Indigofera trita subsp. scabra (Asian Indigo)
Index
- Pictures
- Identity
- Summary of Invasiveness
- Taxonomic Tree
- Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Description
- Plant Type
- Distribution
- Distribution Table
- History of Introduction and Spread
- Risk of Introduction
- Habitat
- Habitat List
- Biology and Ecology
- Climate
- Soil Tolerances
- Pathway Causes
- Pathway Vectors
- Impact Summary
- Environmental Impact
- Risk and Impact Factors
- Uses
- Uses List
- References
- Links to Websites
- Contributors
- Distribution Maps
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Top of pagePreferred Scientific Name
- Indigofera trita subsp. scabra (Roth) De Kort & G.Thijsse
Preferred Common Name
- Asian Indigo
Other Scientific Names
- Indigofera keyensis Small
- Indigofera laotica Gagnep.
- Indigofera mucronata var. keyensis (Small) Isely
- Indigofera rutschuruensis De Wild.
International Common Names
- Spanish: añil; azulita; frijolillo; frijolillo de llano
Local Common Names
- India: three-leaved indigo
- USA/Florida: Florida indigo
Summary of Invasiveness
Top of pageTo date, I. trita subsp scabra is listed as invasive only for the Dominican Republic (Kairo et al., 2003). Here, the subspecies is reported as a weed in ruderal areas, along roadsides and in disturbed forests (Kairo et al., 2003).
Taxonomic Tree
Top of page- Domain: Eukaryota
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Phylum: Spermatophyta
- Subphylum: Angiospermae
- Class: Dicotyledonae
- Order: Fabales
- Family: Fabaceae
- Subfamily: Faboideae
- Genus: Indigofera
- Species: Indigofera trita subsp. scabra
Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature
Top of pageFabaceae is one of the largest families of flowering plants. This family includes about 745 genera and 19500 species which can be found throughout the world growing in a great variety of climates and environments (Stevens, 2012). The genus Indigofera includes over 750 species of shrubs, shrublets, perennial herbs, or rarely annual herbs or small trees (Flora of China Editorial Committee, 2014). Within the species I. trita, there are four infraspecific taxa accepted:
• Indigofera trita var. maffei (Chiov.) Ali
• Indigofera trita var. marginulata (Wight & Arn.) Sanjappa
• Indigofera trita subsp. scabra (Roth) De Kort & G.Thijsse
• Indigofera trita var. subulata (Poir.) Ali
The subspecies I. trita subsp. scabra is considered native to India, Laos, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Madagascar (ILDIS, 2014). This subspecies is also listed as native and with a conservation status of endangered in Florida (USA). It has previously been known as Indigofera mucronata var. keyensis, associated with its presence in the Florida Keys.
Description
Top of pageErect, woody herbs or shrublets, 30-200 cm high; branches erect to horizontal, pinkish to light green, coarsely strigose, biramous hairs short, white, adpressed with equal arms. Leaves long, 5-7-foliolate, often basal leaves 3-foliolate; stipules 1-2 x 0.3-0.5 mm, narrowly triangular, hairy outside; petioles 1-2.5 cm long, canaliculate above, hairy; rachis 5-12 mm long; stipellae absent; petiolules 1-1.5 mm long; leaflets 3, very rarely 5, opposite. Racemes 5-15 cm long. Flowers pink to brick red, 4-5 mm long; bracts 1-1.5 mm long, narrowly triangular, caduceus; pedicels up to 1.2 mm long. Calyx adpressed white pubescent, cup 0.5-1 mm long, teeth 1-1.5 x 0.5 mm, narrowly triangular. Standard 3.5-4.5 x 3-4 mm, orbicular, sometimes broadly obovate, rounded and mucronate at apex, adpressed strigose on the back; wing petals 3-4 x 1 mm, glabrous ciliate along margins; keel petals 3-4 x 1-1.5 mm, strigose outside towards the tip, ciliate along margins, lateral spur ca 0.6 mm long. Staminal sheath 3-4 mm long; anthers approximately 0.5 mm long. Ovary approximately 3 mm long, linear, glabrous, up to 10-ovuled; style 1-1.5 mm long, glabrous. Pods more than 3 cm long, curved, dropping; seeds 6-10, approximately 2 x 1.5 mm, subtetragonous, yellow, dark-brown, smooth (India Biodiversity, 2014).
