Flemingia macrophylla (Willdenow) Merrill, Fabaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Evaluate, score: 5 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Crotalaria macrophylla Willd.; Flemingia congesta Roxb. ex W. T. Aiton; Moghania macrophylla (Willd.) Kuntze

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: da ye qian jin ba

Japanese: enoki-mame

Tagalog: laclay-guinan

Habit:  tree

Description:  "Shrub 0.6-2.4 m high; branches 3-angled; leaflets lanceolate to narrowly elliptical, acuminate, up to 30 cm long and 9 cm broad; racemes axillary, 5-15 cm long; bracts linear to lanceolate, 15-20 mm long; calyx-segments unequal, 9 mm long overall; corolla rosy-purple, the standard petal 9 mm long; pod 13 mm long."  (Adams, 1972)(Genus) "Shrubs or herbs, erect or prostrate.  Leaves stipulate; blades exstipellate, digitately 3-foliolate or 1-foliolate; leaflet blades gland-doted below.  Inflorescences densely spicate-racemose or paniculate, bracts foliaceous or dry, persistent or deciduous, bracteoles absent; calyx lobes subequal or lowest longer; vexillary stamen free, remainder connate, anthers uniform; style glabrous.  Pods turgid, dehiscent, continuous within; seeds estrophiolate.  (Species)  Erect, up to ca 2 m tall.  Leaflets 3, blades ovate to oblong, apex shortly acuminate, 8-15 cm X 4-7 cm, hairy on nerves and veins below.  Inflorescences dense spike-like racemes; calyx 0.7-1.3 cm long; corolla white to pink or yellowish, up to ca 1.4 cm long.  Pods ca 1.2 cm long"  (Stanley and Ross, 1983; vol. 1, p. 326).

Habitat/ecology:  "Flemingia macrophylla can be found from sea level up to 2000 m altitude, within a wide range of rainfall patterns, from sub-humid to per-humid (1100-2850 mm/year).  It can tolerate fairly long dry spells and is capable of surviving on very poorly drained soils with waterlogging.  Its natural habitat is along watercourses, both on clay and lateritic soils, as well as under drier conditions such as in fields invested with Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeuschel.  It tolerates shade and poor, acid soils with a high content of soluble aluminum"  (Hanum &Van der Maesen, 1997; p. 145).

In New Caledonia, "peu commun mais parfois planté comme brise-vent dans les pépinières" (MacKee, 1994; p. 84). Naturalized along roadsides and in low-lying places in Jamaica, 400-1200 feet (Adams, 1972; p. 355).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Southern, eastern and southeastern Asia; also cultivated and sometimes 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 Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (pp. 6, 12) Voucher: Flynn 6613 (PTBG)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1999) (voucher ID: BISH 662828) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia macrophylla (Willdenow) Merrill
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1999) (voucher ID: PTBG 292) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia macrophylla
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 7)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 7) Single cultivated plant.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 7)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1996) (voucher ID: PTBG 24908) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia macrophylla
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced invasive	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 93) Voucher cited: S. perlman 21465A (PTBG) Invasive
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 254) Vouchers cited: DA 14347, Meebold 16658
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1965) (voucher ID: BISH 34240) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia macrophylla (Willdenow) Merrill
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1932) (voucher ID: BISH 155088) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia macrophylla (Willdenow) Merrill
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: W.A. Whistler & M. Guérin 18 (PAP) Cultivée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1981) (voucher ID: PTBG 37290) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia macrophylla (Willd.) Merr.
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Parker, James L./Parsons, Bobby (2012) (p. 69) Voucher cited: J. Parker & R. Parsons BIED135 (BISH)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Maré	introduced cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 84) Vouchers cited: Suprin in Mackee 43389
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 84) Vouchers cited: Mackee 29468, Mackee 29592, Mackee 31225, Pilecki in Mackee 35674
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 13, 85)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 13, 80)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 13)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	introduced invasive cultivated	Hanum/I. Faridah/Van der Maesen, L.J.G, eds. (1997) (p. 144) Naturalized.
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands		Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 317) Occasional in thickets at low and medium altitudes.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 9) Voucher: Flynn 6954 (PTBG, US, SAMOA)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2002) (voucher ID: PTBG 275) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia macrophylla
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced invasive	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 76)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (pp. 6-7) MAF Agricultural Station. Voucher: Flynn 6838 (PTBG, US)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2001) (voucher ID: PTBG 252) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia macrophylla
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (pp. 6-7)

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)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) "Disturbed meadows, roadsides, forest margins; 200-1800 m".
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 146)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) "Disturbed meadows, roadsides, forest margins; 200-1800 m".
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

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 (2013)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
French Territory of Mayotte Mayotte Islands	Mayotte Island	introduced invasive	Comité français de l'Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature en France (2013) Naturalisée, envahissant principalement dans les milieux perturbés.

Comments:  This species and F. strobilifera show every indication of becoming invasive species on Pacific islands.

Planted on Tutuila, American Samoa, and showing indications of naturalizing (Space & Flynn, 2000). Naturalizing along the highway west of A‘opo on Savai‘i, Samoa (Space & Flynn, 2002), and along roadsides in Rarotonga and Mangaia, Cook Islands (Space & Flynn, 2002).

Control:  If you know of control methods for Flemingia macrophylla, please let us know.