info from PIER (PIER species info) (2025)

Reject, score: 9 (Go to the risk assessment (Australia))
High risk, score: 24 (Go to the risk assessment (Pacific))
Risk assessment from the Government of Queensland, Australia (PDF format)
European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization risk analysis and report

Other Latin names: Dolichos lobatusWilld.; Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi; Pueraria thunbergiana(Sieb. & Zucc.) Benth.; Pueraria triloba (Houtt.) T. Makino

Description: "Coarse, twining or creeping vine with thickened or tuberous roots. Stems up to 10 m long, somewhat woody, covered with long, yellow-brown hairs. Leaves alternate, trifoliate, with a rachis 8-20 cm long. Leaf margins wavy, leaf surfaces softly pubescent. Flowers in many-flowered axillary racemes 15-40 cm long. Calyx long-hairy, divided more than half way into five unequal lobes; corolla papilionaceous, violet with a yellow spot, and 14-20 mm long. Stamens ten, diadelphous. Fruit a densely brown-hairy, flat, oblong-linear pod 9-12 cm long, 8-12 seeded" (Whistler, 1983; p. 53).

Habitat/ecology: "Riparian habitats, forest edges, woodland. A native of forest margins, occurring up to 2,000 m elevation. This nitrogen-fixing and fast growing vine can quickly cover shrubs and trees with a dense tangle of stems, smothering them and shading out all other vegetation. Stems easily root at nodes and form mats that may be more than 2 m tick. The vine is able to smother trees up to 35 m tall, eventually killing them" (Weber, 2003; p. 351). Wild forms grow between 30 and 1860 m. Cultivated forms are more common in high altitude areas up to 2700 m altitude (GPPIS).

In Hawaii, "naturalized in low elevation disturbed areas, at least up to 700 m" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 693-695). In Tonga, "frequent in thickets" (Yuncker, 1959; pp. 147-148).

Propagation: Primarily by runners and rhizomes. Limited spread by seed. "Seeds are dispersed by birds and mammals" (Weber, 2003; p. 351).

Native range: Eastern and southern Asia, into the Pacific as far as Tonga (GRIN).