Distribution
Top of pageThe subspecies I. trita subsp. scabra is considered native to India, Laos, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Madagascar (ILDIS, 2014). It is also listed as native to Florida (USA) (Wunderlin and Hansen, 2008). It is now uncommon in Florida, where it is extirpated on mainland Florida and present on eight islands in the upper and middle Florida Keys, in Monroe County (US Fish and Wildlife Service, 2008). Outside its native distribution range, I. trita subsp. scabra is known to occur only in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica (Acevedo-Rodríguez and Strong, 2012).
Distribution Table
Top of pageThe distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.
Last updated: 10 Jan 2020Continent/Country/Region | Distribution | Last Reported | Origin | First Reported | Invasive | Reference | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Africa |
|||||||
Madagascar | Present | Native | |||||
Asia |
|||||||
India | Present | Present based on regional distribution. | |||||
-Arunachal Pradesh | Present | Native | |||||
-Karnataka | Present | Native | |||||
-Madhya Pradesh | Present | Native | |||||
-Rajasthan | Present | Native | |||||
-Tamil Nadu | Present | Native | |||||
Laos | Present | Native | |||||
Sri Lanka | Present | Native | |||||
Thailand | Present | Native | |||||
North America |
|||||||
Cuba | Present | Introduced | |||||
Dominican Republic | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
Haiti | Present | Introduced | |||||
Jamaica | Present | Introduced | |||||
United States | Present | Present based on regional distribution. | |||||
-Florida | Present | Native | Endangered in this state |
History of Introduction and Spread
Top of pageMany species in the genus Indigofera have been introduced throughout the tropics to be used as ornamentals, forage, groundcovers, and medicinal herbs (PROTA, 2014). I. trita subsp. scabra was probably introduced in the West Indies to be used as a forage and ground cover species but there is no known date of introduction available for this region (PROTA, 2014).
Risk of Introduction
Top of pageThe risk of introduction of I. trita subsp. scabra is moderate to low. Because it has a relative small geographical distribution, the probability of this subspecies colonizing new areas could be considered as “limited” (PROTA, 2014).
Habitat
Top of pageI. trita subsp. scabra grows as a weed in grassy areas, disturbed sites, along roadsides, and in open forests, forest edges, and coastal areas (ILDIS, 2014; PROTA, 2014). In Florida, this plant occurs in coastal rock barrens, ecotone rock barren areas, and scraped areas mimicking rock barren habitat (US Fish and Wildlife Service, 2008). Florida populations are vulnerable to habitat loss and degradation from exotic plants on all sites.
Habitat List
Top of pageCategory | Sub-Category | Habitat | Presence | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
Terrestrial | Managed | Disturbed areas | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Managed | Disturbed areas | Present, no further details | Natural |
Terrestrial | Managed | Rail / roadsides | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Managed | Rail / roadsides | Present, no further details | Natural |
Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Natural forests | Present, no further details | Natural |
Biology and Ecology
Top of pageIn India, this species has been reported flowering and fruiting from September to January (India Biodiversity, 2014).
Climate
Top of pageClimate | Status | Description | Remark |
---|---|---|---|
Am - Tropical monsoon climate | Preferred | Tropical monsoon climate ( < 60mm precipitation driest month but > (100 - [total annual precipitation(mm}/25])) | |
As - Tropical savanna climate with dry summer | Preferred | < 60mm precipitation driest month (in summer) and < (100 - [total annual precipitation{mm}/25]) | |
Aw - Tropical wet and dry savanna climate | Preferred | < 60mm precipitation driest month (in winter) and < (100 - [total annual precipitation{mm}/25]) |
Pathway Causes
Top of pageCause | Notes | Long Distance | Local | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Disturbance | Common weed in disturbed sites | Yes | Yes | PROTA (2014) |
Pathway Vectors
Top of pageVector | Notes | Long Distance | Local | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Land vehicles | Seeds | Yes | Yes | PROTA (2014) |
Livestock | Seeds | Yes | Yes | PROTA (2014) |
Soil, sand and gravel | Seeds | Yes | Yes | PROTA (2014) |
Impact Summary
Top of pageCategory | Impact |
---|---|
Economic/livelihood | Positive and negative |
Environment (generally) | Positive and negative |
Environmental Impact
Top of pageI. trita subsp. scabra is considered weedy and invasive in the Dominican Republic where it is invading open ground, ruderal areas, disturbed sites and forest edges (Kairo et al., 2003).
