Family: Fabaceae

Origin, Description & Uses:
Flemingia macrophylla (flemingia) is a shrub native to tropical Asia and widely used in tropical agriculture. It is a fast-growing plant with dense foliage and small purple flowers, commonly planted for erosion control, soil improvement, and as a nitrogen-fixing cover crop in agroforestry systems.

Risks & Threats:
In Hawaiʻi, flemingia is naturalized on Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island and has traits that raise concern. It can spread quickly and form dense stands that may outcompete native plants. Although useful in managed settings, caution is recommended to ensure it does not spread further and negatively impact local ecosystems.

High Risk Traits:

• Naturalized in Hilo, Hawaii, Sub-Saharan Africa, Papua New Guinea and possibly elsewhere (including American Samoa)
  
• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Can grow from elevations of 0-2000 m within native range
  
• Other Flemingia species have also become naturalized
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Tolerates many soil conditions (and potentially able to exploit many different habitat types)
  
• N-fixing (may alter soil chemistry)
  
• Self-compatible
  
• Produces flowers and seed within 6-7 months from planting
  
• Seeds dispersed from dehiscing pods (and possibly short distances by wind)
  
• Able to coppice and continuously resprout after cutting

Low Risk Traits:

• Despite ability to spread, no negative impacts have been documented
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Fodder tree
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Medicinal uses
  
• Used for soil improvement and as a source of fuelwood
  
• Timber tree
  
• Seeds may not persist in the soil or form a long-lived seed bank