Calopogonium mucunoides
(calopo)

Pictures

Picture	Title	Caption	Copyright
Title Inflorescence and leaf Caption Inflorescence and leaf, Bhutan. Copyright ©Chris Parker/Bristol, UK	Inflorescence and leaf	Inflorescence and leaf, Bhutan.	©Chris Parker/Bristol, UK

Identity

Preferred Scientific Name

• Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.

Preferred Common Name

• calopo

Other Scientific Names

• Calopogonium brachycarpum (Benth.) Hemsl.
• Calopogonium orthocarpum Urb.
• Stenolobium brachycarpum Benth.

International Common Names

• English: caloponium; wild ground nut
• Spanish: bejuco culebra; frijolillo rabo de iguana (Colombia); frisolilla; gusanillo (Colombia); jicama; picapica (Colombia); rabo de iguana
• French: pois bleu
• Chinese: mao man dou

Local Common Names

• Brazil: falso-ouro
• Cuba: bejuco peludo
• Indonesia: kacang asu
• Philippines: karaparapak; santing
• Puerto Rico: jicama
• Thailand: thua karapo

EPPO code

• CLOMU (Calopogonium mucunoides)

Summary of Invasiveness

C. mucunoides is a vigorous woody vine listed in the Global Compendium of Weeds as a very aggressive weed impacting principally agricultural and semi-natural ecosystems (Randall, 2012). C. mucunoides has been widely introduced as a forage legume and nitrogen fixing plant in tropical and subtropical regions (Cook et al., 2005). This fast-growing vine has escaped from cultivation, becoming a serious environmental problem mainly in Australia and the Pacific Islands (Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, 2011; PIER, 2013). Once established, C. mucunoides has the potential to completely smother native vegetation as well as crops in active agricultural areas. Currently, C. mucunoides is classified as a “ noxious weed” in Australia (Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, 2011), and as an invasive species in Malaysia, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and several islands in the Pacific Ocean such as French Polynesia, the Cook Islands, Samoa, Palau and the Solomon Islands (see distribution table for details; Acevedo-Rodríguez and Strong, 2012; PIER, 2013).

Taxonomic Tree

• Domain: Eukaryota
•     Kingdom: Plantae
•         Phylum: Spermatophyta
•             Subphylum: Angiospermae
•                 Class: Dicotyledonae
•                     Order: Fabales
•                         Family: Fabaceae
•                             Genus: Calopogonium
•                                 Species: Calopogonium mucunoides

Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature

Species within the subfamily Faboideae (also known as Papilionoideae) of the Fabaceae family are trees, shrubs, and herbs that may be easily recognized by their classical pea-shaped flowers and the frequent occurrence of root nodulation (Stevens, 2012). The genus Calopogonium includes about 6-8 species native to tropical continental America and widely naturalized in tropical and subtropical regions of the world (Acevedo-Rodríguez, 2005).

Description

Slightly woody vine, twining or creeping, much branched, attaining 3-5 m in length. Stems slender, cylindrical, hirsute. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate; leaflets chartaceous, 2-10 × 1.5-6.5 cm, the apex obtuse to almost rounded, the base of the terminal leaflet cuneate to rounded, and that of the lateral leaflets markedly asymmetrical, the margins entire; both surfaces dull, pubescent; lower surface with prominent venation. Inflorescences in axillary pseudo-racemes, up to 10 cm long; rachis hirsute; bracts persistent and about 7 mm long. Calyx campanulate, 7-8 mm long, hirsute, the sepals subulate, caudate at the apex; corolla blue or purple, the standard 6-7 mm long, marginate. Fruit is a legume, oblong-linear, flattened, hirsute, 2-4 × 0.3-0.5 cm. Seeds almost quadrangular, approximately 3 mm wide, reddish brown and shiny (Acevedo-Rodríguez, 2005).

Distribution

C. mucunoides is native to tropical America, from Mexico to Argentina, and to some islands in the West Indies (USDA-ARS, 2013). C. mucunoides has been erroneously cited as native to all islands in the West Indies. However, updated checklists consider this species as naturalized in Cuba and Puerto Rico (Acevedo-Rodríguez and Strong, 2012; González-Torres et al., 2012). Because C. mucunoides has been widely introduced for horticulture, it is now naturalized in a wide range of habitats in Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands (Cook et al., 2005).

Distribution Table

The 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.

History of Introduction and Spread

In the West Indies, herbarium collections and botanical surveys show that C. mucunoides was first recorded in 1881 in Puerto Rico (Bello Espinosa, 1881), and in 1905 in Cuba (US Herbarium collection) and it is described as common in cultivated grounds, hillsides, disturbed fields and tickets. In Africa and Asia C. mucunoides was introduced in the early 1900s to be used as a green manure and cover crop and to improve soils and prevent erosion (Prota4U, 2013). In Sumatra, Java, and Malaysia this species was introduced in the 1920s to be used as a cover crop in the rubber and sisal plantations (Prota4U, 2013).

In Australia, C. mucunoides was introduced in the 1930s as a pasture legume, but it escaped from cultivation and became naturalized in disturbed sites and waste grounds along roadsides and waterways, and on the edges of rainforests in tropical regions of northern Australia. In the Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory, C. mucunoides is listed as an environmental weed, and populations are extending rapidly forming dense mats that smother native vegetation (Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, 2011).

Risk of Introduction

The risk of introduction of C. mucunoides is moderate to high. Because this species has been intentionally planted as a forage legume, green manure, cover crop and soil improver, it is widely naturalized in tropical and subtropical regions. In addition, C. mucunoides spreads by seeds which can be easy dispersed as a contaminant in hay or in mud adhering to vehicles and stock. Seeds are also expelled short distances from the pods which twist upon drying (Smith, 2002).

