Abrus precatorius L.

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Amazonia, Andean, Caribbean. Elevation range: 5–2500 m a.s.l. Naturalised in Colombia. Colombian departments: Amazonas, Antioquia, Bolívar, Guaviare, Magdalena, Meta, Putumayo, San Andrés y Providencia, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupés.

Habit

Herb, Shrub, Climbing.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, shrubland, wetlands (inland), artificial - terrestrial.

Vernacular

Bejuco de peonía, Brujitos, Chochitos de indio, Chocho trepador, Chochos de bejuco, Chochos de pinta negra, Jequirite, Peronilla, Pionía

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution

Naturalizada en Colombia; Alt. 5 - 2500 m.; Amazonia, Andes, Islas Caribeñas, Llanura del Caribe, Valle del Cauca.

Morphology General Habit

Hierba, arbusto, trepadora

Conservation

Preocupación Menor

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Vernacular

licorice, John Crow bead

Morphology General Habit

An elongate, sometimes high-climbing vine, the younger green stems sparsely pubescent

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 4–10 cm long; leaflets in 10–20 pairs, oblong or obovate-oblong, 5–18 mm long, mucronulate at the apex, glabrous above and sparsely appressed-pubescent beneath

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes 4–8 cm long, many-flowered; calyx 2–3 mm long; corolla pinkish or rose with whitish keel, 8–11 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods oblong, beaked, 2–2.5 cm long, finely pubescent, 3–5- seeded; seeds ca. 5 mm long, bright scarlet with a black spot at the hilum.

Distribution

Cayman Islands. Pantropical.

Ecology

In thickets and woodlands, usually near sea-level.

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Woody climber 1–4.5 m tall

Morphology Leaves Leaflets

Leaflets 16–34, deciduous, oblong, obovate-oblong or ovate, 0.6–2.7 x 0.3–1 cm, glabrous above, sparsely appressed pubescent beneath

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences robust, usually curved, 2–7 cm long with subsessile flowers in dense clusters; peduncles 1.5–6 cm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 3 mm long, denticulate, sparsely puberulous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla yellow, white, pink or mauve, 9–15 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod oblong, 2–4(–5) x 1–1.5 cm, with a hooked beak, with dense short reddish-brown appressed pubescence

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds (1–)3–7, red and black, almost globose, 5–7 x 4–5 mm, shining.

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular

brujitos, chochitas, chochito de indio, chochitos, chochitos de indio, chocho, chocho pequeño, chocho trepador, chochos, chochos de bejuco, chochos de pinta negra, ojito de Santa Lucía, peonia, peonía, peronilla, pianida, pionía

Leguminosae, J. B. Gillett, R. M. Polhill & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1971

Morphology General Habit

Woody climber 1–4.5 m. tall, stems often attaining over 1.5 cm. in diameter.

Morphology Stem

Stems usually greenish, sparsely adpressed or somewhat spreading pubescent or glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 16–34-foliolate; petiole 0.5–1.8 cm. long; leaflets deciduous, oblong, obovate-oblong or ovate, 0.6–2.7 cm. long, 3–10 mm. wide, obtuse to acuminate at the apex, rounded or subcordate at the base, glabrous or glabrescent above, sparsely adpressed pubescent or puberulous beneath.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences thick and robust, 2–7 cm. long; peduncles 1.5–6 cm. long; flowers subsessile in dense fascicles; bracts and bracteoles 0.5–1 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx sparsely puberulous, 3 mm. long, denticulate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla yellow, white, pink or mauve, 0.9–1.5 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods oblong, somewhat swollen, 2–4(–5) cm. long, 1–1.5 cm. wide, with a hooked beak, covered with dense short ferrugineous adpressed hairs, smooth or densely covered with tubercles forming transverse ridges.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds (1)3–7, scarlet with black area around the hilum or very rarely entirely black or yellowish, ovoid, longest dimension 5–7 mm., shorter dimension 4–5 mm., glabrous and shining, usually remaining attached to the edges of the opened valves for some time.

Distribution

As above with addition of tropical Asia, Australia and Pacific Is.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Somalia-Masai bushland and thicket, Lake Victoria regional transition zone; grasslands, Zambezian bushland and thicket, Somalia-Masai grasslands, Sudanian grasslands, Sudanian bushland and thicket, Zambezian grassland, Lake Victoria regional mosai

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Climbing, Herb/Shrub

Vernacular

Bead Vine, Black-eyed Susan, Cascavelle, Chirmi, Crab's Eyes, Crab's-eye Vine, Diridamu, Graine Diable, Graine Rouge, Graines D'Eglise, Gunchi, Gwen Leglise, Herbe de Diable, Indian Liqourice, Indian Liquorice, Jequirity, Jequirity Bean, Jiquiriti, John C

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds Protein Content

19.40% Entire seed/nut. Moisture content not stated (Jones & Earle, 1966)

Use

The roots allegedly contain glycerrhizin, the same substance as that found in commercial licorice. There are conflicting reports in the literature about the use of this material as a substitute for true licorice. The seeds, on the other hand, are known to be extremely poisonous if eaten; however, they are often used to make bracelets, necklaces, and other ornaments, and have been much used in some Asian countries as weights by jewel merchants. The unit of weight called the “carat” (one twenty-fourth of an ounce) is said to have been associated with the weight of Abrus seeds, 2 seeds allegedly weighing 1 carat.

Use

Domestic, Fibre, Food and Drink, Medicine, Miscellaneous, Toxins, Weed