The name Indigofera spicata was usually understood to refer to the species correctly known as Indigofera hendecaphylla" (ILDIS Legume Web). 

Thus, some of the species listed below may be misidentified.  However, the Hawaiian and Midway specimens have now been positively identified as this species.

Habitat/ecology:  In New Caledonia, "trouvé seulement comme mauvaise herbe peu commune mais aurait été introduit comme fourrage" (MacKee, 1994; p. 85).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius, Yemen; naturalized elsewhere (GRIN).

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	Tinian Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 112)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Saipan	Saipan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 112)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	introduced invasive	McCormack, Gerald (2013) Introduced - Recent, Naturalised; Land, lowlands.
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 112)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced invasive	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 93) Vouchers cited: F.R. Fosberg 26330 (BISH), E.Y. Hosaka 3483 (BISH) Naturalized
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Starr, Forest/Martz, Kim/Loope, Lloyd L. (2002) (p. 20) Voucher cited: Starr & Martz 000409-5 (BISH). "As Indigofera hendecaphylla Jacq. but from new examination of specimens and subsequent cofirmation by Peter Wilson (NSW) and Brian Schrire (K) it appears that the Hawaiian plants are actually Indigofera spicata" (Wagner et al., 2012; p. 39).
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 675-676) "Based on Du Puy paper we adopted Indigofera hendecaphylla Jacq. as the correct name, but from new examination of specimens and subsequent cofirmation by Peter Wilson (NSW) and Brian Schrire (K) it appears that the Hawaiian plants are actually Indigofera spicata" (Wagner et al., 2012; p. 39).
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive	Herbst, Derral R./Staples, George W./Imada, Clyde T. (2004) (p. 7) Voucher cited: C. Imada 2002-41 (BISH). "As Indigofera hendecaphylla Jacq. but from new examination of specimens and subsequent cofirmation by Peter Wilson (NSW) and Brian Schrire (K) it appears that the Hawaiian plants are actually Indigofera spicata" (Wagner et al., 2012; p. 39).
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 675-676) "Based on Du Puy paper we adopted Indigofera hendecaphylla Jacq. as the correct name, but from new examination of specimens and subsequent cofirmation by Peter Wilson (NSW) and Brian Schrire (K) it appears that the Hawaiian plants are actually Indigofera spicata" (Wagner et al., 2012; p. 39).
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank L. (2003) (p. 13) Voucher cited: Oppenheimer H70107 (BISH, PTBG). "As Indigofera hendecaphylla Jacq. but from new examination of specimens and subsequent cofirmation by Peter Wilson (NSW) and Brian Schrire (K) it appears that the Hawaiian plants are actually Indigofera spicata" (Wagner et al., 2012; p. 39).
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 675-676) "Based on Du Puy paper we adopted Indigofera hendecaphylla Jacq. as the correct name, but from new examination of specimens and subsequent cofirmation by Peter Wilson (NSW) and Brian Schrire (K) it appears that the Hawaiian plants are actually Indigofera spicata" (Wagner et al., 2012; p. 39).
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced invasive	Thaman, R. R./Fosberg, F. R./Manner, H. I./Hassall, D. C. (1994) (p. 149) Voucher cited: Scully 123N (US)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 85) Vouchers cited: Sarlin 18, MacKee 28846, Ledroit in MacKee 40410
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 156) Recorded as being tried as a pasture species per Sykes. Voucher cited: CHR 150514
United States (other Pacific offshore islands) Midway Atoll	Sand Island	introduced invasive	Starr, Forest/Starr, Kim/Loope, Lloyd (2008) (pp. B-9) Voucher cited: Starr & Starr 080605-01. "As Indigofera hendecaphylla Jacq. but from new examination of specimens and subsequent cofirmation by Peter Wilson (NSW) and Brian Schrire (K) it appears that the Hawaiian plants are actually Indigofera spicata" (Wagner et al., 2012; p. 39).
United States (other Pacific offshore islands) Midway Atoll	Sand Island	introduced invasive	Starr, Forest/Starr, Kim/Loope, Lloyd L. (2010) (p. 64) Voucher cited: Starr & Starr 080604-04 (BISH). "As Indigofera hendecaphylla Jacq. but from new examination of specimens and subsequent cofirmation by Peter Wilson (NSW) and Brian Schrire (K) it appears that the Hawaiian plants are actually Indigofera spicata" (Wagner et al., 2012; p. 39).

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)	uncertain if native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 147)
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. 50) Naturalised
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)

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	probably introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	probably introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Indigofera spicata, please let us know.