Flemingia strobilifera (L.) Aiton & Aiton f., Fabaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Threat only at high elevations?  no

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

Other Latin names:  Moghania strobilifera (L.) J.St.-Hil.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: luck plant, wild hops

French: sainfoin du bengale

Palauan: besungelaiei, pesungel a iei

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "Shrub to 2 m tall; stipules lanceolate, 3-4 mm long, striate; petioles 1-2 cm long; leaflet 1, obovate to ovate, 9.5-15 cm long, 4-9 cm wide, acute apically, truncate to cuneate beneath, entire, revolute; inflorescence to ca 15 cm long; pedicels 2-3 mm long; flowers 1 or 2 per node, the bracts obovate to cordate, 1-2 cm long, 8-12 mm wide, papery, persistent, enclosing the flowers; calyx 4-5 mm long; petals creamy, light yellow, or pinkish to purple; banner orbicular, 5-6 mm long, 7-8 mm wide, slightly clawed; pods oblong, inflated, 6-14 mm long, 3-5 mm wide, dehiscent, the valves twisting; seeds 2, ovoid, 3 mm long, brown-black with red mottling."  (Welsh, 1998)

 "Habit a small shrub 1-1.5 m, leaves unifoliate, leaflets ovate to elliptic, gland-dotted abaxially; stipules striate; inflorescence paniculate, 10-20 cm long, peduncle zig-zag, branches strobiform, with whitish green flowers and pale green fruits enclosed by pale green, persistent bracts that turn a golden brown color upon drying" (Lorence et al., 1995; p. 37).

Habitat/ecology:  Abandoned pastures and other disturbed areas, often forming thickets. Invasive in French Polynesia. In New Caledonia, "rarement planté mais assez répandu en peuplements denses isolés en terrains défrichés" (MacKee, 1994; p. 84).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Asia and Malaysia.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 7)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1991) (voucher ID: BISH 665044) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia strobilifera (L.) Aiton & Aiton f.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		McCormack, Gerald (2007)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 7)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1991) (voucher ID: BISH 665047) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia strobilifera (L.) Aiton & Aiton f.
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 111)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1948) (voucher ID: BISH 438055) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia strobilifera (L.) Aiton & Aiton f.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island		Welsh, S. L. (1998)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1992) (voucher ID: BISH 643293) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia strobilifera (L.) Aiton & Aiton f.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island		Welsh, S. L. (1998)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1990) (voucher ID: BISH 642298) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia strobilifera (L.) Aiton & Aiton f.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 152) Voucher cited: Fosberg 62692
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 111)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1953) (voucher ID: BISH 438050) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia strobilifera (L.) Aiton & Aiton f.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1936) (voucher ID: BISH 438051) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia strobilifera (L.) Aiton & Aiton f.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1945) (voucher ID: BISH 438052) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia strobilifera (L.) Aiton & Aiton f.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 649427) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia strobilifera (L.) Aiton & Aiton f.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 649432) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia strobilifera (L.) Aiton & Aiton f.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 1000252) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia strobilifera (L.) Aiton & Aiton f.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 1000253) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia strobilifera (L.) Aiton & Aiton f.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy W./Wagner, Warren L. (1995) (p. 37) Vouchers cited: T. Flynn et al. 2591 (PTBG), T. Flynn et al. 2716 (BISH, BM, F. K, MEXU, MO, PTBG, RSA, US)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced	Wester, Lyndon (1992) (p. 139)
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	introduced invasive	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 382) Assez répandue en peuplements denses isolés en terrains défrichés.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 84) Vouchers cited: de Touzalin s.n., J. Bernier 55 s.loc., MacMillan 5202, Mackee 13126, Mackee 31613, Mackee 31619, Mackee 31979, Pilecki in Mackee 35675, Mackee 42356
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1949) (voucher ID: BISH 10868) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia strobilifera (L.) Aiton & Aiton f.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1952) (voucher ID: BISH 545740) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia strobilifera (L.) Aiton & Aiton f.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 111)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 13, 85)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim (1998) (p. 26) Voucher cited: Lorence 8225 (PTBG)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1996) (voucher ID: BISH 649814) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia strobilifera (L.) Aiton & Aiton f.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 111)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 13, 80)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1968) (voucher ID: BISH 428471) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia strobilifera (L.) Aiton & Aiton f.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 111)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island	introduced	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 13, 80)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1950) (voucher ID: BISH 138048) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia strobilifera (L.) Aiton & Aiton f.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1950) (voucher ID: BISH 438049) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia strobilifera (L.) Aiton & Aiton f.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1950) (voucher ID: BISH 660704) Taxon name on voucher: Flemingia strobilifera (L.) Aiton & Aiton f.
Papua New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago	Bismarck Archipelago	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
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. (2007)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 9)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Lifuka and Foa Islands	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (pp. 6-7)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (pp. 6-7)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (pp. 6-7)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced invasive 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)	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Indonesia Indonesia	Irian Jaya (West Papua) (Indonesia) (western New Guinea Island)	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
Japan Ryukyu Islands	Ryukyu Islands	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Panama Panama	Panama (Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
Taiwan Taiwan	Taiwan Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)

