Derris elliptica
|
Taxon |
Family |
|
Derris elliptica Benth. |
Fabaceae |
 |
 |
| The plant in its native habitat Credit: http://www.medplant.mahidol.ac.th/ |
D. elliptica strangling native plant in Hawaii |
Derris elliptica
|
Taxon |
Family |
|
Derris elliptica Benth. |
Fabaceae |
|
|
| The plant in its native habitat Credit: http://www.medplant.mahidol.ac.th/ |
D. elliptica strangling native plant in Hawaii |
Common names: Poison vine, derris, tubaroot, oiltree
Synonyms: Paraderris elliptica (Wall.) F. Adema, Pongamia elliptica (Wallich)
Life form: Liana
Biology/Ecology:
Dispersal: Spreads by seeds and vegetatively. Humans have introduced the plant to obtain a compound from its roots, initially used as fish poison but more recently used as an insecticide called Rotenone.
Reproduction: Flowers arranged in stalked clusters of 3 with pink petals with diameter 13-17 mm. Fruits are elliptic and flat, 3.5 to 7 cm in length. Fruits contain between 1 and 3 seeds.
Herbivores: No information available.
Resistant stages: No information available.
Habitat:
Native habitat: No information available.
Habitat occupied in invaded range: Lowlands
Habitat requirements:
| Altitude | Found at low altitudes, usually lower than 400 metres above sea level. |
| Light | No information available. |
| Temperature | No information available. |
| Annual rainfall | No information available. |
| Soil | No information available. |
Distribution:
Native to Southeast Asia.
Introduced range: Invasive in Hawaii, Fiji and western Polynesia. Introduced but not invasive in Tanzania, Mauritius and many Pacific Ocean Islands.
Impacts:
Ecosystem: Grows aggressively, strangling and blanketing any vegetation in its way. Forms a dense canopy, shading out any vegetation below.
Health, social and economic: No information available.
Management:
Mechanical: For small infestations, the plant can be pulled out by hand, although it is difficult to fully remove the roots.
Chemical: No information available.
Biological: No information available.
References:
Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER), 2004. Available from http://www.hear.org/pier/species/derris_elliptica.htm (Accessed August 2006).
Starr, F., Starr, K., Loope, L., 2003. Plants of Hawaii Reports - Derris elliptica. United States Geological Survey - Biological Resources Division, Hawaii. Available from http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/reports/html/derris_elliptica.htm (Accessed August 2006).
Last updated October 2006
