Code
ABRPR
Growth form
Creeper
Life cycle
Perennial
Habitat
Terrestrial
ABRPR
Growth form
Creeper
Life cycle
Perennial
Habitat
Terrestrial
🗒 Synonyms
| synonym | Abrus abrus (L.)Wright |
| synonym | Abrus cyaneus R.Vig. |
| synonym | Abrus maculatus Noronha |
| synonym | Abrus minor Desv. |
| synonym | Abrus pauciflorus Desv. |
| synonym | Abrus precatorius var. novo-guineensis Miq. |
| synonym | Abrus squamulosus E.Mey. |
| synonym | Abrus tunguensis Lima |
| synonym | Glycine abrus L. |
🗒 Common Names
| Creoles and pidgins; French-based |
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| English |
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| French |
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| Other |
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📚 Overview
Diagnostic
Global description
Abrus precatorius is a fine woody creeper up to 50 m long. Very branched, leaves alternate, bipinnately compound, 5 to 8 cm long, 8 to 20 pairs of oblong to oval leaflets 0.6-3 cm long and 0.3-1 cm wide. The leaflets are pale green with finely pubescent faces. Many flowers, on an axillary raceme 5 to 7 cm long. Typical Fabaceae flower, 0.9 to 1.5 cm long, with a broad, white, pink to purplish flag. The fruit is an elliptical pod, 2 to 5 cm long and 1 to 1.5 cm wide, dehiscent at maturity, with a silky pubescence at first, hooked. Each pod contains 3 to 6 smooth seeds, very hard, ovoid (3 to 5 mm long), pink at first and scarlet red when ripe with a large black spot.
Abrus precatorius is a fine woody creeper up to 50 m long. Very branched, leaves alternate, bipinnately compound, 5 to 8 cm long, 8 to 20 pairs of oblong to oval leaflets 0.6-3 cm long and 0.3-1 cm wide. The leaflets are pale green with finely pubescent faces. Many flowers, on an axillary raceme 5 to 7 cm long. Typical Fabaceae flower, 0.9 to 1.5 cm long, with a broad, white, pink to purplish flag. The fruit is an elliptical pod, 2 to 5 cm long and 1 to 1.5 cm wide, dehiscent at maturity, with a silky pubescence at first, hooked. Each pod contains 3 to 6 smooth seeds, very hard, ovoid (3 to 5 mm long), pink at first and scarlet red when ripe with a large black spot.
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
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No Data
📚 Nomenclature and Classification
No Data
📚 Natural History
Life Cycle
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Mayotte : Abrus precatorius flowers from January to August and fruits from April to December.
New Caledonia: The development cycle of A. precatorius is slow (30 cm of growth per year after germination of seeds that have a dormancy of several years). Fruiting takes place in the dry season. The liana is deciduous, it loses its leaves in the dry season and needs support to develop.
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Cyclicity
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Abrus precatorius is a perennial base and annual liana propagated by its very showy seeds. The lateral extensions of the liana make it possible to disseminate the seeds over short distances.
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Ecology
Mayotte: Abrus precatorius is a very common native species in all degraded environments, on the coast, in padza, and xerophilic formations, in crops, villages, and forest edges in mesophilic and hygrophilic zones.
Reunion: Sporadic species of thickets and secondary forests in th dry zone of the island.
Seychelles: Present at forest edges.
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
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Miscellaneous Details
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Toxicity
Abrus precatorius is very toxic to mammals and can be fatal. The seeds are particularly toxic if they are ingested crushed or chewed because of their "abrin" content (glyco-protein close to ricin). They cause digestive, circulatory, blood, neuromuscular and respiratory symptoms. The plant is not appetized by livestock.
Abrus precatorius is very toxic to mammals and can be fatal. The seeds are particularly toxic if they are ingested crushed or chewed because of their "abrin" content (glyco-protein close to ricin). They cause digestive, circulatory, blood, neuromuscular and respiratory symptoms. The plant is not appetized by livestock.
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
No Data
📚 Habitat and Distribution
General Habitat
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Origin
Abrus precatorius is native to Africa, Madagascar and tropical Asia.
Worldwide distribution
It is naturalized on the American continent and considered native in Australia and in many Pacific islands (Fiji, Polynesia). The species is invasive in some islands such as Marianas, Galapagos, Hawaii. It was introduced in New Caledonia in 1860.
Abrus precatorius is native to Africa, Madagascar and tropical Asia.
Worldwide distribution
It is naturalized on the American continent and considered native in Australia and in many Pacific islands (Fiji, Polynesia). The species is invasive in some islands such as Marianas, Galapagos, Hawaii. It was introduced in New Caledonia in 1860.
