Pueraria phaseoloides (Roxb.) Benth., 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 (Australia))
High risk, score: 17 (Go to the risk assessment (Pacific))

Other Latin names:  Dolichos phaseoloides Roxb.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: puero, tropical kudzu

Kwara‘ae: fa‘i sa‘a, kwalo sa‘a

Maori (Cook Islands): kūtū

Habit:  vine

Description:  (var. javanica) "Climbing, perennial shrub; stems slender, 2-10 m long, rusty-hairy; roots tuberous. Leaflets rhombic to ovate, 3-15 cm long, cuneate to rounded at base, entire or slightly sinuate, acute, mucronate, appressed-hairy; lateral leaflets unequal-sided; petiole 3-11 cm long. Pseudoracemes 15-30 cm long; flowers mostly in clusters; pedicels 2-5 mm long. Calyx tube 3-4 mm long, pubescent; upper 2 teeth connate almost to apex; lateral teeth obtuse. Petals purple, margins white; standard broadly elliptic, ca 18 mm long, auriculate at base; wings ariculate and lobed at base; keel falcate, acute. Fruit linear, 5-10 cm long, septate, slightly compressed, pubescent, dark grey. Seeds 14-20, barrel-shaped, brown; hilum circular" (Du Puy, 1993).

Habitat/ecology:  Naturalizes along roadsides and moist disturbed areas. In New Caledonia, "introduit comme plante de couverture; ainsi utilisé à présent en quelques caféières à ombrage réduit de la côte Est" (MacKee, 1994; p. 89).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Indo-China, Malesia, the Philippines, New Guinea and the Pacific Islands (Du Puy, 1993).

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	Aitutaki Atoll		McCormack, Gerald (2007)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		McCormack, Gerald (2007)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1991) (voucher ID: BISH 664480) Taxon name on voucher: Pueraria phaseoloides (Roxb.) Benth.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1991) (voucher ID: BISH 664481) Taxon name on voucher: Pueraria phaseoloides (Roxb.) Benth.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1991) (voucher ID: BISH 665013) Taxon name on voucher: Pueraria phaseoloides (Roxb.) Benth.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1991) (voucher ID: BISH 665014) Taxon name on voucher: Pueraria phaseoloides (Roxb.) Benth.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1991) (voucher ID: BISH 665015) Taxon name on voucher: Pueraria phaseoloides (Roxb.) Benth.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island		McCormack, Gerald (2007)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		McCormack, Gerald (2007)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005) infraspecific: 'var. javanica'
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Wolf Islands	Wolf Island	introduced	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 227-228) Vouchers cited: DA 16682, DA L.15607 Perhaps very sparingly naturalized.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1969) (voucher ID: BISH 32867) Taxon name on voucher: Pueraria phaseoloides (Roxb.) Benth.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 227-228) Vouchers cited: DA 6001, DA 8304, DA 8487 (FDA 13471) Perhaps very sparingly naturalized.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1954) (voucher ID: BISH 14559) Taxon name on voucher: Pueraria phaseoloides (Roxb.) Benth.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 492603) Taxon name on voucher: Pueraria phaseoloides (Roxb.) Benth.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 491362) Taxon name on voucher: Pueraria phaseoloides (Roxb.) Benth.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1986) (voucher ID: BISH 545420) Taxon name on voucher: Pueraria phaseoloides (Roxb.) Benth.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 38)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 89) Vouchers cited: MacKee 40812, Veillon 6002 Spontané
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (pp. 159-160) Cultivated? Presence not verified. Vouchers cited: CHR 150552, CHR 150551
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 25)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 46)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Raulerson, L./Rinehart, A. F./Falanruw, M. C. (1996)
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)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	native	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1993)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1972) (voucher ID: BISH 83835) Taxon name on voucher: Pueraria phaseoloides (Roxb.) Benth.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1972) (voucher ID: BISH 83895) Taxon name on voucher: Pueraria phaseoloides (Roxb.) Benth.
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced invasive cultivated	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 104)

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)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 299)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Ecuador (Mainland) Ecuador	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Negara Brunei Darussalam Brunei	Brunei (Negara Brunei Darussalam)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Panama Panama	Panama (Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
Perú Perú	Perú (Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	probably native	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 68, 78)
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
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced cultivated	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 125) var. javanica Possibly naturalized.
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2005)
India (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Andaman Islands	Andaman Islands	native	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:  Recently found on Guam (John Lawrence, pers. com.).

Reported present in Hawai‘i on USDA PLANTS database.

Previously reported cultivated on Niue (Sykes, 1970; pp. 159-160) but not seen in May 2000 (Space & Flynn, 2000).

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

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

References:

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1954. Voucher specimen #BISH 14559 (Nand, S. 8487).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1969. Voucher specimen #BISH 32867 (Parham, J.W. 16682).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1972. Voucher specimen #BISH 83835 (Whistler, W.A. W 185).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1972. Voucher specimen #BISH 83895 (Whistler, W.A. W 217).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1982. Voucher specimen #BISH 491362 (Florence, J. 3497).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1983. Voucher specimen #BISH 492603 (Florence, J. 4931).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1986. Voucher specimen #BISH 545420 (Florence, J. 7726).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1991. Voucher specimen #BISH 664480 (Sykes, W.R. 474552).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1991. Voucher specimen #BISH 664481 (Sykes, W.R. 474552).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1991. Voucher specimen #BISH 665013 (Sykes, W.R. 474559).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1991. Voucher specimen #BISH 665014 (Sykes, W.R. 474559).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1991. Voucher specimen #BISH 665015 (Sykes, W.R. 474711).

Charles Darwin Research Station. 2005. CDRS Herbarium records.

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

Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. 1979. A geographical atlas of world weeds. John Wiley & Sons, New York. 391 pp.

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.

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

Orchard, Anthony E., ed. 1993. Flora of Australia. Vol. 50, Oceanic islands 2. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.

Raulerson, L. 2006. Checklist of Plants of the Mariana Islands. University of Guam Herbarium Contribution 40:1-69. .

Raulerson, L./Rinehart, A. F./Falanruw, M. C. 1996. A botanical reconnaissance of the proposed Compact-impact road alignment on Babeldaob Island, Republic of Palau. U. of Guam Herbarium Cont. No. 32. 78 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. 2000. Report to the Government of Niue on invasive plant species of environmental concern.  USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 34 pp.

Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate. 2004. Report to the Government of Niue and the United Nations Development Programme: Invasive plant species on Niue following Cyclone Heta. UNDP NIU/98/G31 - Niue Enabling Activity. 80 pp.

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

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. 2007. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

Waterhouse, D. F. 1993. The major invertebrate pests and weeds of agriculture in Southeast Asia. The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra. 141 pp.