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 (2005)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)

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

Invasive on Tahaa and Raiatea (Society Islands) and naturalized along roadsides on Nuku Hiva (Marquesas), French Polynesia (Jean-Yves Meyer, pers. com.). Naturalizing in Tonga (Space & Flynn, 2001). Naturalized specimens seen on Upolu, Samoa (Space & Flynn, 2002).

Also reported invasive in Jamaica

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

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

References:

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1936. Voucher specimen #BISH 438051 (Swezey, O.H.; collector's voucher number unknown).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1945. Voucher specimen #BISH 438052 (Conover, J.T. 567).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1948. Voucher specimen #BISH 438055 (Wong, C.C.Y. 365).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1949. Voucher specimen #BISH 10868 (Bryan Jr, E.H. 1598).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1950. Voucher specimen #BISH 138048 (Fosberg, F.R. 32116).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1950. Voucher specimen #BISH 438049 (Fosberg, F.R. 32139).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1950. Voucher specimen #BISH 660704 (Fosberg, F.R. 32116).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1952. Voucher specimen #BISH 545740 (McMillan, C. 5202).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1953. Voucher specimen #BISH 438050 (Fosberg, F.R. 35289).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1968. Voucher specimen #BISH 428471 (Blackburn, B.S. 219).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1983. Voucher specimen #BISH 649427 (Herbst, D.R. 7102).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1983. Voucher specimen #BISH 649432 (Herbst, D.R. 7097).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1983. Voucher specimen #BISH 1000252 (Herbst, D.R. 7097).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1983. Voucher specimen #BISH 1000253 (Herbst, D.R. 7102).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1990. Voucher specimen #BISH 642298 (Florence 10577).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1991. Voucher specimen #BISH 665044 (Sykes, W.R. 474749).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1991. Voucher specimen #BISH 665047 (Sykes, W.R. 474394A).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1992. Voucher specimen #BISH 643293 (Florence 11649).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1996. Voucher specimen #BISH 649814 (Raulerson, L. LR 26355).

Falanruw, Marjorie C./Maka, Jean E./Cole, Thomas G./Whitesell, Craig D. 1990. Common and scientific names of trees and shrubs of Mariana, Caroline, and Marshall Islands. Pac. SW Forest and Range Expt. Stn. Resource Bulletin PSW-67. 91 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, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce. 1979. A geographical checklist of the Micronesian dicotyledonae. Micronesica 15:1-295.

Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe. 1996. Conséquences des introductions d'espèces animales et végétales sur la biodiversité en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Rev. Ecol. (Terre Vie) 51:375-401.

ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre. 2005. International Legume Database & Information Service. Online searchable database.

Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim. 1998. Checklist of the plants of Palau. Unpublished checklist. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Hawai‘i. 40 pp.

Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy W./Wagner, Warren L. 1995. Contributions to the flora of Hawai‘i. III. New additions, range extensions, and rediscoveries of flowering plants. In: Evenhuis, Neal L. and Miller, Scott, E., eds. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 1994. Part 1: Articles. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers. 41:19-58.

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

McCormack, Gerald. 2007. Cook Islands biodiversity and natural heritage. On-line database.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2001. Report to the Kingdom of Tonga on invasive plant species of environmental concern.  USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 78 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./Flynn, Tim. 2002. Report to the Government of Samoa on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 83 pp.

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.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2007. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

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. .