PacificCountry/Terr./St.&
Island groupLocationCited status&
Cited as invasive&
Cited as cultivated&
Cited as aboriginal introduction?Reference&
CommentsAmerican Samoa
Manua IslandsOlosega Islandintroduced
invasive
Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p.43)American Samoa
Manua IslandsOlosega IslandNational Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2001) (voucherID: PTBG35124)
Taxon name on voucher: Pueraria lobata (Willd.) OhwiAmerican Samoa
Manua IslandsTau Islandintroduced
invasive
Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p.47)American Samoa
Manua IslandsTau IslandWhistler, W. A. (1990)
Vouchers cited: Garber 651, Whistler 1377American Samoa
Manua IslandsTau IslandYuncker, T. G. (1945) (p.42)
Voucher cited: Garber 651 (BISH)American Samoa
Manua IslandsTau Islandintroduced
abo. intro.
Ragone, Diane/Lorence, David H. (2003) (p.53)American Samoa
Manua IslandsTau IslandNational Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2002) (voucherID: PTBG38839)
Taxon name on voucher: Pueraria montana (Lour.) Merr. var. var. lobata (Willd.) Maesen & S. M.American Samoa
Manua IslandsTau IslandNational Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1990) (voucherID: PTBG9140)
Taxon name on voucher: Pueraria montana var. lobataAmerican Samoa
Tutuila IslandsTutuila Islandprobably introduced
invasive
Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p.37)Australia (Pacific offshore islands)
Norfolk IslandsNorfolk Islandintroduced
invasive
Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p.9)
"Introduced and naturalised in the Hundred Acre Reserve". Voucher cited: W.R. Sykes NI 529 (CHR)Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Northern Mariana IslandsRota IslandWagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)Federated States of Micronesia
Chuuk IslandsChuuk Islandsnative
Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p.96)Federated States of Micronesia
Pohnpei IslandsPohnpei Islandintroduced
invasive
Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p.96)
Vouchers cited: T. Hosokawa 5845 (BISH), M. Takamatsu 597 (BISH)
NaturalizedFederated States of Micronesia
Yap IslandsYap (Waqab) Islandnative
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p.117)Fiji
Fiji IslandsFiji IslandsSwarbrick, John T. (1997) (p.96)Fiji
Fiji IslandsKambara Islandintroduced
invasive
cultivated
abo. intro.
Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp.226-227)
Voucher cited: Smith 1268Fiji
Fiji IslandsLakemba Islandintroduced
invasive
cultivated
abo. intro.
Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp.226-227)
Voucher cited: Garnock-Jones 823Fiji
Fiji IslandsTaveuni Islandintroduced
invasive
cultivated
abo. intro.
Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp.226-227)
Voucher cited: Gillespie 4703Fiji
Fiji IslandsVanua Levu Islandintroduced
invasive
cultivated
abo. intro.
Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp.226-227)
Vouchers cited: Seemann 114, DA 13909, Bierhorst F167Fiji
Fiji IslandsViti Levu Islandintroduced
invasive
cultivated
abo. intro.
Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp.226-227)
Vouchers cited: Greenwood 161, Degener 14942, Smith 9668, Greenwood 161A, DA 5629, DA 11746, DA 10791, DA 3371French Polynesia
Society IslandsMoorea Islandintroduced
invasive
Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p.159)
Voucher cited: Florence 4931French Polynesia
Society IslandsRaiatea (Havai) Islandintroduced
Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p.94)
"Potential invader". French Polynesia
Society IslandsRaiatea (Havai) Islandintroduced
invasive
Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p.159)
Vouchers cited: Fosberg & Sachet 63135, Florence 3797, BRY 26681French Polynesia
Society IslandsTahaa Islandintroduced
invasive
Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p.159)
Voucher cited: BRY 26539French Polynesia
Society IslandsTahiti Islandintroduced
invasive
Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p.159)
Vouchers cited: Fosberg 67758, Florence 7726Guam
Guam IslandGuam IslandWagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)State of Hawaii
Hawaiian IslandsHawaii (Big) Islandintroduced
invasive
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp.693, 695, 1879)State of Hawaii
Hawaiian IslandsKauai Islandintroduced
invasive
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp.693, 695, 1879)
Also var. chinensis (Owhi) (formerly var. thomsoni (Benth.) Maesen) (see Wagner et al 2012; p. 41).State of Hawaii
Hawaiian IslandsKauai Islandintroduced
invasive
Frohlich, Danielle/Lau, Alex (2012) (p.39)
Voucher cited: T. Flynn 4748 (BISH)State of Hawaii
Hawaiian IslandsMaui Islandintroduced
invasive
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp.693, 695, 1879)State of Hawaii
Hawaiian IslandsOahu Islandintroduced
invasive
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp.693, 695, 1879)Japan (offshore islands)
Ogasawara (Bonin) IslandsBonin (Ogasawara) IslandsKato, Hidetoshi (2007)
As Pueraria lobata (Willd.) OhwiKiribati
Tungaru (Gilbert) IslandsTarawa AtollSwarbrick, John T. (1997) (p.96)
Presence not verified.New Caledonia
Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)Île Maréprobably native
cultivated
MacKee, H. S. (1994) (pp.88-89)
Voucher cited: Virot 1573New Caledonia
New CaledoniaNew Caledonia Islandsnative
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)New Caledonia
New CaledoniaNew Caledonia Islandsnative
Jaffré, T./Morat, P./Veillon, J-M./Rigault, F./Dagostini, G. (2001) (p.78)New Caledonia
New Caledonia ArchipelagoÎle Grande Terreprobably native
cultivated
MacKee, H. S. (1994) (pp.88-89)
