Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet, 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:  Dolichos lablab L., Dolichos purpureus L.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chamorro: cheribilla apaka, chuchumeko

English: bonavist, dolichos, Egyptian kidney bean, hyacinth bean, lablab, lablab bean, musical bean, wild bean, wild bean creeper

Fijian: natomba, ndralawa, tomba

French: dolique, dolique d'Egypte, pois nourrice

Hawaiian: pāpapa, pī

Spanish: zarandajo

Tongan: pini‘ae puaka

Habit:  vine

Description:  "Twining climber; leaves trifoliolate; petioles 6-26 cm long; rachis and petiole up to 30 cm; leaflets entire, thinly pubescent, acute-acuminate, 5-15 cm long and wide; terminal leaflet ovate-rhombic, angulate; lateral leaflets asymmetrical; peduncle 5-30 cm long; flowers several together; calyx finely pubescent; tube 4-5 mm long, upper lip 3 mm; corolla violet or whitish; standard to 14 mm long, 20 mm broad; pod oblong, flattened, up to 12 cm long, beaked at tip; seeds 3-5, dark brown or pale tan or white, often speckled, hilum white, linear" (Stone, 1970; p. 333).

Habitat/ecology:  Widely naturalized and cultivated throughout the tropics.  In Hawai‘i, cultivated and naturalized in dry to mesic disturbed areas, 0-90 m elevation (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 676-678).  In Fiji, "cultivated and naturalized but sometimes appearing to be indigenous, often found in beach thickets but sometimes in open places or waste places up to about 450 m"  (Smith, 1985; pp. 235-236). In New Caledonia, "probablement d'introduction pré-européenne. Cultivé aujourd'hui sur une échelle modeste dans les jardins potagers et en formes fourragères dans les pâturages; parfois subspontané en terrains défrichés" (MacKee, 1994; p. 85).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Old World tropics, widely cultivated and probably an ancient introduction to the Pacific (Smith, 1985; pp. 235-236).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Norfolk Islands	Norfolk Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 9) "A relic of cultivation". Voucher cited: W.R. Sykes NI 360 (CHR)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Alamagan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 111)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Alamagan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 27) Voucher cited: Fosberg 31728 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Anatahan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 111)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Anatahan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 27) Voucher cited: Falanruw 1674 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 111)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 111)
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 145405) Taxon name on voucher: Dolichos lablab L.
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Volcan Sierra Negra	introduced invasive cultivated	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 111)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Kambara Island	introduced invasive cultivated abo. intro.	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 235-236) Voucher cited: Tothill 123
Fiji Fiji Islands	Matuku Island	introduced invasive cultivated abo. intro.	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 235-236) Voucher cited: Bryan 236
Fiji Fiji Islands	Matuku Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1924) (voucher ID: BISH 145413) Taxon name on voucher: Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ovalau Island	introduced invasive cultivated abo. intro.	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 235-236) Voucher cited: Milne 235
Fiji Fiji Islands	Taveuni Island	introduced invasive cultivated abo. intro.	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 235-236) Voucher cited: Seemann 118
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated abo. intro.	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 235-236) Vouchers cited: Greenwood 368, DA 87, DA 14534
French Polynesia Society Islands	Bora Bora Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 150) Voucher cited: Grant 4898
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 51)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 150) Voucher cited: Fosberg 63502
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 607304) Taxon name on voucher: Dolichos lablab L.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 150) Voucher cited: Fosberg 61012
French Polynesia Tubuai (Austral) Islands	Tubuai (Tupuai) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1934) (voucher ID: BISH 404984) Taxon name on voucher: Dolichos lablab L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced cultivated	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 333)
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) (1918) (voucher ID: BISH 145415) Taxon name on voucher: Dolichos lablab L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (year unknown) (voucher ID: BISH 145416) Taxon name on voucher: Dolichos lablab L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1918) (voucher ID: BISH 145417) Taxon name on voucher: Dolichos lablab L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1912) (voucher ID: BISH 145418) Taxon name on voucher: Dolichos lablab L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (year unknown) (voucher ID: BISH 145419) Taxon name on voucher: Dolichos lablab L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1918) (voucher ID: BISH 145420) Taxon name on voucher: Dolichos lablab L.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 676-678)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaho‘olawe Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 676-678)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 676-678)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 676-678)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 676-678)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 676-678)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Ni‘ihau Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 676-678)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 676-678)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kwajalein (Kuwajleen) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 111)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kwajalein (Kuwajleen) Atoll	introduced	Whistler, W. A./Steele, O. (1999) (p. 100) Not seen on this survey and may no longer be present.
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Vander Velde, Nancy (2003) (p. 98)
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 111)
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced cultivated	Thaman, R. R./Fosberg, F. R./Manner, H. I./Hassall, D. C. (1994) (p. 147)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Lifou	introduced invasive cultivated abo. intro.	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 85) Voucher cited: Däniker 2352 (Z)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Maré	introduced invasive cultivated abo. intro.	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 85) Voucher cited: Schmid 2219 (NOU)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive cultivated abo. intro.	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 85) Vouchers cited: Vieillard 2998, Balansa 294, Sarasin 261, Virot 748, MacKee 5132, MacKee 29361, MacKee 31964
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 154) Vouchers cited: CHR 150517, CHR 150518, CHR 150520
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 25)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1943) (p. 66) Voucher cited: Yuncker 9686 (BISH) "Naturalized and occasional in thickets".
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands	Pitcairn Island	introduced	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 104) "Potential invader".
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands	Pitcairn Island	introduced	St. John, H. (1987) (p. 36) Voucher cited: Ross 35
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands	Pitcairn Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Paulay, Gustav/Spencer, T./Oliver, Royce (1989) (p. 13) Voucher cited: Paulay, Spencer & Schuster 664 (US)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1972) (voucher ID: BISH 83891) Taxon name on voucher: Dolichos lablab L.
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Lifuka and Foa Islands	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 73)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Tofua Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 651842) Taxon name on voucher: Dolichos lablab L.
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Tofua Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 1000820) Taxon name on voucher: Dolichos lablab L.
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp. 150-151) "Occasional throughout Tonga".
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 60)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 53)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 30) Voucher cited: Setchell & Parks 15532
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp. 150-151) Voucher cited: Hürlimann 115
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1926) (voucher ID: BISH 155384) Taxon name on voucher: Dolichos lablab L.
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 67)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp. 150-151) Vouchers cited: Yuncker 16019, Yuncker 16025
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Burkill, I. H. (1900) (p. 35)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1953) (voucher ID: BISH 145410) Taxon name on voucher: Dolichos lablab L.

