Desmodium heterocarpon (L.) DC., Fabaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

Palauan: okula beluu

Tahitian: ea ea, piripiri ‘aratita, piripiro, tia pipi, toharea

Tongan: ngingie ‘uta

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Suberect subshrubs usually 5-15 dm tall; stems usually many-branched, appressed pubescent in upper part.  Leaves (1-) 3-foliolate, leaflets subcoriaceous, usually elliptic, terminal one 2.5-6 (-8) cm long, (1-) 1.5-2.5 (-3) cm wide, upper surface subglabrous, lower surface sericeous with appressed hairs, apex obtuse, petioles (1-) 1.5-3.5 cm long.  Flowers numerous in racemose inflorescences 5-10 cm long, rachis densely pubescent with appressed, straight, yellowish hairs, pedicels (2-) 3-5 (-8) mm long; corolla pink to purplish red.  Pods narrowly oblong, 4-8-jointed, 1-2.8 cm long, densely hooked pubescent, articles quadrate, 2.5-3 mm long, 2-3 mm wide."

Desmodium heterocarpon (L.) DC. subsp. heterocarpon:  inflorescence rachis densely pubescent with spreading hooked hairs.

Desmodium heterocarpon var. strigosum: inflorescence rachis densely pubescent with appressed, straight, non-hooked hairs.  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 667).

Habitat/ecology:  In Fiji, "occurring from near sea level to about 200 m in pastures and secondary growth, along roadsides, on waste land, and sometimes thoroughly naturalized in dry forest" (Smith, 1985; pp. 192-193).  "Uncommon to occasional in sunny, disturbed places" (Whistler, 1988; p. 23).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Old World (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 667).  "Variety strigosum appears indigenous from southeastern Asia throughout Malesia to Micronesia and possibly to New Caledonia; eastward in the Pacific as far as the Tuamotus and Hawai'i. It was presumably an inadvertent aboriginal introduction." (Smith, 1985; pp. 192-193)  "An aboriginal introduction to Polynesia" (Whistler, 1988; p. 23).

