Rosary PeaRosary PeaAbrusAbrus precatoriusprecatorius (L.) (L.) FabaceaeFabaceae

• Other common names include: –crab’s eyes–Jequiriti–precatory pea–licorice vine

• Climbing or trailing woody vine• Non-native, native to India

BiologyBiology

• Considered to be one of the most toxic plants in the world

• Toxin is abrin–Found only in the seed–Released if chewed & swallowed–0.00015% of toxin per body weight ~

single seed in humans–Fatal to humans, pets and livestock

BiologyBiology

BackgroundBackgroundEconomic uses• Attractive

ornamental vine in many landscapes

• Seeds are used in many types of jewelry

DistributionDistribution• Found throughout much of the

tropics, including Hawaii, Polynesia, Caribbean Islands

• Scattered infestations in the southeastern US

• Primarily in Central and South Florida• Over 27 counties, mainly coastal

Rosary Pea Distribution in Florida

ImpactsImpacts• Category 1 invasive species

(FLEPPC)• Invades undisturbed pinelands and

hammocks–Grows over small trees and shrubs–Displaces native plant communities

Mature PlantMature Plant

IdentificationIdentification

Mature PlantMature Plant• Climbing, trailing

woody vine• Slender, green

branches and stems• Deeply rooted, often

with trailing roots• Responds favorably

to fire

SeedlingSeedling• Bean-shaped

cotyledons• First true leaf

trifoliate, then pinnatelycompound

• No terminal leaflet

LeavesLeaves andand StemsStems• Climbing vine• Alternate

compound leaves, 2 to 5 inches long

• 5 to 15 pairs of oblong leaflets

FlowersFlowers andand FruitFruit• Small pale violet

to pink flowers• Clustered in leaf

axils• Legume-shaped

pod, oblong, flat –1½ - 2 inches

long

SeedSeed• Seedpod splits at

maturity, seeds remain attached

• Seeds brilliant red/scarlet with a black spot

• Birds unaffected by toxin, readily disperse seed

ManagementManagementPreventativePreventative

CulturalCulturalMechanicalMechanicalBiologicalBiologicalChemicalChemical

PreventativePreventative1. Restrict planting as a landscape plant2. Regular monitoring and rouging of

escaped plants3. Avoid use of mulch possibly

contaminated with rosary pea seeds4. Target management efforts to prevent

seed development and spread

CulturalCultural1. Alternative landscape plants to replace

rosary pea2. Programs to educate homeowners

Problems associated with rosary peaProper plant identification

3. Maintain good ground cover and mixture of plant species to reduce rosary pea establishment and growth

BiologicalBiological1. There are no known biological control

agents available for rosary pea management in Florida

MechanicalMechanical1. Hand-pulling and removal of entire

plants (small infestations)removing top growth is not enoughcritical to rouge out roots

2. Aggressive tillage is very effectiveimpractical in many areas

3. Repeated operations will be necessary to kill sprouting plants from roots

ChemicalChemical1. Application timing critical, apply in fall

prior to seed set2. Large woody vines, cut above ground

stem and apply triclopyr immediately to the cut stem

3. Foliage ApplicationTriclopyr (3-5 % solution)Glyphosate (1-3% solution)

Useful LinksUseful Links• Unites States Department of Agriculture Natural

Resources Conservation Service Plants Database: http://plants.usda.gov

• Invasives and Exotic Species of North America: http://www.invasives.org

• University of Florida Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants: http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/welcome.html

• University of Florida’s Cooperative Extension Electronic Data Information Source: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/index.html

Useful LinksUseful Links• Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER). Plant

Threats to Pacific Ecosystems: http://www.hear.org/pier/threats.htm

• Floridata: http://www.floridata.com/main_fr.cfm?state=Welcome&viewsrc=welcome.htm

• The Hillsborough County Invasive Species Task Force: Identification and control of non-native invasive plants in the Tampa Bay Area: http://www.tbep.org/pdfs/Invasive_Plants.pdf

Literature CitedLiterature Cited• Langeland, K.A. and K. Craddock Burks. 1998.

Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas. IFAS Publication SP 257. University of Florida, Gainesville. 165 pp.