Family: Fabaceae
Calopogonium mucunoides—commonly known as calopo —is a fast-growing, short-lived perennial legume native to the New World tropics. Introduced to many tropical regions for use as a forage crop and green manure, it has become invasive in some areas. Calopogonium mucunoides has been utilized in tropical agriculture as a cover crop to suppress weeds, stabilize soil, and enhance fertility through nitrogen fixation. It also serves as fodder for livestock; however, its palatability is generally low.
Despite its agricultural benefits, calopo poses ecological risks in Hawaiʻi due to its aggressive growth and potential to outcompete native vegetation. The plant forms dense mats that can smother other plants and disrupt natural ecosystems. While it does not spread vegetatively and is intolerant of heavy cutting and fire, its prolific seed production facilitates its spread.
Calopogonium mucunoides is not currently reported to be naturalized in the Hawaiian Islands. Given its invasive characteristics, calopo is not recommended for planting in Hawaiʻi. Land managers and gardeners should consider alternative, non-invasive cover crops and forage species to prevent ecological harm.
High Risk Traits:
- Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
- Thrives in tropical climates
- Widely naturalized
- Agricultural and environmental weed (esp. in Australia)
- Other Calopogonium species have become invasive
- Possibly allelopathic
- Poor palatability to livestock
- Tolerates many soil types
- Smothering growth habit
- Self-compatible
- Rapid growth rate and able to reach maturity in 1 year
- Seeds readily dispersed by a variety of vectors
- Able to form a persistent seed bank
Low Risk Traits:
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
- Provides fodder for livestock, although palatability is low
- Non-toxic
- Not reported to spread vegetatively
- Intolerant of heavy cutting and fire