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
No Data
📚 Occurrence
No Data
📚 Demography and Conservation
Risk Statement
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Overall harmfulness
Abrus precatorius is considered in many countries as a crop weed and / or invasive species of natural environments. In the USA it is classified in Category 1 "Noxious weed".
Local harmfulness
Mayotte : Abrus precatorius is a weed that is not very frequent in Mayotte (present in 1% of cultivated plots). It grows in food crops, and can also be found in pastures. It is more abundant in the north of the island.
New Caledonia: Abrus precatorius is not considered to be invasive but it occurs quite frequently throughout the territory in quite varied environments including pastures in areas with trees or shrubs that support it.
Réunion: Not found in cultivated fields.
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
No Data
📚 Uses and Management
Uses
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Medicinal: In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the roots, stem and leaves of Abrus precatorius are used together to treat abdominal colic in newborns. The seeds are extremely toxic.
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Management
Local control
New Caledonia: This species is not an invasive species of pastures, however it is included in this guide because of its toxicity which requires that it be identified to eliminate it quickly. Not eaten by livestock, seeds can be exceptionally ingested by inexperienced animals. A simple mechanical action by cutting off the stems is ineffective because followed mostly by the emission of rejects. For a more effective result, supplement with the brush application of an herbicide on the cut vine section. Two active ingredients are recommended (triclopyr, triclopyr + picloram) and a total herbicide (glyphosate), which must be diluted with water (see dose in the table of treatment). The application of the product must be done in a period of active growth so rather in hot season.
New Caledonia: This species is not an invasive species of pastures, however it is included in this guide because of its toxicity which requires that it be identified to eliminate it quickly. Not eaten by livestock, seeds can be exceptionally ingested by inexperienced animals. A simple mechanical action by cutting off the stems is ineffective because followed mostly by the emission of rejects. For a more effective result, supplement with the brush application of an herbicide on the cut vine section. Two active ingredients are recommended (triclopyr, triclopyr + picloram) and a total herbicide (glyphosate), which must be diluted with water (see dose in the table of treatment). The application of the product must be done in a period of active growth so rather in hot season.
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
No Data
📚 Information Listing
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
References
- Fournet, J. (2002). Flore illustrée des phanérogames de Guadeloupe et de Martinique. Montpellier, France, Cirad, Gondwana éditions.
- https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/1965
- Bosser, J., I. K. Fergusson and C. Soopramanien (Mult. an.). Flore des Mascareignes. La Réunion, Maurice, Rodrigues, MSIRI, IRD, Kew.
- Blanfort, V., F. Desmoulins, J. Prosperi, T. Le Bourgeois, R. Guiglion and P. Grard (2010). AdvenPaC V.1.0 : Adventices et plantes à conflit d'intérêt des Pâturages de Nouvelle-Calédonie. Montpellier, France, IAC, Cirad.http://idao.cirad.fr/applications
- Barthelat, F. 2019. La Flore illustrée de Mayotte. Meze, Paris, France, Collection Inventaires et Biodiversité, Biotope – Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle. 487 p.
- Huat, J., Nagy, M., Carpente, A., Schwartz, M., Le Bourgeois, T. & Marnotte, P. 2021. Guide de la flore spontannée des agrosystèmes de Mayotte. Montpellier, Cirad. 150 p.
Information Listing > References
- Fournet, J. (2002). Flore illustrée des phanérogames de Guadeloupe et de Martinique. Montpellier, France, Cirad, Gondwana éditions.
- https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/1965
- Bosser, J., I. K. Fergusson and C. Soopramanien (Mult. an.). Flore des Mascareignes. La Réunion, Maurice, Rodrigues, MSIRI, IRD, Kew.
- Blanfort, V., F. Desmoulins, J. Prosperi, T. Le Bourgeois, R. Guiglion and P. Grard (2010). AdvenPaC V.1.0 : Adventices et plantes à conflit d'intérêt des Pâturages de Nouvelle-Calédonie. Montpellier, France, IAC, Cirad.http://idao.cirad.fr/applications
- Barthelat, F. 2019. La Flore illustrée de Mayotte. Meze, Paris, France, Collection Inventaires et Biodiversité, Biotope – Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle. 487 p.
- Huat, J., Nagy, M., Carpente, A., Schwartz, M., Le Bourgeois, T. & Marnotte, P. 2021. Guide de la flore spontannée des agrosystèmes de Mayotte. Montpellier, Cirad. 150 p.
Images
Herbarium pictures ReCOLNAT: https://explore.recolnat.org/search/botanique/simplequery=Abrus%2520precatorius
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
No Data
🐾 Taxonomy
| Root | Root |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Fabales |
| Family | Fabaceae |
| Genus | Abrus |
| Species | Abrus precatorius L. |
📊 Temporal Distribution
📷 Related Observations
