Rosary PeaRosary PeaAbrus precatorius Abrus precatorius (L.) Fabaceae(L.) Fabaceae

• 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 pinnately compound

• 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

CulturalCultural

MechanicalMechanical

BiologicalBiological

ChemicalChemical

PreventativePreventative1. Restrict planting as a landscape plant

2. Regular monitoring and rouging of escaped plants

3. Avoid use of mulch possibly contaminated with rosary pea seeds

4. Target management efforts to prevent seed development and spread

CulturalCultural1. Alternative landscape plants to replace

rosary pea

2. Programs to educate homeowners Problems associated with rosary pea Proper 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 enough critical to rouge out roots

2. Aggressive tillage is very effective impractical 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 set

2. Large woody vines, cut above ground stem and apply triclopyr immediately to the cut stem

3. Foliage Application Triclopyr (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.