Abrus precatorius

(Black-Eyed Susan, Buddhist Rosary Bead, Carolina Muida, Crab's Eye, Crab's-Eye, Crabs Eye, Deadly Crab's Eye, Jequeriti, Jequerity, Lucky Bean, Olho-De-Cabra, Pois Rouge, Prayer Beads, Precatory Bean, Rosary Pea, Tento Muidom, Weather Plant, Wild Liquorice)

Overview:

Conservation Status

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Population Analysis

For the 835,580 species in the Class Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons), we average 4.30 observations each in our database; for the Buddhist Rosary Bead, we have 119 observations. Compared to other species in this Class, this species is moderately common.
A two-sample t-test can be used to determine whether the trend in observations of the Buddhist Rosary Bead is the same as the trend in observations of Magnoliopsida. Is this species just as common, as a proportion of all observations, as it once was? The answer is no, changes in observation rate of this species significantly differ from changes in observation rate of its Class. (t=1.391, p<0.1)
How do observation rates of the Buddhist Rosary Bead differ from those of Magnoliopsida? To answer this, we examined the percentage of observerations for Magnoliopsida that were observations of the Buddhist Rosary Bead each year. We then correlated this percentage with observation year. If observations of the Buddhist Rosary Bead are becoming more common relative to other species of Magnoliopsida, the correlation should be positive, but if it is becoming less common, the correlation should be negative. In fact, the correlation is negative (r=-.24), with a negative slope (m = -.000), suggesting that the Buddhist Rosary Bead may be in decline relative to other species of Magnoliopsida. This correlation is statistically significant. (F = 37.7, p<.05)
The scatter chart to the right shows the percentage of all observations for Magnoliopsida each year that were observations of the Buddhist Rosary Bead.

Taxonomy

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Domain: Eukaryota Whittaker & Margulis,1978 - eukaryotes
- Kingdom: Plantae Haeckel, 1866 - Plants
  - Subkingdom: Viridaeplantae Cavalier-Smith, 1981 - Green Plants
    - Phylum: Magnoliophyta Cronquist, Takhtajan & W. Zimmermann, 1966 - Flowering Plants
      - Subphylum: Spermatophytina (auct.) Cavalier-Smith, 1998 - Seed Plants
        Infraphylum: Angiospermae auct.
        Class: Magnoliopsida Brongniart, 1843 - Dicotyledons
        Subclass: Rosidae Takhtajan, 1967
        Superorder: Fabanae R. Dahlgren ex Reveal, 1993
        Order: Fabales Bromhead, 1838
        Family: Fabaceae Lindley, 1836 - Bean Family
        Subfamily: Faboideae
        Tribe: Abreae
        Genus: Abrus (AY-brus) Linnaeus, 1753 - Abrus
        Specific epithet: precatorius L.
        Botanical name: Abrus precatorius L.

Unambiguous Synonyms:

Abrus abrus (L.)Wright
Abrus cyaneus R.Vig.
Abrus maculatus Noronha
Abrus minor Desv.
Abrus pauciflorus Desv.
Abrus precatorius var. novo-guineensis Miq.
Abrus squamulosus E.Mey.
Abrus tunguensis Lima
Glycine abrus L.

Notes:

Publishing author: P.Lima Publication: in Broteria, Ser. Bot. 1921, xix. 127.

Publishing author: E.Mey. Publication: Comm. i. 126

Publishing author: Desv. Publication: in Ann. Sc. Nat. Ser. I. ix. (1826) 418

Publishing author: Desv. Publication: in Ann. Sc. Nat. Ser. I. xi. (1826) 418

Name Status: Accepted Name. Latest taxonomic scrutiny: –

Place of publication: Syst. nat. ed. 12, 2:472. 1767

Name verified on 21-Oct-1986 by ARS Systematic Botanists. Last updated: 12-Sep-2005

Physical Description

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Family Fabaceae:

The Fabaceae are herbs, vines, shrubs, trees, and lianas found in both temperate and tropical areas. They comprise one of the largest families of flowering plants, numbering 630 genera and 18,000 species. The leaves are stipulate, nearly always alternate, and range from bipinnately or palmately compound to simple. The petiole base is commonly enlarged into a pulvinus that commonly functions in orientation of the leaves (sometimes very responsively, as in the sensitive plant, Mimosa pudica). The flowers are usually bisexual, actinomorphic to zygomorphic, slightly to strongly perigynous, and commonly in racemes, spikes, or heads. The perianth commonly consists of a calyx and corolla of 5 segments each. The androecium consists of commonly 1- many stamens (most commonly 10), distinct or variously united, sometimes some of them reduced to staminodes. The pistil is simple, often stipitate, comprising a single style and stigma, and a superior ovary with one locule containing 2-many marginal ovules. The fruit is usually a legume, sometimes a samara, loment, follicle, indehiscent pod, achene, drupe, or berry. The seeds often have a hard coat with hourglass-shaped cells, and sometimes bear a u-shaped line called a pleurogram. [Carr]

Subfamily Faboideae:

Mostly herbs, shrubs, or trees. Leaves pinnate or palmate to trifoliolate or apparently simple. Corolla usually, showy, zygomorphic, the petals imbricate, posterior (upper or banner) petal outermost in bud. Stamens 10 or 9 + 1 (diadelphous), not showy. Pollen released in monads. Seeds with u-shaped line (pleurogram) lacking. [Carr]

