Abrus precatorius L.
subsp. africanus Verdc.

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Abrus precatorius subsp. africanus

Photo: Bart Wursten
Near Treehouse 10, Ngepi Camp, Kavango River

Abrus precatorius subsp. africanus

Photo: Bart Wursten
Near Treehouse 10, Ngepi Camp, Kavango River

Abrus precatorius subsp. africanus

Photo: Bart Wursten
Near Treehouse 10, Ngepi Camp, Kavango River

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: Abrus tunguensis Pires de Lima
Common names: Lucky bean creeper (English)
Frequency: Frequent
Status: Native
Description:
Woody, deciduous climber. Leaves paripinnate with numerous pairs of oblong leaflets. Flowers in short terminal inflorescences, lilac. Pods in clusters, grey-green, densely velvety, drying brown to black and splitting to reveal the bright red and black seeds.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name: precatorius: used for a rosary, referring to the seeds, which have traditionally been used for this purpose.
Habitat: In thickets and riverine fringes.
Flowering time:Sep - Apr
Worldwide distribution: Widespread in Africa and Asia, Madagascar, Seychelles and Mauritius. Introduced into the Americas, West Indies and Hawaii.
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Literature:

Brummitt, R.K., Harder, D.K., Lewis, G.P., Lock, J.M., Polhill, R.M. & Verdcourt, B. (2007). Leguminosae Subfamily Papilionoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(3) Pages 211 - 213. (Includes a picture).

Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 2.

Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 2.

Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 216.

Ellery, K. & W. (1997). Plants of the Okavango Delta, a Field Guide Tsaro Publishers, Durban, South Africa Page 152. (Includes a picture).

Fabian, A. & Germishuizen, G. (1997). Wild Flowers of Northern South Africa. Fernwood Press, Vlaeburg. Pages 194 - 195. (Includes a picture).

Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 165. (Includes a picture).

Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 46.

Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 56.

Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. Natal Flora Publications Trust. Durban. Pages 60 - 61. also on page 464-465 (Includes a picture).

Roodt, V. (2011). Wild flowers, Waterplants and Grasses of the Okavango Delta and Kalahari "Did You Know" nature series Struik Nature for Veronica Roodt Publications Page 93. (Includes a picture).

Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 58.

Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 25. As Abrus precatorius

Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 95.

Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 210.

Other sources of information about Abrus precatorius subsp. africanus:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Abrus precatorius subsp. africanus
Flora of Malawi: Abrus precatorius subsp. africanus
Flora of Mozambique: Abrus precatorius subsp. africanus
Flora of Zambia: Abrus precatorius subsp. africanus
Flora of Zimbabwe: Abrus precatorius subsp. africanus

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Abrus precatorius
African Plant Database: Abrus precatorius
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Abrus precatorius
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Abrus precatorius
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Abrus precatorius
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Abrus precatorius
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Abrus precatorius
JSTOR Plant Science: Abrus precatorius
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Abrus precatorius
Plants of the World Online: Abrus precatorius
Tropicos: Abrus precatorius
Wikipedia: Abrus precatorius


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2014-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Caprivi: Species information: Abrus precatorius subsp. africanus.
https://www.capriviflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=131280, retrieved 19 March 2024

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