Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp., Fabaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Low risk, score: 0 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Cajanus bicolor DC.; Cajanus indicus Spreng.; Cytisus cajan L.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chamorro: lenteha franchesa, lenteja francesa

Chinese: mu dou

English: Congo pea, pigeon pea, red gram, yellow dhal

Fijian: nggiringgiri, pi

French: ambrévade, ambrevade, pois cajan, pois d'Angole

Hawaiian: pī Pokoliko, pī nūnū

Hindi: arhar, arhar dhal, dahl, dhal

Japanese: ki-mame

Mangarevan: pipi

Spanish: cachito, fréjol de palo, frijol de árbol, gandul

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "Shrubs up to 2 (-4) m tall; stems ribbed, golden sericeous.  Leaflets elliptic to lanceolate, lateral ones obliquely elliptic, 5-13 cm long, 1.5-6 cm wide, upper surface glabrate, lower surface usually densely silvery pilose.  Flowers stalked, in axillary pseudo-racemes, these rarely also terminal; calyx golden tomentose and glandular, persistent in fruit; standard yellow, often reddish-lined or orange to purple externally, 12-17 mm long, wings yellow, keel yellowish green tinged orange to purple.  Pods yellow or green striped with maroon or dark purple, straight to sickle-shaped, 2-8 (-13) cm long, 0.4-1 (-1.7) cm wide, pubescent and glandular, weakly septate within.  Seeds 2-9, variable in shape and coloration, buff to cream or reddish brown, slightly laterally flattened, 4-9 mm long, 3-8 mm in diameter, the rim-aril well-developed when seeds unripe."  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 649)

Habitat/ecology:  "Pigeon pea grows on a broad range of well-drained soils, from sands to clays over sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic parent materials. It tolerates pH's of from 4.5 to 8.4 and some varieties tolerate 6 to 12 mmhos/cm of salinity. However, the species is sensitive to waterlogging. Pigeon pea will grow in areas that receive from 530 to 4000 mm of mean annual precipitation (Van Den Beldt 1988). Pigeon pea is intolerant of shade and tolerates only moderate competition. It does best in full sun on bare ground but can grow with side shade or broken shade from trees and a low cover of grass and forbs. Growth is moderately slow during the first 2 to 3 months of life during which time seedlings are not competitive with grass and weeds; afterwards pigeon pea competes well with vegetation equal or lower in height (van der Maesen 1990)"  (Wildland shrubs of the United States and its territories).

In Hawai‘i, "cultivated and occasionally escaping, apparently naturalized in open, disturbed areas such as roadsides, pastures, and cane fields, 25-610 m". (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 649). In Fiji, "in cultivation and also as a weed along roadsides, in canefields, and in cultivated areas. ...a locally frequent weed" (Smith, 1985; pp. 251-252). In New Caledonia, "cette plante, dont la culture fut prônée par Vieillard (1858) et Pancher (1966) se trouve parfois dans les jardins, surtout mélanésiens; elle est aussi assez répandue dans les fourré secondaires" (MacKee, 1994; p. 80).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  "The species is assumed to have originated in Africa and in prehistoric times to have reached India, where it was improved by selection" (Smith, 1985; pp. 251-252). Origin India; widely cultivated in tropics (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	Rota Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 103)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 103)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2013) Naturalized
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island	introduced invasive cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2013) Naturalized
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Floreana Group	Floreana Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Isabela Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Volcán Sierra Negra, Isabela Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy (2010) (p. 16) Rare
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 103)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Glassman, S. F. (1952) (p. 74) Voucher cited: Glassman 2914 (US)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced cultivated	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 89) Voucher cited: S.F. Glassman 2914 (BISH)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Kandavu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 251-252) Voucher cited: Smith 298
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 251-252) Vouchers cited: DA 9646, DA 10467
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 251-252) Vouchers cited: Greenwood 213, DA 10361, DA 10281, DA 14351, DA 9478, DA 9142, DA 5993, DA 9142, DA 5993, Greenwood 213A, DA (Jan. 23, 1952), DA 2734, DA 2526, Tothill 136
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced cultivated	St. John, Harold (1988) (p. 15) Voucher cited: St. John 14502 (BISH)
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Taravai Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Taravai Island	introduced cultivated	St. John, Harold (1988) (p. 15) Voucher cited: St. John 14778 (BISH)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 141) Voucher cited: Moore 635
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 48)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence (legit W.G. Ziarnik) 6957 (PAP) Planté, paraît rare à Tahiti.
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 6160 (PAP) Cultivée
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced cultivated	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 324)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 103)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 649)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 649)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 649)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced	Wester, Lyndon (1992) (p. 138)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 649) Voucher cited: Mann & Brigham 52 (BISH)
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 103)
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced cultivated	Thaman, R. R./Fosberg, F. R./Manner, H. I./Hassall, D. C. (1994) (p. 138)
New Caledonia Îles Bélep (Belep Islands)	Île Art	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (pp. 80-81) Voucher cited: MacKee 19445
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Îles Ouvéa (Ouvea Atoll)	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (pp. 80-81) Voucher cited: Däniker 1987
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (pp. 80-81) Vouchers cited: MacGillivray 28, Pancher 6686, MacKee 4639, MacKee 5128, MacKee 24353, MacKee 31249, MacKee 31253
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (pp. 144-145) Vouchers cited: CHR 150537, CHR 150538
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 39)
Papua New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago	Bismarck Archipelago	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced invasive cultivated abo. intro.	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 314) In the settled areas, cultivated, semicultivated, and in some regions spontaneous, occurring from sea level to 2,400 m. Probably of prehistoric introduction.
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands	Pitcairn Island	introduced cultivated	St. John, H. (1987) (p. 36) Voucher cited: St. John 14997
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced cultivated	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 53)
United States (other Pacific offshore islands) Midway Atoll	Sand Island	introduced cultivated	Starr, Forest/Starr, Kim/Loope, Lloyd (2008) (pp. B-5) Voucher cited: Starr & Starr 080610-04
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Malakula (Malekula) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1988) (voucher ID: PTBG 30341) Taxon name on voucher: Cajanus cajan

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)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	El Salvador (Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced invasive	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) "Roadsides, hills; 100-900 m".
China China	Hong Kong	introduced cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 139)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Japan Ryukyu Islands	Ryukyu Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	introduced invasive	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) "Roadsides, hills; 100-900 m".
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	introduced	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
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced cultivated	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 107) Possibly naturalized.
Comoros Comoro Islands	Comoro Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Rodrigues Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
French Territory of Mayotte Mayotte Islands	Mayotte Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Agalega Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Stoddart, D. R. (1983) (p. 123)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

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)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Cajanus cajan, please let us know.