Aeschynomene indica L., Fabaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: he meng

English: budda pea, curly-indigo, hard sola, Indian joint-vetch, kat sola, northern joint-vetch, sensitive jointed vetch, sensitive vetch

Japanese: kusanemu

Pohnpeian: ikin sihk

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Shrublets or annual herbs, (15-) 30-100 (-150) cm tall. Stems erect, many branched, cylindric, hollow, glabrous, corky at base, often with nodule-bearing adventitious roots. Stipules elliptic to lanceolate, 4-11 x 1-2 cm, membranous, caducous, base auriculate, apex acuminate. Leaves 20-60-foliolate, often sensitive; petiole 2-4 mm; rachis with tuberculate-based trichomes; leaflet blades linear-oblong, 3-13 x 1-3 mm, papery, base oblique, apex obtuse and mucronate. Inflorescences axillary, racemose, sometimes short or reduced to a solitary flower; peduncle 4-7 mm, with tuberculate-based trichomes; bracts ovate, caducous, margin often denticulate. Bracteoles ovate-lanceolate, persistent. Calyx 3-4 mm, membranous, glabrous. Corolla pale yellow with purplish longitudinal striations. Legume linear-oblong, 2.2-3.4 cm x 3-5 mm, straight, herbaceous to leathery, abaxial suture straight, slightly indented; articles 2-8, quadrate, slightly muricate and with tuberculate-based trichomes. Seeds blackish brown, reniform, ca. 2 mm"  (Flora of China online).

"An erect herb with imparipinnate leaves, branching, with scattered spreading hairs on stems, rachises, and peduncles; leaves 5-10 cm long; stipules semisagittate, about 1 cm long; leaflets numerous, 15-30 pairs, linear-oblong, glaucous beneath, 10-15 mm long, rounded at tip; flowers few in racemes, pale yellow; pedicels with 2 bracteoles at base of calyx; bracts like the stipules; flower c. 1 cm long; calyx bilabiate, deeply cleft; pods linear, flat, 6-8-jointed, with a central prominent rugosity on each joint"  (Stone, 1970; p. 322).

Habitat/ecology:  "Most frequently found in poorly drained areas, wet pastures, along rivers and canals, and in or around paddy fields"  (Holm et al., 1997: p. 20).  In Guam, "found in man-disturbed areas and thickets, not common."  (Stone, 1970; p. 322).  In Fiji, "occurring as a weed from near sea level to low elevations on gravel banks of rivers, along roadsides, in waste places, and often in wet parts of ricefields and canefields" (Smith, 1985; pp. 257-258). In New Guinea, "a plant of wet situations; stream banks, swamp margins, roadside ditches, and sometimes as a weed in pastures. Widely distributed from low altitudes to 800 m" (Henty & Pritchard, 1975; p. 111).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Probably native to America (Smith, 1985; pp. 257-258).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
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) (p. 74) Voucher cited: Glassman 2899 (US)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced invasive	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 88) Vouchers cited: B. Ekiek 120 (NY, PTBG), F.R. Fosberg 58421 (BISH), F.R. Fosberg 58421 (BISH, PTBG), F.R. Fosberg 60406 (BISH), F.R. Fosberg 60427 (BISH), S.F. Glassman 2899 (BISH), D.H. Lorence 7911 (PTBG, US), P. Raynor 134 (NY, PTBG), F. Sohl 27 (NY, PTBG) Invasive
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1996) (voucher ID: PTBG 21195) Taxon name on voucher: Aeschynomene indica
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1978) (voucher ID: PTBG 23979) Taxon name on voucher: Aeschynomene indica
Fiji Fiji Islands	Taveuni Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 257-258) Voucher cited: DA L.13235
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 257-258) Voucher cited: DA 18 May 1949
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 257-258) Vouchers cited: Greenwood 214, DA 11752, DA 10420, DA 14359, DA 10165, DA 4957, DA 10750, DA 11820, Greenwood 214A, DA 5620, DA 11472, DA 2615
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 138) Vouchers cited: BRY 25978, BRY 26040, Florence 3888, Grant 5446
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 3182 (PAP), J. Florence 3888 (PAP), J. Florence , C. Ollier & R. Tahauitu 11486 (PAP) Adventice
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (pp. 322-323) Voucher cited: Stone 5086 (GUAM)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 102)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 80) Vouchers cited: MacKee 14774, Déméné in MacKee 23923
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	invasive	Henty, E. E./Pritchard, G. H. (1975) (p. 111) Widely distributed from low altitudes to 800 m.
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	probably native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	probably native	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 63, 76)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands		Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (pp. 282-283) In open wet places, old rice paddies, etc., at low and medium altitudes.