Habit: Herb, Shrub • Climbing: Climbing

Flowers: Bloom Period: June, July, August. • Flower Color: magenta, near white, white

Images:

Abrus precatorius Abrus precatorius Photographer: TopTropicals.com Copyright: © TopTropicals.com Permissions for Use: see here. ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 96862

Abrus precatorius Abrus precatorius Photographer: Harold St. John Copyright: © Harold St. John ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 117951

Abrus precatorius Abrus precatorius Climber, with small pinnate leaves. Dry dehiscent fruits and many red seeds with black spots. Leaves are sweet and medicinal. Seeds are deadly poisonous. Photographer: Patrick Ekpe Date Taken: April 23, 2005
Location Taken: Ghana: Along Mole river at Mognori village; 12km from the Mole National Park main gate. Copyright: © 2005 Patrick Ekpe Permissions for Use: see here. ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 145615

Abrus precatorius Abrus precatorius Photographer: Tatiana Anderson Copyright: © TopTropicals.com Permissions for Use: see here. ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 96863

Abrus precatorius Abrus precatorius Photographer: David Stang Date Taken: November 07, 2005
Location Taken: United States Botanic Garden Copyright: © 2005 David Stang ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 82303

Abrus precatorius Abrus precatorius Seeds of Abrus precatorius Photographer: Robert J. Gibbons ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 149298

Distribution

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Range and Population

Native: Guangxi, Queensland.

Reproduction

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Duration: Perennial

Growth

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Soil: Minimum pH: 6.1 • Maximum pH: 7.8

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Full Sun.

Temperature: Cold Hardiness: 9b, 10a, 10b, 11. (map)

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Abrus:

There are approximately 43 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus: A. melanospermus suffruticosus · A. melanospermus tenuiflorus · A. aureus · A. aureus aureus · A. aureus littoralis · A. baladensis · A. bottae · A. canescens · A. cantonensis · A. precatorius subsp. africanus · A. diversifoliatus · A. diversifoliolatus · A. fruticulosus · A. gawenensis · A. gracilis · A. laevigatus · A. longibracteatus · A. lusorius · A. madagascariensis · A. melanospermus subsp. suffruticosus · A. melanospermus subsp. tenuiflorus · A. parvifolius · A. precatorius (Black-Eyed Susan) · A. precatorius africanus · A. precatorius precatorius · A. precatorius subsp. africanus · A. pulchellum · A. pulchellus · A. pulchellus cantoniensis · A. pulchellus mollis · A. pulchellus pulchellus · A. pulchellus suffruticosus · A. pulchellus tenuiflorus · A. pulchellus var. tenuiflorus · A. repens · A. sambiranensis · A. schimperi · A. schimperi africanus · A. schimperi oblongus · A. schimperi schimperi · A. somalensis · A. stictospermus · A. wittei

Bibliography

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Aubréville, A. et al., eds. 1960–. Flore du Cambodge du Laos et du Viet-Nam. (F CambLVN)
Boudet, G. et al. 1986. Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du Mali. (L Mali)
Breteler. 1960. Blumea 10:617.
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Fosberg, F. R. et al. 1979–1982. Geographical checklist of the Micronesian Dicotyledonae/ Pteridophyta and Gymnospermae. (L Micrones)
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Huang, S. F. & T. C. Huang. 1987. Taxonomic treatment of the Papilionoideae (Leguminosae) of Taiwan. Taiwania 32:11-117. (Leg Taiwan)
Kala, C. P. et al. 2004. Prioritization of medicinal plants on the basis of available knowledge, existing practices and use value status in Uttaranchal, India. Biodivers. & Conserv. 13:461.
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Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. (Hortus 3)
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McGuffin, M. et al., eds. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2. (Herbs Commerce ed2)
Munro, D. B. Canadian poisonous plants information system - on-line resource. (Can Poison Pl)
Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970–. Flora of [West] Pakistan. (F Pak)
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Terrell, E. E. et al. 1986. Agric. Handb. no. 505. (AH 505)
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Notes

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Contributors:

Bisby, F.A., Y.R. Roskov, M.A. Ruggiero, T.M. Orrell, L.E. Paglinawan, P.W. Brewer, N. Bailly, J. van Hertum, eds (2007). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2007 Annual Checklist. Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed November 15, 2007. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 16 providers.
ILDIS World Database of LegumesNov 10, 2005.
The International Plant Names Index. Accessed Jan 19, 2007.
USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL (April 24, 2008)

Data Sources:

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 15, 2007:

Herbarium of the University of Aarhus, The AAU Herbarium Database
Herbier de la Guyane, Herbier de la Guyane
Missouri Botanical Garden, Missouri Botanical Garden
National Herbarium of New South Wales, NSW herbarium collection
National Herbarium of New South Wales, Plants of Papua New Guinea
Taiwan Biodiversity Information Facility, Magnoliophyta
USDA PLANTS, USDA PLANTS Database
University of Alabama Biodiversity and Systematics, Herbarium

Identifiers:

Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 26416
Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 13635740
Globally Unique Identifier: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:52492-3
Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: PDFAB01010
U.S.D.A. Plant Symbol: ABAB2
Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 1529

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Last Revised: May 15, 2008