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Interim profile, incomplete information Taxonomic name: Abrus precatorius L. Synonyms: Abrus abrus (L.) W. Wight, Glycine abrus Linnaeus Common names: alcaçuz-da-américa (Portuguese-Brazil), assacumirim (Portuguese-Brazil), coral bead plant, crab's eye, fuefue laulili‘i (Samoan), guen léglise (French), Indian-licorice, jequerity, jequiriti (Portuguese-Brazil), jequirity-bean, kaikes en iak (Pohnpei), kirikiri rangi (Cook Islands), kolales halomtano (Chamorro), koviriviri mata-tako (Cook Islands), lele (Fijian), lere ndamu (Fijian), licorice-vine, love-bean, lucky-bean, mata‘ila (Niuean), matamoe (Tongan), matamoho (Tongan), matamoso (Samoan), minnie-minnies, moho (Tongan), ndiri ndamu (Fijian), nggiri ndamu (Fijian), ojos de cangrejo (Spanish), olho-de-cabra-miúdo (Portuguese-Brazil), olho-de-pombo (Portuguese-Brazil), peronías (Spanish), pipi tio (Tahitian), pitipiti‘o (Cook Islands), pitipitio (Tahitian), pois rouge, pomea mataila (Niuean), prayer-beads, precatory, precatory bean, pukiawe (Hawaiian), pukiawe lei (Hawaiian), pukiawe lenalena (Hawaiian), pupukiawe (Hawaiian), red-beadvine, rosary pea, rosarypea, tento (Portuguese-Brazil), tento muido, uiui (Cook Islands), weather plant, weather vine Organism type: shrub Abrus precatorius a legume, is a nitrogen fixer and where present in large stands can alter soil nutrient status. It is also suspected to have allelopathic effects that could alter native species recruitment. Occurs in: agricultural areas, natural forests, range/grasslands, ruderal/disturbed, scrub/shrublands General impacts In Florida Abrus precatorius a nitrogen fixer, is reported to alter soil nutrient status where present in large stands. It is also suspected to have allelopathic effects that could alter native species recruitment (Gordon, 1998). A study Lindon & Menges (2008) conducted in south-Central Florida on the impacts of smoke on the germination of seeds found that A. precatorius was among three species that showed significant positive germination percentages after exposure to smoke. Lindon & Menges (2008) observe that the high germination success of A. precatorius without exposure to smoke and even higher germination success when exposed to smoke is of concern as it could contribute to the spread of these species. Uses Abrus precatorius seeds are used as beads; A. precatorius is used in folk medicine (USDA-ARS, 2010). Geographical range Native range: Africa; temperate and tropical Asia; Australasia; Pacific (USDA-ARS, 2010) Known introduced range: naturalized in the Neotropics (USDA-ARS, 2010). Local dispersal methods Consumption/excretion: Seed, spread by birds. Management information Physical: Small plants can be dug and pulled out (Motooka et al., 2003). Chemical: Abrus precatorius is probably sensitive to foliar sprays of triclopyr; good control has been observed with triclopyr ester at 10% in oil applied to basal bark or cut surface and with triclopyr amine at 50% in water applied to cut surface (Motooka et al., 2003). A user guide developed by Kline and Duquesnel (1996) based on the experiences of practitioners involved in the control of exotic species recommends the following treatment for the control of Method: Basal; Herbicide: Garlon 4; Concentration: 10%; Effectiveness: Good; Method: Cut; Herbicide: Garlon 4; Concentration: 10%; Effectiveness: Good; Method: Cut; Herbicide: Garlon 3A; Concentration: 50%; Effectiveness: Good Compiled by: IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) with support from the Overseas Territories Environmental Programme (OTEP) project XOT603, a joint project with the Cayman Islands Government - Department of Environment To contribute information, please contact Shyama Pagad. Last Modified: Tuesday, 8 June 2010