Habitat

C. mucunoides grows mostly in humid tropical areas from sea level up to 2000 masl. It is especially common in disturbed areas, forest edges, along roadsides and waterways and in agricultural lands where it grows as a weed (Cooks et al., 2005; Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, 2011; PIER, 2013).

Habitat List

Hosts/Species Affected

C. mucunoides has been listed as a problem weed in sugarcane and groundnut crops in Australia (Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, 2011).

Biology and Ecology

Genetics

The chromosome number for C. mucunoides varies from 2n = 36 to 2n = 37 (Lackey, 1980).

Reproductive Biology

C. mucunoides has been described as a hermaphroditic self-compatible species (FAO, 2013).

Longevity and Phenology

Under humid tropical conditions, C. mucunoides grows as a perennial plant, however, in dry environments it behaves as an annual (Cook et al., 2005). C. mucunoides has been reported flowering and fruiting from December to March in Puerto Rico (Acevedo-Rodríguez, 2005).

Environmental Requirements

C. mucunoides grows on a wide range of soil types, but prefers clay soils with pH ranging from 4.5 to 5.0. In tropical America, it grows well on acid soils with high aluminium saturation (Cook et al., 2005; FAO, 2013). It has poor tolerance to drought and salinity. It is adapted to humid tropical areas with mean annual temperatures ranging from 24ºC to 32ºC and annual rainfall exceeding 1500 mm (but it is also able to grow in drier environments with around 1000 mm annual rainfall). This species is able to grow in partially shaded areas but is not tolerant of heavy shade (Cook et al., 2005).

Climate

Air Temperature

Rainfall

Natural enemies

Notes on Natural Enemies

C. mucunoides is affected by viruses including cowpea severe mosaic virus and Centrosema mosaic virus and by the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne javanica (Cook et al., 2005).

Means of Movement and Dispersal

C. mucunoides only spreads by seeds. However, it is a fast-growing vine with the potential to grow forming dense mats at ground level once established at a new site. Seeds are ejected short distances from the pods which twist upon drying. Additionally, because plants are common in disturbed and agricultural areas, seeds can easily be dispersed as contaminants in mud or hay adhering to vehicles, humans or livestock (Smith, 2002; Cook et al., 2005).

Impact Summary

Environmental Impact

C. mucunoides can become a weed in humid-tropical environments. This species is a fast-growing vine with the potential to form dense mats that smother native vegetation as well as crops. C. mucunoides has become invasive in tropical ecosystems in northern Australia, islands in the Pacific Ocean such as French Polynesia, Solomon Island, Samoa and Palau, and areas in Asia including the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. In Australia this species is considered a serious weed in sugarcane and groundnut plantations (Cooks et al., 2005; Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, 2011; PIER, 2013).

Risk and Impact Factors

• Proved invasive outside its native range
• Has a broad native range
• Abundant in its native range
• Highly adaptable to different environments
• Is a habitat generalist
• Tolerates, or benefits from, cultivation, browsing pressure, mutilation, fire etc
• Pioneering in disturbed areas
• Highly mobile locally
• Benefits from human association (i.e. it is a human commensal)
• Long lived
• Fast growing
• Has high reproductive potential
• Has propagules that can remain viable for more than one year

• Altered trophic level
• Damaged ecosystem services
• Ecosystem change/ habitat alteration
• Modification of nutrient regime
• Modification of successional patterns
• Monoculture formation
• Negatively impacts agriculture
• Reduced native biodiversity

• Competition - monopolizing resources
• Competition - smothering
• Competition - strangling
• Competition
• Rapid growth

• Highly likely to be transported internationally accidentally
• Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately

Uses

C. mucunoides is widely cultivated as a forage and pasture legume, green manure and cover crop. It is also commonly planted as a pioneer species and as a nitrogen fixing species to reduce erosion and improve soil fertility (Cook et al., 2005). Despite generally low palatability, it is used as animal forage during the latter part of the dry season in tropical Asia and Africa (Cook et al., 2005; FAO, 2013).

Prevention and Control

Due to the variable regulations around (de)registration of pesticides, your national list of registered pesticides or relevant authority should be consulted to determine which products are legally allowed for use in your country when considering chemical control. Pesticides should always be used in a lawful manner, consistent with the product's label.

Small plants as well as small infestations should be removed manually making sure that all roots and stems are removed. For large infestations the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (2011) recommends to apply glufosinate-ammonium (500 ml per 100 L water) when plants are actively growing and dicamba or picloram on plant regrowth.

References

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Acevedo-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

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Broome R; Sabir K; Carrington S, 2007. Plants of the Eastern Caribbean. Online database. Barbados: University of the West Indies. http://ecflora.cavehill.uwi.edu/index.html

Cook B; Pengelly B; Brown S; Donnelly J; Eagle D; Franco A; Hanson J; Mullen B; Partridge I; Peters M; Schultze-Kraft R, 2005. Tropical Forages: an interactive selection tool. Brisbane, Australia: CSIRO, DPI&F (Qld), CIAT and ILRI. http://www.tropicalforages.info/

Correa A; Galdames MDC; Stapf MNS, 2004. Catalogue of vascular plants of Panama (Catalogo de Plantas Vasculares de Panama.), Panama: Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, 599 pp.

Csurhes S; Edwards R, 1998. Potential environmental weeds in Australia: candidate species for preventative control. Coorparoo, Australia: Queensland Department of Natural Resources.

FAO, 2013. Grassland Species Profiles. Detailed decription of more than 600 grassland species. http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/GBASE/Default.htm

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Links to Websites

Contributors

10/01/14 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