Sesbania cannabina (Retz.) Poir., Fabaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Reject, score: 17 (Go to the risk assessment)

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: tian jing

English: canicha, prickly sesban, sesbania pea

French: sesbane chanvré

Other: dhaincha, dhunchi

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Herbs, annual, 3-3.5 m tall. Stems green or sometimes brown, smooth, with inconspicuous light greenish stripes, slightly glaucous, basally with many adventitious roots; young branches sparsely appressed villous, glabrescent, with white mucilage when broken. Stipules lanceolate, caducous. Leaves 40-60 (-80)-foliolate; rachis 15-25 cm, sparsely appressed villous when young, glabrescent, adaxially grooved; petiolules ca. 1 mm, with sparsely appressed trichomes; stipels subulate, subequal to petiolules or shorter, persistent; leaflet blades opposite or subopposite, linear-oblong, 8-20 (-40) x 2.5-4 (-7) mm, smaller at both ends of rachis than in middle, both surfaces with appressed purplish glands but abaxially denser, abaxially sparsely appressed villous when young but glabrescent, adaxially glabrous, both ends asymmetric, base rounded, apex blunt to truncate and mucronate. Racemes 3-10 cm, 2-6-flowered, lax; peduncle slender, pendulous, sparsely appressed villous; bract linear-lanceolate, caducous. Pedicel slender, pendulous, sparsely appressed villous; bracteoles 2, caducous. Calyx obliquely campanulate, 3-4 mm, glabrous; teeth triangular, with 1-3 appendages between each, inner margin white slender pilose, apex acute. Corolla yellow; standard lamina transversely ovate to suborbicular, 9-10 mm, with a ca. 2 mm claw, base subrounded and with a small pyriform callus, apex retuse to rounded; wings obovate-oblong, ± as long as standard, ca. 3.5 mm wide, with transverse corrugation, base shortly auriculate, middle with dark grayish brown spots; keel broadly triangular-ovate, shorter than wings, as long as wide, with a ca. 4.5 mm claw, apex obtuse. Anthers ovate to oblong. Pistil glabrous; stigma capitate. Legume long terete, slightly curved, 12-22 cm x 2.5-3.5 mm, dehiscent, outside with dark brown stripes, trabeculate between seeds, carpopodium ca. 5 mm, apex acute and with a 5-7(-10) mm beak. Seeds 20-35 per legume, greenish brown, terete, ca. 4 x 2-3 mm, glossy; hilum rounded, slightly oblique to one end"  (Flora of China online).

"Glaucous erect subshrub, annual, up to about 1 m tall; leaves up to 30 cm long; leaflets small and numerous, oblong, about 1 cm long and 3.5 mm wide, shortly petiolulate, opposite, grayish-green, blunt, in about 20-40 pairs; flowers rather small, about 1 cm long, pale yellow; pods slender, curved, round in section, pendent, 15-20 cm long, 3-4 mm thick, slightly constricted between the seeds; these numerous, scarcely 3 mm long" (Stone, 1970; p. 343).

Habitat/ecology:  In New Caledonia, "introduit depuis longtemps; à présent largement répandu par petits peuplements dispersés en pâturages, bords de route et lieux incultes" (MacKee, 1994; p. 90).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  India and the Asiatic Tropics (Stone, 1970; p. 343).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 118)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 118)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C. (1980) (p. 205) Voucher cited: Falanruw 3366 (US)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 343) Vouchers cited: Stone 4156 (GUAM), Stone 4704 (GUAM), Stone 4866 (GUAM)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 118)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1966) (voucher ID: PTBG 22749) Taxon name on voucher: Sesbania cannabina
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Lifou	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 90) Voucher cited: Sarasin 817
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Îles Ouvéa (Ouvea Atoll)	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 90) Voucher cited: Blanchon 1523
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 90) Vouchers cited: Balansa 306, Corbasson in MacKee 21951, MacKee 23615, MacKee 25262, MacKee 25309, Pirard in MacKee 38010, Suprin in MacKee 45829
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 118)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 102)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 3) Voucher: Lorence 9808 (PTBG, BNM, NY, TAMU, US)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2008) (voucher ID: PTBG 101) Taxon name on voucher: Sesbania cannabina (Retz.) Pers.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 118)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 3)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Malakal Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 118)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Malakal Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 3) Voucher: Lorence 9717 (PTBG, BISH, BNM, NY, US)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Malakal Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1981) (voucher ID: BNM 3128) Taxon name on voucher: Sesbania cannabina (Retz.) Pers.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Malakal Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2008) (voucher ID: PTBG 10) Taxon name on voucher: Sesbania cannabina (Retz.) Pers.
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. (2011)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands		Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 281) Along streams, in open wet lands, etc., at low and medium altitudes.

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	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced invasive cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2011) "Cultivated and sometimes naturalized in open wastelands and paddy field margins".
China China	Hong Kong	introduced invasive cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 153)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Indonesia Indonesia	West Papua Province (Indonesia) (western New Guinea Island) (formerly Irian Jaya)	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Japan Japan	Japan (country)	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 185)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 79) Naturalised
Taiwan Taiwan	Taiwan Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2011) "Cultivated and sometimes naturalized in open wastelands and paddy field margins".

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) Cocos (Keeling) Islands	Cocos (Keeling) Islands	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1993) (p. 37)
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. Arthur (1996) (p. 28)
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1995) (voucher ID: PTBG 43836) Taxon name on voucher: Sesbania cannabina
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Cousin Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R. (1983) (p. 26) Voucher cited: Fosberg 52051 (US)

Comments:  Noted on experimental plots in Fiji (Smith, 1985; p. 181) but present status there not known.

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

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

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

References:

Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.). 1981. Voucher specimen #BNM3128(Timberlake, J. 3128).

Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. 2009. A checklist of the total vascular plant flora of Singapore: native, naturalised and cultivated species. Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, National University of Singapore. 273 pp.

Fosberg, F. R. 1983. Natural history of Cousin Island. In: Sachet, M. H., D. R. Stoddart, and F. R. Fosberg. Floristics and ecology of Western Indian Ocean islands. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 273. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 253 pp.

Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C. 1980. Noteworthy Micronesian plants 4. Micronesica 16(2):201-210.

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

ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre. 2011. 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.

Merrill, Elmer D. 1923. An enumeration of Philippine flowering plants, vol. 2 [reprint]. Bureau of Printing, Manila. 530 pp.

Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro. 2004. Invasive alien species in Japan: the status quo and the new regulation for prevention of their adverse effects. Global Environmental Research 8(2)/2004: 171-191.

National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.). 2008. Voucher specimen #PTBG10(David H. Lorence 9717).

National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.). 2008. Voucher specimen #PTBG101(David H. Lorence 9808).

Orchard, Anthony E., ed. 1993. Flora of Australia. Vol. 50, Oceanic islands 2. 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./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. 227 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.

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

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

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2011. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

Whistler, W. Arthur. 1996. Botanical survey of Diego Garcia, Chagos Archipelago, British Indian Ocean Territory. Isle Botanica. 49 pp.

Wu, Te-lin. 2001. Check List of Hong Kong Plants. Hong Kong Herbarium and the South China Institute of Botany. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Bulletin 1 (revised). 384 pp.

Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong. 2011. Flora of China (online resource).