Risk and Impact Factors
Top of page- Proved invasive outside its native range
- Is a habitat generalist
- Tolerates, or benefits from, cultivation, browsing pressure, mutilation, fire etc
- Fast growing
- Altered trophic level
- Modification of nutrient regime
- Modification of successional patterns
- Monoculture formation
- Reduced native biodiversity
- Threat to/ loss of native species
- Competition - monopolizing resources
- Induces hypersensitivity
- Rapid growth
- Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately
Uses
Top of pageI. trita subsp. scabra is used as a forage and ground cover plant in the West Indies. It is also planted as an ornamental (Kairo et al., 2003; PROTA, 2014).
Uses List
Top of pageAnimal feed, fodder, forage
- Forage
Environmental
- Erosion control or dune stabilization
Ornamental
- Cut flower
- Seed trade
References
Top of pageAcevedo-Rodríguez P; Strong MT, 2012. Catalogue of the Seed Plants of the West Indies. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany, 98:1192 pp. Washington DC, USA: Smithsonian Institution. http://botany.si.edu/Antilles/WestIndies/catalog.htm
Bradley KA; Woodmansee SW; Gann GD, 2004. Status survey of aboriginal pricklyapples, Harrisia aboriginum Small ex Britton & Rose, in Southwestern Florida. Vero Beach, Florida, USA: United States Fish and Wildlife Service, South Florida Ecosystem Office. http://regionalconservation.org/ircs/pdf/publications/2004_06.pdf
Flora of China Editorial Committee, 2014. Flora of China. St. Louis, Missouri and Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA: Missouri Botanical Garden and Harvard University Herbaria. http://www.efloras.org/flora_page.aspx?flora_id=2
ILDIS, 2014. International Legume Database and Information Service. Reading, UK: School of Plant Sciences, University of Reading. http://www.ildis.org/
India Biodiversity, 2014. Online Portal of India Biodiversity. http://indiabiodiversity.org/species/list
PROTA, 2014. PROTA4U web database. Grubben GJH, Denton OA, eds. Wageningen, Netherlands: Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp
Stevens PF, 2012. Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/
US Fish and Wildlife Service, 2008. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions. Federal Register:75176 -75244. https://federalregister.gov/a/E8-28986
Wunderlin RP; Hansen BF, 2008. Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants. Tampa, Florida, USA: University of South Florida. http://www.plantatlas.usf.edu/
Distribution References
CABI, Undated. CABI Compendium: Status inferred from regional distribution. Wallingford, UK: CABI
CABI, Undated a. CABI Compendium: Status as determined by CABI editor. Wallingford, UK: CABI
ILDIS, 2014. International Legume Database and Information Service., Reading, UK: School of Plant Sciences, University of Reading. http://www.ildis.org/
Wunderlin RP, Hansen BF, 2008. Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants., Tampa, Florida, USA: University of South Florida. http://www.plantatlas.usf.edu/
Links to Websites
Top of pageWebsite | URL | Comment |
---|---|---|
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants | http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu | |
International Legume Database and Information Service | http://www.ildis.org/ | |
Plant Resources for Tropical Africa | http://www.prota.org/ |
Contributors
Top of page25/11/14 Original text by:
Julissa Rojas-Sandoval, Department of Botany-Smithsonian NMNH, Washington DC, USA
Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez, Department of Botany-Smithsonian NMNH, Washington DC, USA
Distribution Maps
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