Derris malaccensis (Benth.) Prain, Fabaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Paraderris malaccensis (Benth.) Adema; Paraderris montana (Benth.) F. Adema

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: yi chi yu teng

Chuukese: wúún, wúúp

English: New Guinea creeper, tuba merah, tuba rabut, tubaroot

Fijian: nduva, nduva ni niukini, tuva

Maori (Cook Islands): ‘ōra pāpua, ‘ora pāpua, rākau pāpua

Niuean: ‘akau niukini, niukini

Tongan: kava ‘au kava

Yapese: yuub

Habit:  vine

Description:  "Liana or scrambling shrub; leaves with 5-7 leaflets, rachis and petioles glabrous or sparingly strigillose, the proximal pair of leaflets not with deflexed petiolules, the leaflet blades 10-15 (23) cm long and 5-7 (10) cm wide or sometimes smaller, elliptic, usually gradually caudate-acuminate; inflorescences 10-16 cm long; calyx pink; petals white to pink, the banner glabrous; pods to 7.5 cm long and 2.7 cm wide, the wings on both suture ca 2-4 mm wide."  (Welsh, 1998)

"A liana or scrambling shrub, cultivated and doubtless sometimes naturalized near sea level or slightly inland.  [T]he calyx is pink and the petals white to pink; the fruits, up to 7.5 x 2.7 cm, are winged on both sutures with wings about 2 mm and 4 mm broad."  (Smith, 1985; pp. 168-169).

Habitat/ecology:  "The vigorous climbing or trailing vines usually grow in semi-shade and form quite a dense covering over the ground or on other plants"  (Sykes, 1970; p. 150).  In Fiji, "cultivated and doubtless sometimes naturalized near sea level or slightly inland"  (Smith, 1985; pp. 168-169).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Bangladesh to Malaysia and Papua New Guinea; cultivated and 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
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ofu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 39)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ofu Island	introduced	Ragone, Diane/Lorence, David H. (2003) (p. 49)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ofu Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2001) (voucher ID: PTBG 35344) Taxon name on voucher: Derris malaccensis Prain
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Olosega Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 42)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Olosega Island	introduced	Ragone, Diane/Lorence, David H. (2003) (p. 49)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 34)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Aitutaki Atoll		Sykes, Bill (year unknown)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 80)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		Sykes, Bill (year unknown)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1991) (voucher ID: BISH 664488) Taxon name on voucher: Derris malaccensis (Benth.) Prain
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island		Sykes, Bill (year unknown)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island		Sykes, Bill (year unknown)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2002) (voucher ID: PTBG 40909) Taxon name on voucher: Derris malaccensis (Benth.) Prain
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Miti‘aro Island		Sykes, Bill (year unknown)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Sykes, Bill (year unknown)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 154146) Taxon name on voucher: Derris malaccensis (Benth.) Prain
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 154147) Taxon name on voucher: Derris malaccensis (Benth.) Prain
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1927) (voucher ID: BISH 154148) Taxon name on voucher: Derris malaccensis (Benth.) Prain
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Merlin, M./Kigfas, A./Keene, T./Juvik, J. (1996) (pp. 91, 112)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Lakemba Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 168-169) Voucher cited: Garnock-Jones-769
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 168-169) Vouchers cited: Degener 15038, Gillespie 3664Vouchers cited:
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1927) (voucher ID: BISH 154135) Taxon name on voucher: Derris malaccensis (Benth.) Prain
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1941) (voucher ID: BISH 154136) Taxon name on voucher: Derris malaccensis (Benth.) Prain
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Bora Bora Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 11991 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Bora Bora Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1993) (voucher ID: BISH 658441) Taxon name on voucher: Derris malaccensis (Benth.) Prain
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 148) Voucher cited: Fosberg 62986
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence & R. Tahuaitu 11674 (PAP), F.R. Fosberg 61148 (PAP), F.R. Fosberg 62986 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1992) (voucher ID: BISH 643302) Taxon name on voucher: Derris malaccensis (Benth.) Prain
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1987) (p. 35) Vouchers cited: Fosberg 64761 (US), Morris 28 (US)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1985) (voucher ID: BISH 614960) Taxon name on voucher: Derris malaccensis (Benth.) Prain
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 148) Voucher cited: Moore 570
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Derris malabarica. Voucher cited: F.R. Fosberg & M.-H. Sachet 63223 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 10497 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1990) (voucher ID: BISH 642961) Taxon name on voucher: Derris malaccensis (Benth.) Prain
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tetiaroa Atoll	introduced	Sachet, M.-H./Fosberg, F. R. (1983) (p. 43) Voucher cited: Sachet 1644 (US)
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rimatara (Rimitara) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
New Guinea (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea) New Guinea Island	New Guinea Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 150) Voucher cited: CHR 150523
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 7)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A./Atherton, J. (1997) (p. 34) Voucher cited: Whistler 10774 Relict of former cultivation.
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1943) (pp. 52-63) Misidentified as Derris elliptica (Roxburgh) Bentham. Infrequent. Voucher cited: Yuncker 9984 Infrequent.
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)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1931) (voucher ID: BISH 154144) Taxon name on voucher: Derris malaccensis (Benth.) Prain
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 66)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 66)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) As Paraderris malaccensis (Bentham) Adema. Guangdong (Guangzhou) and Hainan.
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native cultivated	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Celebes, Java, Kalimantan
Indonesia Indonesia	West Papua Province (Indonesia) (western New Guinea Island) (formerly Irian Jaya)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native cultivated	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Negara Brunei Darussalam Brunei	Brunei (Negara Brunei Darussalam)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)

Comments:  Often confused with D. elliptica.

Control:  If you know of control methods for Derris malaccensis, please let us know.