Macroptilium atropurpureum (DC.) Urb., Fabaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results: 

Reject, score: 7 (Go to the risk assessment (Australia))
High risk, score: 7 (Go to the risk assessment (Pacific))

Other Latin names:  Phaseolus atropurpureus DC.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: zi hua da yi dou

English: atro, purple bushbean, purple-bean, siratro, surple bean

French: macroptilium à fleur pourpre, siratro

Japanese: kurobana-tsuru-azuki

Spanish: choncho, conchito, frijolillo, siratro

Habit:  vine

Description:  "A trailing or creeping perennial herb, cultivated only from near sea level to about 200 m.  The young stems are copiously white-spreading-pilose, rooting at nodes, and the ovate stipules are acuminate and 3-5 mm long.  The leaflet blades, ovate to rhomboid, are 2-7 x 1.5-5 cm, obtuse to acute and mucronulate at apex, copiously white-subsericeous beneath, and with 1 or 2 inconspicuous lateral lobes.  The few-flowered inflorescences have peduncles 10-25 cm long, and the petals are 1.5-2.5 cm long, dark read to blackish purple.  The fruits are about 7-9 cm long and 4.5 mm broad, appressed-pilose, and beaked, with 12-15 oblong-ellipsoid, pitted, brown, black-spotted seeds about 4 mm long"  (Smith, 1985; p. 247).

Habitat/ecology:  Introduced as a pasture species or a contaminant in grass seed.  Can form dense infestations in disturbed areas.  Dense growth can smother young trees (Csurhes and Edwards, 1998; p. 117).  In Hawai‘i, "naturalized along roadsides and in other disturbed areas"  (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 682-683). In New Caledonia, "introduit comme fourrage; employé en pâturage, devenu largement répandu et localement abondant dans des lieux incultes" (MacKee, 1994; p. 87).

Propagation:  Seed, rooting from nodes.

Native range:  Tropical and subtropical America from southern US to Peru; also cultivated and naturalized (GRIN).

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	Tinian Island	introduced	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 37)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Aitutaki Atoll	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 75)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 81)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1991) (voucher ID: BISH 664482) Taxon name on voucher: Macroptilium atropurpureum (DC.) Urb.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 93)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Miti‘aro Island		Sykes, Bill (year unknown)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 68)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 247) Voucher cited: DA 16681
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1969) (voucher ID: BISH 32871) Taxon name on voucher: Macroptilium atropurpureum (DC.) Urb.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 247) Vouchers cited: DA 13184 (FDA 15318), DA 12319 (FDA 15313), DA 12314
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1963) (voucher ID: BISH 32872) Taxon name on voucher: Macroptilium atropurpureum (DC.) Urb.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1989) (voucher ID: PTBG 1925) Taxon name on voucher: Macroptilium atropurpureum
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1987) (p. 37) Vouchers cited: Fosberg 64939 (US), Fosberg 64956 (US), Tillette 2 (US)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: F.R. Fosberg 64936 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1985) (voucher ID: BISH 599716) Taxon name on voucher: Macroptilium atropurpureum (DC.) Urb.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1985) (voucher ID: BISH 661301) Taxon name on voucher: Macroptilium atropurpureum (DC.) Urb.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1981) (voucher ID: PTBG 37292) Taxon name on voucher: Macroptilium atropurpureum
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rapa Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 6172 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 543908) Taxon name on voucher: Phaseolus atropurpureus DC.
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Tubuai Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 37)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 682-683)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaho‘olawe Island	introduced invasive	Starr, Forest/Starr, Kim (2011) (p. 27) Voucher cited: Starr, Starr & Hagashino 080208-01 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim (2006) (p. 3) Voucher cited: T. Flynn 7238 (PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank (2008) (p. 28) Voucher cited: Oppenheimer H110704 (BISH, PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 682-683)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank L. (2003) (p. 13) Voucher cited: Oppenheimer H70110 (BISH, PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 682-683)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Tarawa Atoll	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Imada, Clyde T. (2004) (p. 11) Voucher: Imada 2003-32 (BISH 697647)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Tarawa Atoll		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (2003) (voucher ID: BISH 697647) Taxon name on voucher: Macroptilium atropurpureum (DC.) Urb.
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 94)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 87) Vouchers cited: Blanchon 282, MacKee 14644, MacKee 16517, MacKee 24365, MacKee 28756, MacKee 31252, MacKee 46139
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (pp. 157-158) Vouchers cited: CHR 150533, CHR 150521
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 25)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A./Atherton, J. (1997) (p. 35)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 44)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 85)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 21) Voucher: Lorence 9807 (PTBG, BNM, NY, US)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2008) (voucher ID: PTBG 100) Taxon name on voucher: Macroptilium atropurpureum (DC.) Urb.
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 25) Voucher cited: Whistler 2259
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced cultivated	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 88)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Lifuka and Foa Islands	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 73)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 61) Voucher: Flynn 6900 (PTBG)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2001) (voucher ID: PTBG 225) Taxon name on voucher: Macroptilium atropurpureum
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 25) Voucher cited: Buelow 228
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 54)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 67)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 94)
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis (‘Uvea) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2007) (p. 35)

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. 117)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive cultivated abo. intro.	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 117)
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. Guangdong".
China China	Hong Kong	introduced cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 148) Forage.
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 184)
Japan Ryukyu Islands	Ryukyu Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 58) 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 invasive cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (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	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 118)
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Cocos (Keeling) Islands	Cocos (Keeling) Islands	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1993) (p. 37)
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Rodrigues Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Groupe d'Aldabra	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)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Texas

Comments:  Naturalized in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory in high rainfall tropical and sub-tropical coastal areas. Common in riparian vegetation and coastal sand dune vegetation near Brisbane. (Csurhes and Edwards, 1998; p. 117)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Macroptilium atropurpureum, please let us know.