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. (1990) Vouchers cited: Garber 979, Yuncker 9469, Whistler 2995
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Olosega Island		Whistler, W. A. (1990) Voucher cited: Whistler 3060
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		Whistler, W. A. (1990) Vouchers cited: Garber 603, Garber 634, Garber 645a, Yuncker 9083, Whistler 1391
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 91)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island	introduced abo. intro.	Whistler, W. A. (1980) (p. 131)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Northern Mariana Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 91)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 16)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island		McCormack, Gerald (2008) ?
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 16)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 109) var. strigosum f. substrigosum
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 109) var. strigosum f. substrigosum
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Glassman, S. F. (1952) (p. 76) Vouchers cited: Glassman 2316 (US), Glassman 2445 (US), Kanehira 1574 (NY)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 109) var. strigosum f. substrigosum
Fiji Fiji Islands	Koro Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 192-193) var. strigosum. Voucher cited: DA 11803
Fiji Fiji Islands	Matuku Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 192-193) var. strigosum. Voucher cited: Bryan 260
Fiji Fiji Islands	Mbengga Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 192-193) var. strigosum. Voucher cited: DA 9619
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ngau Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 192-193) var. strigosum. Voucher cited: Milne 150
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ovalau Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 192-193) var. strigosum. Voucher cited: Seemann 111
Fiji Fiji Islands	Taveuni Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 192-193) var. strigosum. Vouchers cited: DA 2564, Gillespie 4774
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 192-193) var. strigosum. Vouchers cited: Smith 6811, DA 11779, DA 13137
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 192-193) var. strigosum. Vouchers cited: Greenwood 452, DA 513, DA 10005, B. & H. Parham 35, DA 1052
Fiji Fiji Islands	Wakaya Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 192-193) var. strigosum. Voucher cited: Milne 377
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2008) Var. strigosum Meeuwen
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2008) Var. strigosum Meeuwen
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2008) Var. strigosum Meeuwen
French Polynesia Society Islands	Bora Bora Island	introduced	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 149) Voucher cited: Grant 5026
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island	introduced	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 149) Voucher cited: D. Bare 9
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1987) (p. 35) Not seen in 1985. Voucher cited: Raynal 17860.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Mehetia (Mahetia, Meetia) Island	introduced	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 149) Voucher cited: Grant 4744
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 149) Vouchers cited: Moore 3, BRY 25296, BRY 26701
French Polynesia Society Islands	Society Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 91)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Society Islands	uncertain if native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2009)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 149) Voucher cited: Florence 8064
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced	Wester, Lyndon (1992) (p. 138)
Japan (offshore islands) Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands	Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands		Kato, Hidetoshi (2007)
Kiribati Kiribati	Kiribati (Republic of)	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1987) (p. 16)
Marshall Islands Marshall Islands	Marshall Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 91)
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (pp. 151-152) Voucher cited: CHR 150536
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 23)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 109) var. strigosum f. strigosum.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	native	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. Voucher specimen) var. strigosum. Voucher: BMW 6557 (BISH, BRI)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	native	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. Field notes and voucher.) var. strigosum. Voucher: Lorence 9911 (BNM, PFBG)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1966) (voucher ID: BNM 455) Taxon name on voucher: Desmodium heterocarpon var heterocarpon (Willd.) DC.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1981) (voucher ID: BNM 3149) Taxon name on voucher: Desmodium heterocarpon (Willd.) DC.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (2007) (voucher ID: BNM 4401) Taxon name on voucher: Desmodium heterocarpon (L.) DC. var. strigosum v. Meeuwen
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1991) (voucher ID: BNM 9569) Taxon name on voucher: Desmodium heterocarpon var. strigosum V. Meeuwen.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1981) (voucher ID: BNM 3098) Taxon name on voucher: Desmodium heterocarpon var. strigosum v. Meeuwen
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1978) (voucher ID: BNM 1255) Taxon name on voucher: Desmodium heterocarpon var. strigosum v. Meeuwen
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1982) (voucher ID: BNM 3195) Taxon name on voucher: Desmodium heterocarpon var. strigosum
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1978) (voucher ID: BNM 10153) Taxon name on voucher: Desmodium heterocarpon cf. var. strigosum Meeuw.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 109) var. strigosum f. strigosum.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1967) (voucher ID: BNM 456) Taxon name on voucher: Desmodium heterocarpon
Palau Palau (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 109) var. strigosum f. strigosum.
Papua New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago	Bismarck Archipelago	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2009)
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. (2009)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2009)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced invasive	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 65)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Kao Island	probably introduced invasive abo. intro.	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 29) Vouchers cited: Yuncker 15871, Buelow 741
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Kao Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 140) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15871
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Tofua Island	probably introduced invasive abo. intro.	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 29) Vouchers cited: Hotta 4331, Scarth-Johnson 75, Buelow 599
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 140) "Frequent throughout Tonga"
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island	probably introduced invasive abo. intro.	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 29) Vouchers cited: Lister s.n., Yuncker 15372, Sykes 655, Sykes 668, Whistler 7414
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 140) Vouchers cited: Yuncker 15372, Yuncker 15654
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Ellison, Joanna C. (1990) (p. 29) On outlier islet of Polo‘a.
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Late Island	probably introduced invasive abo. intro.	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 29) Voucher cited: Buelow & sykes 212
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Niuafo‘ou Island	probably introduced invasive abo. intro.	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 29) Vouchers cited: Yuncker 16012, Buelow 2209
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Niuafo‘ou Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 140) Voucher cited: Yuncker 16012
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Tafahi Island	probably introduced invasive abo. intro.	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 29) Vouchers cited: Hurlimann 524, Whistler 6236
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 140) Cited: Crosby.
Tuvalu Tuvalu (Ellis) Islands	Tuvalu Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 91)
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis (‘Uvea) Island	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2007) (p. 34)
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis and Futuna Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 23)

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)	Queensland	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Colombia Colombia	Colombia (Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2009)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Indonesia Indonesia	Irian Jaya (West Papua) (Indonesia) (western New Guinea Island)	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2009)
Japan Japan	Japan (country)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Japan Ryukyu Islands	Ryukyu Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Perú Perú	Perú (Republic of)	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2009)
Taiwan Taiwan	Taiwan Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2009)

Comments:  Cook Islands subsp. heterocarpon, all other locations var. strigosum.

