Home | > | List of families | > | Fabaceae subfamily Papilionoideae | > | Abrus | > | precatorius |
Synonyms: |
Abrus tunguensis Pires de Lima |
Common names: | Lucky bean creeper (English) |
Frequency: | Frequent |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Woody, deciduous climber. Leaves paripinnate with numerous pairs of oblong leaflets. Flowers in short terminal inflorescences, lilac. Pods in clusters, grey-green, densely velvety, drying brown to black and splitting to reveal the bright red and black seeds. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | precatorius: used for a rosary, referring to the seeds, which have traditionally been used for this purpose. |
Habitat: | In thickets and riverine fringes, usually in hot dry areas. |
Altitude range: | Up to 1530 m |
Flowering time: | Sep - Apr |
Worldwide distribution: | Widespread in Africa and Asia, Madagascar, Seychelles and Mauritius. Introduced into the Americas, West Indies and Hawaii. |
Mozambique distribution: | N,Z,T,MS,GI,M |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Content last updated: | Thursday 3 April 2014 |
Literature: |
Brummitt, R.K., Harder, D.K., Lewis, G.P., Lock, J.M., Polhill, R.M. & Verdcourt, B. (2007). Leguminosae Subfamily Papilionoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(3) Pages 211 - 213. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 2. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 2. Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 216. Ellery, K. & W. (1997). Plants of the Okavango Delta, a Field Guide Tsaro Publishers, Durban, South Africa Page 152. (Includes a picture). Fabian, A. & Germishuizen, G. (1997). Wild Flowers of Northern South Africa. Fernwood Press, Vlaeburg. Pages 194 - 195. (Includes a picture). Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 165. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 46. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 56. Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. Natal Flora Publications Trust. Durban. Pages 60 - 61. also on page 464-465 (Includes a picture). Roodt, V. (2011). Wild flowers, Waterplants and Grasses of the Okavango Delta and Kalahari "Did You Know" nature series Struik Nature for Veronica Roodt Publications Page 93. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 58. Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 25. As Abrus precatorius Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 95. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 210. |
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