Abrus precatorius L., Fabaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Reject, score: 16 (Go to the risk assessment).

Common name(s): [more details]

Chamorro: kolales halomtano, kulales halom tano

Chinese: xiang si zi

English: bead vine, black-eyed Susan, coral bead plant, coralbean, crab's-eye, Indian licorice, jequirity, jequirity bean, jumbie bean, licorice plant, licorice vine, love bean, lucky bean, minnie-minnies, prayer beads, prayerbead, precatory, precatory bean, red beadvine, rosary pea, weatherplant, weathervine

Fijian: lele, lere ndamu, leredamu, ndiri ndamu, nggiri ndamu

French: guen léglise

Hawaiian: pūkiawe, pūkiawe lei, pūkiawe lenalena, pūpūkiawe

Japanese: toazuki

Maori (Cook Islands): kirikiri rangi, kōviriviri mata tako, koviriviri mata-tako, pitipiti‘ō, uiui, uiui, uiui

Niuean: mata‘ila, pomea mata‘ila

Pohnpeian: kaigus, kaikes en iak

Samoan: fuefue laulili‘i, fuefue laulili‘i, matamoso, matamoso

Spanish: ojos de cangrejo, peronías

Tahitian: pepitio, pitipiti‘o

Tongan: matamoe, matamoho, moho

Habit:  vine

Description:  "Lianas. Stem slender, much branched, sparsely white strigose. Leaves paripinnate; leaflets 8-13-paired, opposite; petiolule short; blades suboblong, 1-2 x 0.4-0.8 cm, membranous, sparsely white strigose abaxially, glabrous adaxially, rounded at base, truncate and with mucro at apex. Racemes axillary, 3-8 cm. Flowers small, dense. Calyx campanulate, 4-toothed, white strigose. Corolla purple; standard with triangular claw; wings and keels narrower. Stamens 9. Ovary hairy. Legumes oblong, 2-3.5 x 0.5-1.5 cm, leathery, dehiscent, with 2-6 seeds. Seeds lustrous, black in lower part, red in upper part, subglobose"  (Flora of China online).

"An annual woody, slender climber, sometimes reaching a length of 10 m, branching, deciduous; leaves paripinnate, 5-8 cm long, with 10-20 pairs of thin, pale-green, oblong, very short-petiolulate, blunt-tipped but minutely mucronate leaflets each 1-3 cm long; flowers many on elongated axillary racemes, pink, lavender, or white; pods elliptic, up to 4 cm long, dehiscent, turgid, at first silky-pubescent, beaked; seeds 3-6, globose, scarlet-red with a large black spot, glossy, hard, about 3.5 mm thick, pink when immature."  (Stone, 1970; p. 322).

Habitat/ecology:  "Tropical hammocks, open forests, pine rockland, disturbed sites.  The plant establishes well in disturbed sites and spreads rapidly after fires"  (Weber, 2003; p. 11).  In Hawai‘i, "naturalized in low elevation, dry, disturbed sites" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 638-639); "a weed of pastures and non-cropland"  (Motooka et al., 2003). In Tonga, "frequent in thickets" (Yuncker, 1959; p. 144).

"In Puerto Rico, crab's eye grows in subtropical moist (1000 to 2000 mm of precipitation), subtropical dry forest (below 1000 mm of precipitation), and the lower extreme of the subtropical wet forest type on all drainage classes except very poorly drained and on soils of all textures and parent materials. All types of topography are colonized from near sea level to 1,000 m in elevation (in India) (Parrotta 2001). Crab's eye competes well with weeds and brush in abandoned farmland, disturbed areas, and early secondary forest. It requires disturbance to maintain itself in dense, closed stands"  (Wildland shrubs of the United States and its territories).

Propagation:  Seed, spread by birds (Weber, 2003; p. 11).  "Humans have been responsible for the long-distance transport that has resulted in the current pantropical distribution. Birds may move the seeds short distances either through curiosity or by being momentarily deceived into thinking that they are edible (personal communication with Joseph Wonderly, IITF, Río Piedras, Puerto Rico). Lateral extension of the vines also disperses the seeds short distances"  (Wildland shrubs of the United States and its territories).

Native range:  "Tropical Africa and Madagascar to tropical Asia, eastward to Australia and in the Pacific to the Tuamotus, now widely naturalized in America" (Smith, 1985; pp. 162-164).