Vouchers cited: Montrouzier 54 (LY), Vieilard 377, Pancher s.n. s.loc., Balansa 3330, Pennel 44, Cribs 1206, Compton 605, Gifford 3, MacKee 4249, Blanchon 1477 (NOU), Botton in Veillon 1114 (NOU), Corbasson in MacKee 20287New Caledonia
New Caledonia ArchipelagoÎle des Pins (Isle of Pines)probably native
cultivated
MacKee, H. S. (1994) (pp.88-89)
Vouchers cited: Virot 1018, MacKee 23553New Caledonia
New Caledonia ArchipelagoÎle Yandeprobably native
cultivated
MacKee, H. S. (1994) (pp.88-89)
Voucher cited: Däniker 2971Niue
NiueNiue Islandintroduced
abo. intro.
Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p.159)
Voucher cited: CHR 150547Niue
NiueNiue Islandintroduced
invasive
Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p.27)Niue
NiueNiue Islandintroduced
invasive
Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p.25)Niue
NiueNiue Islandintroduced
invasive
abo. intro.
Whistler, W. A./Atherton, J. (1997) (p.35)
Voucher cited: 10871Niue
NiueNiue Islandintroduced
invasive
Yuncker, T. G. (1943) (p.65)
Vouchers cited: Yuncker 9711 (BISH), Yuncker 10124 (BISH), Yuncker 10227 (BISH)
"Common along roadsides, in plantations, waste areas, and clearings".Niue
NiueNiue Islandintroduced
invasive
abo. intro.
Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p.50)Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group)Babeldaob Islandnative
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p.117)Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group)Babeldaob Islandnative
Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p.102)Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group)Babeldaob IslandBeleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1981) (voucherID: BNM3056)
Taxon name on voucher: Pueraria lobata (Willd.) OhwiPalau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group)Babeldaob IslandNational Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2007) (voucherID: PTBG47520)
Taxon name on voucher: Pueraria montana var. lobataPalau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group)Koror (Oreor) Islandnative
Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p.98)Papua New Guinea
Bismarck ArchipelagoBismarck Archipelagonative
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)Papua New Guinea
Bismarck ArchipelagoBismarck ArchipelagoPeekel, P. G. [translated by E. E. Henty] (1984) (p.255)Papua New Guinea
Bougainville IslandsBougainville IslandForeman, D. B. (1971) (p.45)Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)Philippines
Philippine IslandsPhilippine Islandsnative
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)Philippines
Philippine IslandsPhilippine Islandsnative
Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p.312)
As Pueraria thunbergiana. In open grasslands and thickets at low and medium altitudes, in Benguet ascending to 2,000 m.Samoa
Western Samoa IslandsSavaii Islandintroduced
invasive
Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p.71)Samoa
Western Samoa IslandsUpolu Islandintroduced
invasive
Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p.68)Solomon Islands
Solomon IslandsSolomon Islandsnative
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)Solomon Islands
Solomon IslandsSolomon Islandsnative
Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p.104)Tonga
Haapai GroupHaano Islandintroduced
invasive
Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p.74)Tonga
Haapai GroupLifuka IslandYuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp.147-148)
Voucher cited: Yuncker 15984Tonga
Haapai GroupTofua IslandWhistler, W. A. (1992) (p.31)
Voucher cited: Scarth-Johnson 12Tonga
Tonga IslandsTonga IslandsYuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp.147-148)
"Frequent throughout Tonga".Tonga
Tongatapu GroupEua Islandintroduced
invasive
Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p.62)Tonga
Tongatapu GroupEua IslandYuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp.147-148)
Voucher cited: Yuncker 15556Tonga
Tongatapu GroupTongatapu IslandWhistler, W. A. (1992) (p.31)
Vouchers cited: Lister s.n., Soakai 267Tonga
Tongatapu GroupTongatapu IslandYuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp.147-148)
Voucher cited: Yuncker 15176Tonga
Vavau GroupNiuatoputapu IslandYuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp.147-148)
Voucher cited: Hürlimann 354Tonga
Vavau GroupVavau Islandintroduced
invasive
Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p.68)Tonga
Vavau GroupVavau IslandWhistler, W. A. (1992) (p.31)
Voucher cited: Crosby 35Tonga
Vavau GroupVavau IslandYuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp.147-148)
Cited: Crosby.Vanuatu
New Hebrides IslandsVanuatu (Republic of)native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)Wallis and Futuna
Wallis and Futuna (Horne) IslandsFutuna Islandnative
Morat, Ph./Veillon, J.-M. (1985)
Morat & Veillon, 1985, cited in Meyer, 2007Wallis and Futuna
Wallis and Futuna (Horne) IslandsWallis and Futuna IslandsWhistler, W. A. (1988) (p.27)

Comments: A serious environmental weed in the southern US. Proposed as a noxious weed in South Africa.

Fosberg et al (1979; p. 117) list as a native species on Palau and Yap.

Planting of this species is prohibited in Miami-Dade County, Florida (U.S.) (Miami-Dade County Dept. of Planning and Zoning, 2010).

Physical: Once established, the vine is difficult to control. Frequent close cutting will exhaust the plant's stored food supply in the roots and will eventually kill it. Control includes grazing by goats and persistent weeding or mowing. If manually controlled, all roots should be removed to prevent regrowth (Weber, 2003; p. 351).

Chemical: "An effective herbicide is triclopyr" (Weber, 2003; p. 351).

info from PIER (PIER species info) (2025)

References