Calopogonium mucunoides Desv., Fabaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results: 

Reject, score: 10 (Go to the risk assessment (Australia))
Low risk (based on second screen), score: 6 (Go to the risk assessment (Pacific))

Other Latin names:  Calopogonium brachycarpum (Benth.) Benth. ex Hemsl.; Calopogonium orthocarpum Urb.; Stenolobium brachycarpum Benth.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chamorro: akankan-guakag

Chinese: mao man dou

English: calopo, calopogonium, wild ground nut

Palauan: kldlelel

Pohnpeian: kalopo

Spanish: frisolilla, rabo de iguana

Tongan: fuekala

Yapese: lagathulip nuop

Habit:  vine

Description:  "A vigorous, creeping, twining or trailing herb, up to several m long, forming a tangled mass of foliage 30-50 cm deep, with densely pilose stems with long spreading ferruginous hairs.  Leaves trifoliolate, petiole up to 16 cm long, pilose; leaflets elliptical, ovate or rhomboid-ovate, (1.5-) 4-10 (-15) cm x (1-) 2-5 (-9) cm, the laterals oblique, adpressed pilose or pubescent on both surfaces.  Inflorescence a slender raceme, up to 20 cm long, peduncle 0-17 cm long, ferruginous p0ilose; flowers in fascicles of 2-6, blue or purple; calyx campanulate, unequally 5-lobed; corolla with emarginate standard, about 1 cm long.  Pod linear-oblongoid, 2-4 cm x 3.5-5 mm, straight or curved, softly pilose with coarse reddish-brown hairs, impressed between the seeds, 3-8 seeded.  Seed compressed squarish, 2-3 mm long, yellowish or reddish-brown"  (Hanum &Van der Maesen, 1997; p. 84).

Habitat/ecology:  "Calopo is grown from sea level to 2000 m altitude, but is best adapted to altitudes 300-1500 m.  It is well suited to the hot humid tropics with an annual rainfall exceeding 1250 mm but not tolerant of frost.  It is moderately drought-tolerant but may die out if the dry season is prolonged.  Vigorous growth occurs on soils of all textures, even those with a low pH range of 4.5-5.  Its self-seeding nature and twining growth habit make calopo well adapted to a range of ecological conditions.  Calopo is poorly adapted to shade, showing a marked decline in top growth, root growth and nodulation with decreasing light intensities"  (Hanum &Van der Maesen, 1997; p. 85).

Forms dense mats that smother native vegetation. (Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; p. 146). "Disturbed areas in heavier soils such as roadsides, waste areas, along creek lines and edges of monsoon vine thickets. An extremely vigorous climber that smothers supporting vegetation and is relatively shade tolerant. A serious weed of peanut crops in Queensland." (Smith, 2002; p. 45).

Propagation:  "Dispersed by seed as a contaminant in hay or in mud adhering to vehicles and stock. Seed is expelled short distances from the pods which twist upon drying." (Smith, 2002; p. 45).

Native range:  Tropical America; widely cultivated and naturalized in the tropics (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ofu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 39)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 33) Voucher: Flynn 6563 (PTBG)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1999) (voucher ID: PTBG 301) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1992) (voucher ID: PTBG 44557) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island	introduced	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 36)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 103)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1950) (voucher ID: BISH 153307) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Sarigan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 103)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Sarigan Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 26) Vouchers cited: Falanruw 1760? (US), Evans 2350 (US, BISH, Fo, NY)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 103)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 153304) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Saipan	Saipan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 103)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Saipan	Saipan Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 153309) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 79)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1991) (voucher ID: BISH 664486) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1991) (voucher ID: BISH 666385) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 91)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Miti‘aro Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Sykes, Bill (year unknown)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1991) (voucher ID: BISH 666387) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island	introduced	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Denslow, Julie S./Nelson, Duane/Mazawa, Thomas R. (2000) (p. 25)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 103)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced invasive	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 89) Voucher cited: E.Y. Hosaka 3550 (BISH) Naturalized
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 153312) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Tomil Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 153314) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 103)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1948) (voucher ID: BISH 153305) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 225) Voucher cited: DA L.15606
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 225) Vouchers cited: DA 14358 (FDA 16027), DA 12310, DA 9513, DA 2596
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1941) (voucher ID: BISH 14435) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1965) (voucher ID: BISH 32865) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1961) (voucher ID: BISH 34244) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence & W.R. Sykes 11438 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1992) (voucher ID: BISH 643570) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Tubuai Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence & W.R. Sykes 11129 Adventice
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 324) Vouchers cited: Stone 3911 (GUAM), Stone 4726 (GUAM) Naturalized
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 103)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1953) (voucher ID: BISH 153306) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1949) (voucher ID: BISH 153308) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1950) (voucher ID: BISH 153311) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1950) (voucher ID: BISH 571823) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1965) (voucher ID: BISH 661313) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced cultivated	Imada, Clyde T./Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral R. (2013) (p. Voucher specimens) Vouchers cited: Shigenaga 708 (BISH 591253), Shigenaga 709 (BISH 591254), Herbst 9306 (BISH 596381)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced cultivated	Imada, Clyde T./Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral R. (2013) (p. Voucher specimens) Voucher cited: Rock 2517 (BISH 23572)
Japan (offshore islands) Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands	Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands	introduced	Kato, Hidetoshi (2007)
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 103)
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced invasive	Thaman, R. R./Fosberg, F. R./Manner, H. I./Hassall, D. C. (1994) (pp. 138-139) Vouchers cited: Fosberg 58651 (US), Hassall 153 (SUVA) Naturalized but rare.
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1978) (voucher ID: BISH 438355) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 81) Vouchers cited: Blanchon 797, MacKee 21945, MacKee 27609 Spontané
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 145) Vouchers cited: CHR 150511, CHR 150509
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 22)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 39)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 103)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 84)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 20)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 153313) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 507011) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 571811) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1981) (voucher ID: BNM 3146) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1996) (voucher ID: BNM 26375) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1981) (voucher ID: BNM 3139) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1981) (voucher ID: BNM 3080) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1987) (voucher ID: PTBG 22487) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 103)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 79)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1950) (voucher ID: BISH 153310) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1981) (voucher ID: BISH 661314) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Malakal (Ngemelachel) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1978) (voucher ID: BISH 503127) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 79)
Papua New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago	Bismarck Archipelago	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Papua New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago	Bismarck Archipelago	introduced invasive cultivated	Peekel, P. G. [translated by E. E. Henty] (1984) (p. 253) Introduced to suppress weeds in coconut plantations. Now naturalized.
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced invasive	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 146)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands		Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 63)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 69)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 65)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	native cultivated	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 54)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1969) (voucher ID: BISH 697300) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.

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)	Northern Territory	introduced invasive cultivated	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 146)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive cultivated	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 146)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	El Salvador (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) "Cultivated. S. Guangdong, S. Guangxi, Hainan".
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 146)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)		Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 63)
Indonesia Indonesia	West Papua Province (Indonesia) (western New Guinea Island) (formerly Irian Jaya)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	introduced invasive	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 146)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)		Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 63)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)		Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 63)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 23) Naturalised
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	introduced cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)

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. 107)
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. Arthur (1996) (p. 27)
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1995) (voucher ID: PTBG 37909) Taxon name on voucher: Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Comments:  Used as a cover crop, but poor forage. Invasive in Australia. (Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; p. 146).

Control:  If you know of control methods for Calopogonium mucunoides, please let us know.