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 (2005)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
El Salvador El Salvador	El Salvador (Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
Indonesia Indonesia	Irian Jaya (West Papua) (Indonesia) (western New Guinea Island)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
Japan Ryukyu Islands	Ryukyu Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
Panama Panama	Panama (Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
Perú Perú	Perú (Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)

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 invasive cultivated	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 117)
Comoros Comoro Islands	Comoro Islands	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
Maldives Maldive Islands	Maldive Islands	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:  Probably an aboriginal introduction to Polynesia (Whistler, 1988; p. 25). Reported to be invasive on Pitcairn Island (Meyer, 2000; p. 104).

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

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

References:

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 0. Voucher specimen #BISH 145416 (Thompson, J.B. 276).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 0. Voucher specimen #BISH 145419 (Guerrero, J. 716).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1912. Voucher specimen #BISH 145418 (Thompson, J.B. 412).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1918. Voucher specimen #BISH 145415 (Nelson, P. 12).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1918. Voucher specimen #BISH 145417 (Nelson, P. 365).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1918. Voucher specimen #BISH 145420 (Nelson, P. 365).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1924. Voucher specimen #BISH 145413 (Bryan Jr, E.H. 236).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1926. Voucher specimen #BISH 155384 (Setchell, W.A. 15532).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1929. Voucher specimen #BISH 145405 (Wilson, E.H. 1004).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1934. Voucher specimen #BISH 404984 (St.John, H. 16503).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1953. Voucher specimen #BISH 145410 (Yuncker, T.G. 16019).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1972. Voucher specimen #BISH 83891 (Whistler, W.A. W 214).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1982. Voucher specimen #BISH 607304 (Fosberg, F.R. 63502).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1982. Voucher specimen #BISH 651842 (Buelow, G. 2688).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1982. Voucher specimen #BISH 1000820 (G.Buelow 2688).

Burkill, I. H. 1900. The flora of Vavau, one of the Tonga Islands, with a short account of its vegetation by Charles Steele Crosby. Lin. Jour. Bot. 35:20-65.

Charles Darwin Research Station. 2005. CDRS Herbarium records.

Fosberg, F. R. 1997. Preliminary checklist of the flowering plants and ferns of the Society Islands. Ed. by David R. Stoddart. U. Cal. Berkeley.

Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. 1975. Vascular flora of the northern Marianas Islands. Smithsonian Contrib. Bot. 22:1-45.

Fosberg, F. R./Paulay, Gustav/Spencer, T./Oliver, Royce. 1989. New collections and notes on the plants of Henderson, Pitcairn, Oeno, and Ducie Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 329. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 18 pp.

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce. 1979. A geographical checklist of the Micronesian dicotyledonae. Micronesica 15:1-295.

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

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

Meyer, Jean-Yves. 2000. Preliminary review of the invasive plants in the Pacific islands (SPREP Member Countries). In: Sherley, G. (tech. ed.). Invasive species in the Pacific: A technical review and draft regional strategy. South Pacific Regional Environment Programme, Samoa. 190 pp.

Orchard, Anthony E., ed. 1994. Flora of Australia. Vol. 49, Oceanic islands 1. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.

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. 2001. Report to the Kingdom of Tonga on invasive plant species of environmental concern.  USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 78 pp.

St. John, H. 1987. An account of the flora of Pitcairn Island with new Pandanus species. Honolulu, 65 pp.

Stone, Benjamin C. 1970. The flora of Guam. Micronesica 6:1-659.

Swarbrick, J. T. 1997. Environmental weeds and exotic plants on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean: a report to Parks Australia. 101 pp. plus appendix.

Sykes, Bill. 0. Bill Sykes, pers. com.

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

Thaman, R. R./Fosberg, F. R./Manner, H. I./Hassall, D. C. 1994. The flora of Nauru. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. Atoll Research Bulletin 392:1-223.

Vander Velde, Nancy. 2003. The vascular plants of Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. Smithsonian Institution, Atoll Research Bulletin No. 503:1-141.

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.

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. 1992. Flora of Tonga [unpublished checklist]. 107 pp.

Whistler, W. A./Steele, O. 1999. Botanical survey of the United States of America Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) Islands. Prepared for Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education and the U. S. Army Environmental Center. 111 pp.

Wiggins, I. L./Porter, D. M. 1971. Flora of the Galapágos Islands. Stanford University Press. 998 pp.

Yuncker, T. G. 1943. The flora of Niue Island. Bishop Mus. Bull. 178. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 126 pp.

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