Previously collected in Hawai‘i but present status unknown (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 667).

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

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

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

References:

Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.). 1966. Voucher specimen #BNM455(Cheatham 88).

Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.). 1967. Voucher specimen #BNM456(Blackburn, B. 154).

Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.). 1978. Voucher specimen #BNM1255(Canfield, J.E. 611).

Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.). 1978. Voucher specimen #BNM10153(Otobed, D.O. P-10153).

Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.). 1981. Voucher specimen #3149(Timberlake, J. 3149).

Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.). 1981. Voucher specimen #BNM3098(Timberlake, J. 3098).

Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.). 1982. Voucher specimen #BNM3195(Timberlake, J. 3195).

Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.). 1991. Voucher specimen #BNM9569(Herbst, Stemmermann & Canfield 9569).

Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.). 2007. Voucher specimen #BNM4401(Balick et al. 4401).

Ellison, Joanna C. 1990. Vegetation and floristics of the Tongatapu outliers. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 332. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 36 pp.

Fosberg, F. R./Otobed, D./Sachet, M.-H./Oliver, R. L./Powell, D. A./Canfield, J. E. 1980. Vascular plants of Palau with vernacular names. Department of Botany, The Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 43 pp.

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. 1987. Flora of the Gilbert Islands, Kiribati, checklist. Atoll Res. Bull. 295:1-33.

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. 1987. Flora of Maupiti, Society Islands. The Smithsonian Institution. Atoll Research Bulletin 294:1-70.

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.

Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. 1988. Flora of the Solomon Islands. Research Bulletin No. 7. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Honiara. 203 pp.

ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre. 2009. International Legume Database & Information Service. Online searchable database.

Kato, Hidetoshi. 2007. Herbarium records of Makino Herbarium, Tokyo Metropolitan University. Personal communication.

Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. 2008. Flora of the Marquesas Islands. National Tropical Botanical Garden and the Smithsonian Institution. Online database.

McCormack, Gerald. 2008. Cook Islands Biodiversity Database, Version 2007.2. Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga.

Meyer, Jean-Yves. 2007. Rapport de mission sur l'Ile d'Uvea (Wallis & Futuna) du 6 au 17 Novembre 2007: Inventaire preliminaire de la flore vasculaire secondaire [unpublished report]. Délégation à la Recherche, Ministère de l'Education, l'Enseignement Supérieur et la Recherche, B.P. 20981 Papeete, Tahiti, Polynésie française. 39 pp.

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

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2002. Report to the Government of the Cook Islands on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 146 pp.

Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie. 2009. Report to the Republic of Palau: 2008 update on Invasive Plant Species. USDA Forest Service, Hilo, Hawai‘i. (In press).

Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar. 2003. Report to the Republic of Palau on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 174 pp.

Swarbrick, John T. 1997. Weeds of the Pacific Islands. Technical paper no. 209. South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 124 pp.

Sykes, W. R. 1970. Contributions to the flora of Niue. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Bulletin 200, Wellington. 321 pp.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2009. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. 1999. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawaii. Revised edition. Bernice P. Bishop Museum special publication. University of Hawai‘i Press/Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 1919 pp. (two volumes).

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.

Wester, Lyndon. 1992. Origin and distribution of adventive flowering plants in Hawai‘i. In: Stone, Charles P.; Smith, Clifford W. and Tunison, J. Timothy. Alien plant invasions in native ecosystems of Hawaii: Management and Research. University of Hawaii, Cooperative National Park Research Studies Unit, Honolulu. University of Hawaii Press. .

Whistler, W. A. 1980. The vegetation of eastern Samoa. Allertonia 2:45-90.

Whistler, W. A. 1988. Checklist of the weed flora of western Polynesia. Technical Paper No. 194, South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 69 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 1990. The weeds of Manu‘a [unpublished checklist]. 18 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 1992. Flora of Tonga [unpublished checklist]. 107 pp.

Yuncker, T. G. 1959. Plants of Tonga. Bishop Museum Bull. 220. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 343 pp.