Family: Fabaceae
High Risk Traits:
- A domesticated crop with weedy and naturalized forms
- Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
- Grows and persists in regions with tropical climates
- Reported to be naturalized in Asia (but not in the Hawaiian Islands to date)
- Weedy, or wild forms may invade disturbed habitats and could impact crops
- Other Vigna species are weedy or invasive
- Potentially allelopathic
- Impacted by several pests and pathogens (could serve as a host for other crops or plants)
- Can grow in moderate shade
- Climbing, and potentially smothering habit
- Tolerates many soil types
- Reproduces by seed
- Self-pollinated
- Rapidly reaches maturity (1-2+ months)
- Seeds dispersed by dehiscent pods (wild types), possibly through ingestion by livestock, as a seed contaminant, and through intentional cultivation
Low Risk Traits:
- Domesticated plants with reduced dispersibility and seed longevity may reduce invasion risk
- Two subspecies cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands are not reported to be naturalized or invasive, and are likely of lower risk than wild types
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Provides fodder for livestock
- Non-toxic
- Not reported to spread vegetatively
- Herbicides reported to provide effective control