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		Whistler, W. A. (1980) (p. 160)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ofu Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1945) (p. 42) Voucher cited: Garber 1111 (BISH)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ofu Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2001) (voucher ID: PTBG 35362) Taxon name on voucher: Abrus precatorius L.
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1990) (voucher ID: PTBG 10382) Taxon name on voucher: Abrus precatorius
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Aunu‘u Island		Whistler, W. A. (1980) (p. 160)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Whistler, W. A. (1980) (p. 160)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Setchell, William Albert (1924) (pp. 89-90)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Agrigan (Agrihan) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Agrigan (Agrihan) Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 26) Vouchers cited: Fosberg 31616 (US), Falanruw 2168 (US), Falanruw 2340 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Aguijan (Agiguan, Aguihan) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Alamagan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Alamagan Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 26) Vouchers cited: Fosberg 31695 (US), Falanruw 1872 (US), Kondo in 1949 (BISH)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Alamagan Island	introduced	Ohba, T. (1994) (p. 58) Voucher cited: CBM-BS-5885?
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Anatahan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
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. 26) Voucher cited: Falanruw 1608 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 26) Vouchers cited: Marche 152 (P), Moore 336 (US), Fosberg 31389 (US), Anderson 574 (US, BISH, Fo, NY)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Aitutaki Atoll	native abo. intro.	McCormack, Gerald (2011)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	native abo. intro.	McCormack, Gerald (2011)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	native abo. intro.	McCormack, Gerald (2011)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island	native abo. intro.	McCormack, Gerald (2011)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Miti‘aro Island	native abo. intro.	McCormack, Gerald (2011)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	native abo. intro.	McCormack, Gerald (2011)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Floreana Group	Floreana Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Dublon (Tonowas) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Param Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Glassman, S. F. (1952) (pp. 73-74) Voucher cited: Glassman 2781 (US), Hosokawa 6121 (US)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced invasive	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 87) Vouchers cited: E. Albert 196 (NY, PTBG), R. Gallen 41 (NY, PTBG), S.F. Glassman 2781 (BISH), T. hosokawa 6121 (BISH) Naturalized
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2001) (voucher ID: PTBG 38933) Taxon name on voucher: Abrus precatorius L.
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2004) (voucher ID: PTBG 43864) Taxon name on voucher: Abrus precatorius
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Fulanga Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 162-164) Voucher cited: Smith 1176
Fiji Fiji Islands	Koro Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 162-164) Voucher cited: Smith 1034
Fiji Fiji Islands	Navutu-i-Loma Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 162-164) Voucher cited: Bryan 386
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ngau Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 162-164) Voucher cited: Smith 7929
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ongea Ndriki Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 162-164) Voucher cited: Bryan 386
Fiji Fiji Islands	Taveuni Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 162-164) Voucher cited: Seeman 110
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 162-164) Vouchers cited: Seemann 110, DA 15288, Tothill 117c, DA 5754
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 162-164) Vouchers cited: DA 13573,Greenwood 242
Fiji Fiji Islands	Yasawas Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 162-164) Vouchers cited: DA 13663, St. John 18030
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Eiao Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2008)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Voucher cited: D.H. Lorence 6215 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1988) (voucher ID: PTBG 6434) Taxon name on voucher: Abrus precatorius
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hatuta'a (Hatutu) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2008)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hatuta'a (Hatutu) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Vouchers cited: J.-C. Thibault 1118 (PAP), S.P. Perlman 10072 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hatuta'a (Hatutu) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1988) (voucher ID: PTBG 8296) Taxon name on voucher: Abrus precatorius
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2008)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Voucher cited: M.-H. Sachet 1269 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1975) (voucher ID: PTBG 13217) Taxon name on voucher: Abrus precatorius
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2008)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 4411 (PAP), J. Florence 6671 (PAP), J. Florence 6683 (PAP), J. Florence 6689 (PAP), J. Florence 8479 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Tahuata (Tuhuata) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2008)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Tahuata (Tuhuata) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2003) (voucher ID: PTBG 40392) Taxon name on voucher: Abrus precatorius
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2008)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Voucher cited: J. Florence 7246 (PAP) Assez commune en forêt riveraine.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2008)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Bora Bora Island	native	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 137) Voucher cited: Grant 5021
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 46)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Voucher cited: J. Florence & R. Tahuaitu 11764 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 46)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Mehetia (Mahetia, Meetia) Island	native	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 137) Voucher cited: Grant 4692
French Polynesia Society Islands	Mehetia (Mahetia, Meetia) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Voucher cited: J. Florence 4980 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	native	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 137) Vouchers cited: Grant 5021, Moore 614
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Voucher cited: J. Florence 5242 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	native	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 137) Voucher cited: Florence 2848
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Voucher cited: J. Florence 2848 (PAP) Planté
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Voucher cited: J. Florence 3039 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rimatara (Rimitara) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Voucher cited: J. Florence (legerunt D. Cordonnier & G. Cordonnier) 6585 (PAP) Naturalisée
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 322) Vouchers cited: Stone 3919 (GUAM), Stone 5053 (GUAM)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 638)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 638)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 638)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 638)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Ni‘ihau Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 638)
New Caledonia Récifs D'Entrecasteaux (D'Entrecasteaux Reefs)	Île Surprise	introduced	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 80)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Lifou	introduced	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 80)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 80) Vouchers cited: Deplanche 559, Pancher s.n. s.loc., Eloin s.n. (BR), Balansa 29a, Cribs 973, Sarlin 50 s.loc., MacKee 2444, MacKee 30953, MacKee 31991
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1982) (voucher ID: PTBG 31548) Taxon name on voucher: Abrus precatorius
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 144) Voucher cited: CHR 170441
Niue Niue	Niue Island	native	Whistler, W. A./Atherton, J. (1997) (p. 33)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1943) (p. 63) Vouchers cited: Yuncker 9751 (BISH), Yuncker 10202 (BISH) "Frequent in thickets".
Palau Palau (main island group)	Angaur Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1979) (voucher ID: BNM 1265) Taxon name on voucher: Abrus precatorius L.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Malakal Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
Papua New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago	Bismarck Archipelago		Peekel, P. G. [translated by E. E. Henty] (1984) (p. 245) Frequent in secondary forest and about villages. The seeds serve as ornaments.
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. (2011)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands		Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 303) At low and medium altitudes, common in thickets. Probably a native of tropical Asia.
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands	Pitcairn Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Voucher cited: J. Florence & S. Waldren 11038 (PAP) Naturalisée
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands	Pitcairn Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1991) (voucher ID: PTBG 16611) Taxon name on voucher: Abrus precatorius
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Ha‘apai Islands	native	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 25) Vouchers cited: Yuncker 15724, Hotta 4581, Soakai 674, Soakai 678, Buelow 395, Whistler 6615
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Kao Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 25) Vouchers cited: Yuncker 15951, Scarth-Johnson 6
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Kao Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 144) Voucher cited: Yuncker 1595
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Lifuka Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 144) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15724
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 144) "Frequent throughout Tonga"
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 25) Vouchers cited: Parks 16342!, Sykes 216
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 25) Vouchers cited: USEE (n.s.), Soakai 624, Whistler 6773
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 144) Cited: U.S. Expl. Exped.
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Late Island	introduced	Sykes, W. R. (1981) (p. 350)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Late Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 25) Vouchers cited: Hotta 4835, Buelow & Sykes 250
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Niuafo‘ou Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 25) Vouchers cited: Yuncker 16002, Whistler 6398
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Niuafo‘ou Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 144) Voucher cited: Yuncker 16002
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Niuatoputapu Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 25) Voucher cited: Hurlimann 353
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Niuatoputapu Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 144) Voucher cited: Hürlimann 353
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Tafahi Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 25) Vouhcer cited: Hurlimann 559
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 25) Vouchers cited: Crosby (n.s.), Yuncker 16125, Hotta 4718
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 144) Voucher cited: Yuncker 16125
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Burkill, I. H. (1900) (p. 34)
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis (‘Uvea) Island	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2007) (p. 34)

