Desmodium gangeticum (L.) DC., Fabaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Hedysarum gangeticum L.; Meibomia gangetica (L.) Kuntze

Common name(s): [more details]

Chamorro: atis-aniti, tomates aniti

Chinese: da ye shan ma huang

Japanese: tama-tsunagi

Kwara‘ae: tetekui

Mangarevan: tavari

Habit:  herb

Description: 

Genus: "Perennial herbs, subshrubs, shrubs, or rarely small trees, pubescent with straight or uncinate hairs.  Leaves with 1 or 3 (5,7) leaflets, stipellate, stipules scarious, distinct.  Flowers papilionaceous, in terminal and axillary or rarely leaf-opposed, racemose, paniculate, or rarely fasciculate inflorescences, principal bracts striate, persistent or caducous, each subtending (1) 2 to several flowers, sometimes with secondary bracts subtending flowers, bracteoles absent or minute and borne at base of calyx; calyx campanulate, 2-lipped or subequally 5-lobed; corolla exceeding the calyx, standard broadly obovate to suborbicular, rounded or emarginate, wings oblong, usually dark-colored, keel petals long-clawed; stamens 10, connate into a tube or the upper stamen distinct to middle or base; ovules 2 to numerous.  Pods compressed, (1) 2-jointed to many-jointed, constricted on lower or both sutures to form 1-seeded indehiscent articles, faces reticulate-veined, usually pubescent, the hairs uncinate and/or straight.  Seeds compressed, ellipsoid to subquadrate, often rimarillate"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 665).

Species:  A coarse herb to 70 cm high, somewhat woody near base.  The petals vary from purple to bluish or white (Smith, 1985)."Herbaceous, or more or less woody perennial herb from a few cm to 1.5 m tall, arising from a somewhat branched root system; stems prostrate to erect or arching, angular, striate, uncinulate-puberulet and abundantly strigose with upwardly directed tapering hairs.  Leaves 1-foliolate; stipules slightly oblique, ovate-long-attenuate, 3.5-13 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, strongly striate, minutely puberulent and somewhat stiffly pilose over outer surface, ciliate, persistent or caducous; petioles puberulent throughout, moderately to densely long strigose especially on adaxial side, 0.4-2 cm long; lamina ovate- or elliptic-acuminate (to –acute), obtuse at base, 1.2-15.5 cm long, 0.9-5 cm wide, minutely uncinulate-puberulent throughout with long tapering hairs along midrib and sometimes scattered over surface above, abundantly long-pilose beneath.  Inflorescence of axillary and terminal racemes; rhachis more or less similar to stem but becoming less densely or not at all strigose, and abundantly uncinulate-puberulent to -pubescent; primary bracts each usually subtending a fascicle of 3 or more pedicels, linear- to lanceolate-attenuate, 2-7.5 mm long, 0.3-1 mm wide, puberulent on the dorsal surface and stiffly pilose, ciliate; secondary bracts each subtending one pedicel, linear to subulate, ciliate, 1.5-3 mm long, 0.3-0.5 mm wide, all persistent; pedicels rather densely uncinulate-puberulent, stiff and stout, 3-8 mm long.  Flowers variable in colour (probably changing with age and humidity), white to red or purple or a combination such as pink and purple or mauve and white.  Calyx pale green tinged reddish, minutely puberulent and strigose with stiff tapering hairs throughout, teeth of both lobes ciliate, central tooth of lower lobe 2.2-3.3 mm long, lateral teeth slightly shorter, upper bifid lobe 2-2.5 mm long.  Standard obovate, retuse, 3.2-4.5 mm long; wings more or less oblong, obtuse, shortly clawed, slightly auricled, 2.7-5 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide.  Fruit sessile to shortly stipitate, up to 7-8-articled, upper suture essentially straight, slightly indented at isthmi, lower suture curved, indented more deeply; articles uncinulate-puberulent on surfaces with some stiff tapering hairs scattered on sutures, 2-3 mm long and wide.  Seed reniform, pale, 2 mm long, 1.5 mm wide" (Gillett et al., 1971; pp. 467-468).

Habitat/ecology:  In Fiji, "sparingly naturalized in grassland near sea level" (Smith, 1985; p. 190).  "In Guam this is a weed of old fields especially in the southern villages and pastures" (Stone, 1970; pp.332-333).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  "Throughout the Old World tropics, now also introduced into Pacific areas as far east as the Societies" (Smith, 1985; p. 190).

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	Anatahan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 109)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Anatahan Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 27) Vouchers cited: Falanruw 1681 (US), Falanruw 1692 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 109)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 109)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 16) Vouchers: Flynn 7014 (PTBG, BISH, US), Flynn 7026 (PTBG, BISH, US)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2002) (voucher ID: PTBG 347) Taxon name on voucher: Desmodium gangeticum
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2002) (voucher ID: PTBG 359) Taxon name on voucher: Desmodium gangeticum
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 16)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Kandavu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 190) Vouchers cited: DA 2999, DA 3000, DA 2 Sparingly naturalized.
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: B. Huguenin s.n. (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced	St. John, Harold (1988) (p. 15) Voucher cited: St. John 14482 (BISH)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 149) Voucher cited: Grant 5305
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 149) Vouchers cited: As Seale s.n. [1902], BRY 26307
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1981) (voucher ID: PTBG 37294) Taxon name on voucher: Desmodium gangeticum (L.) DC.
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Hao (Hau) Atoll	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rimatara (Rimitara) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Tubuai Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (pp. 332-333) Voucher cited: Stone 3926 (GUAM)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 109)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 109)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Ohashi, H. (1973)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1981) (voucher ID: BNM 3005) Taxon name on voucher: Desmodium gangeticum (L.) DC.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Kayangel (Ngcheangel) Island		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 109)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island		Ohashi, H. (1973)
Papua New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago	Bismarck Archipelago		Verdcourt, B. (1979)
Papua New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago	Bismarck Archipelago	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Papua New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago	Bismarck Archipelago		Peekel, P. G. [translated by E. E. Henty] (1984) (p. 235) Everywhere in bush, at roadsides, on cleared land and rubbish heaps.
Papua New Guinea Bougainville Islands	Bougainville Island		Foreman, D. B. (1971) (p. 45)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)		Verdcourt, B. (1979)
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. 285) At low and medium altitudes in tickets, open secondary forests, waste places, etd., common.
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands		Verdcourt, B. (1979)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	native	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 65)

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)	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)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) "Secondary forests, waste grasslands; 300-900 m".
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 143)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Indonesia Indonesia	West Papua Province (Indonesia) (western New Guinea Island) (formerly Irian Jaya)	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Japan Ryukyu Islands	Ryukyu Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) "Secondary forests, waste grasslands; 300-900 m".
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
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Maldives Maldive Islands	Maldive Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Maldives Maldive Islands	Maldive Islands		Fosberg, F. R. (1957) (p. 21)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	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 Desmodium gangeticum, please let us know.