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)	probably native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Australia Australia (continental)	New South Wales		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 18)
Australia Australia (continental)	Northern Territory		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 18)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 18)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	probably native	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 63, 76)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	probably native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2011) "Field margins, ditches, grasslands, trailsides and river margins in sunny places; 100-1300 m".
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 138)
Colombia Colombia	Colombia (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 18)
Ecuador (Mainland) Ecuador	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 18)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	probably native	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 63, 76)
Indonesia Indonesia	West Papua Province (Indonesia) (western New Guinea Island) (formerly Irian Jaya)	probably native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Japan Japan	Japan (country)	probably native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Japan Ryukyu Islands	Ryukyu Islands	probably native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
North Korea North Korea	North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of)	probably native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
South Korea South Korea	South Korea (Republic of)	probably native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	probably native	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 63, 76)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 10) Naturalised
Taiwan Taiwan	Taiwan Island	probably native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Taiwan Taiwan	Taiwan Island	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2011) "Field margins, ditches, grasslands, trailsides and river margins in sunny places; 100-1300 m".
Taiwan Taiwan	Taiwan Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1984) (voucher ID: PTBG 37902) Taxon name on voucher: Aeschynomene indica L.
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	probably native	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 63, 76)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	probably native	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 63, 76)

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 (2011)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Rodrigues Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (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)	United States (other states)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)

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

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

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

References:

Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. 2009. A checklist of the total vascular plant flora of Singapore: native, naturalised and cultivated species. Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, National University of Singapore. 273 pp.

Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. 2011. Base de données botaniques Nadeaud de l'Herbier de la Polynésie Française (PAP). (online resource).

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce. 1979. A geographical checklist of the Micronesian dicotyledonae. Micronesica 15:1-295.

Glassman, S. F. 1952. The flora of Ponape. Bishop Mus. Bull. 209: 1-152.

Henty, E. E./Pritchard, G. H. 1975. Weeds of New Guinea and their control. 2nd edition. Department of Forests, Division of Botany, Botany Bull. No. 7. Lae, Papua New Guinea. 180 pp.

Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. 2010. Checklist of the vascular plants of Pohnpei with local names and uses. Allertonia, in press. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Hawai‘i. 146 pp.

Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James. 1997. World weeds: natural histories and distribution. John Wiley & Sons. 1129 pp.

ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre. 2011. International Legume Database & Information Service. Online searchable database.

MacKee, H. S. 1994. Catalogue des plantes introduites et cultivées en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 164 p.

Merrill, Elmer D. 1923. An enumeration of Philippine flowering plants, vol. 2 [reprint]. Bureau of Printing, Manila. 530 pp.

National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.). 1984. Voucher specimen #PTBG37902(Ching-I Peng 7022).

Smith, Albert C. 1985. Flora Vitiensis nova: a new flora of Fiji. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii. Volume 3. 758 pp.

Stone, Benjamin C. 1970. The flora of Guam. Micronesica 6:1-659.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2011. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

Waterhouse, D. F. 1993. The major arthropod pests and weeds of agriculture in Southeast Asia. The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra. 141 pp.

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.

Wu, Te-lin. 2001. Check List of Hong Kong Plants. Hong Kong Herbarium and the South China Institute of Botany. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Bulletin 1 (revised). 384 pp.

Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong. 2011. Flora of China (online resource).