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)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2011) "Hill forests. Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan".
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 138)
Honduras Honduras	Honduras (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 1)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Japan Japan	Japan (country)	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 184)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	introduced	Weber, Ewald (2003) (p. 11)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 9) Naturalised
Taiwan Taiwan	Taiwan Island	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2011) "Hill forests".
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Coetivy Island		Robertson, S. A./Fosberg, F. R. (1983) (p. 149) Voucher cited: Robertson 3157 (K)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Frégate Island		Robertson, S. A./Todd, D. M. (1983) (p. 51) Voucher cited: Robertson 2680
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced invasive	Motooka, Philip/Castro, Luisa/Nelson, Duane/Nagai, Guy/Ching, Lincoln (2003)

Comments:  Seeds are highly poisonous.

Planting of this species is prohibited in Miami-Dade County, Florida (U.S.) (Miami-Dade County Dept. of Planning and Zoning, 2010).

Control: 

Physical: Pull or dig out small plants.

Chemical: "Probably sensitive to foliar sprays of triclopyr.  Good control with triclopyr ester at 10% in oil applied to basal bark or cut surface and with triclopyr amine at 50% in water applied to cut surface"   (Motooka et al., 2003).

Additional information:
Excerpt from the book "Weeds of Hawaii‘s Pastures and Natural Areas; An Identification and Management Guide" (Motooka et al., 2003). (PDF format).
Information from the book "Identification and biology of non-native plants in Florida's natural areas" (PDF format).
Fact sheet from "Wildland shrubs of the United States and its territories: thamnic descriptions" (PDF format).
Information from the ASEAN Tropical Plant Database.

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

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

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

References:

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Charles Darwin Research Station. 2005. CDRS Herbarium records.

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