Crab's eye creeper
Abrus precatorius subsp. africanus
family
Fabaceae
origin
Exotic
declaration
NIL
For information only
Common names
Bead vine, Black-eyed Susan, Coral bead plant, Coralbean, Crabs eye, Crab's eye, Crab's eye creeper, Crab's eye vine, Crab’s eyes, Crab's-eye, Crab's-eye creeper, Crabs-eye creeper, Gidee-gidee, Indian licorice, Jequirity, Jequirity bean, Jequiri.
A climbing plant with slender twining stems. Its once-compound leaves have several to numerous pairs of small leaflets. Its pea-shaped whitish, pink or purplish flowers (about 10 mm long) are borne in dense, slightly elongated, clusters. Its relatively short pods (20-35 mm long) have a rough surface texture. These pods split open when mature to reveal several bright red and black coloured seeds (5-7 mm long).
Impact
Impact
Crab's eye creeper (Abrus precatorius subsp. africanus) is regarded as an environmental weed in New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland. It is currently of most concern in north-eastern New South Wales, where it is a relatively recent introduction, but it is much more common and widespread in south-eastern Queensland. This species has been reported in various types of open woodlands (e.g. banksia and eucalypt forests) in the coastal districts of northern New South Wales. It appears on the regional environmental weed list for north-eastern New South Wales, developed by the Bushland Friendly Nursery Scheme, and hence also appears on several local environmental weed lists in this region (e.g. in Ballina Shire, Lismore City and Coffs Harbour City councils).Crab's eye creeper (Abrus precatorius subsp. africanus ) is also one of the "exotic vines and scramblers" whose invasion of native plant communities is listed as a "key threateneing process" in New South Wales. Such species are of concern because they may act as transformer species, altering the nature of the plant communities that they invade. Exotic vines and scramblers smother existing vegetation, both in the ground layer and canopy, altering the light climate and suppressing the regeneration of native species.Until recently, crab's eye creeper (Abrus precatorius) was often regarded as being native to south-eastern Queensland, or as being introduced here from northern Queensland, and was not treated as a serious threat. However, now that it is known to be an exotic form of this species, crab's eye creeper (Abrus precatorius subsp. africanus) is beginning to be treated with more concern as a potentially invasive plant. Populations of this weed are becoming more common and widespread in the region, and are often seen in riparian areas and revegetation sites in suburban Brisbane (e.g. along Enoggera Creek in The Gap and the along the Brisbane River in St. Lucia). Infestations are also being actively controlled on Fraser Island.Crab's eye creeper (Abrus precatorius) is also regarded as a serious invasive weed in some parts of the USA, particularly throughout the central and southern parts of Florida, where it is noted to establish well in disturbed drier forests and spread rapidly after fires.
Location
Location
Characteristics
Characteristics
Similar Species
Similar Species
Crab's eye creeper (Abrus precatorius subsp. africanus) is regarded as an environmental weed in New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland. It is currently of most concern in north-eastern New South Wales, where it is a relatively recent introduction, but it is much more common and widespread in south-eastern Queensland. This species has been reported in various types of open woodlands (e.g. banksia and eucalypt forests) in the coastal districts of northern New South Wales. It appears on the regional environmental weed list for north-eastern New South Wales, developed by the Bushland Friendly Nursery Scheme, and hence also appears on several local environmental weed lists in this region (e.g. in Ballina Shire, Lismore City and Coffs Harbour City councils).Crab's eye creeper (Abrus precatorius subsp. africanus ) is also one of the "exotic vines and scramblers" whose invasion of native plant communities is listed as a "key threateneing process" in New South Wales. Such species are of concern because they may act as transformer species, altering the nature of the plant communities that they invade. Exotic vines and scramblers smother existing vegetation, both in the ground layer and canopy, altering the light climate and suppressing the regeneration of native species.Until recently, crab's eye creeper (Abrus precatorius) was often regarded as being native to south-eastern Queensland, or as being introduced here from northern Queensland, and was not treated as a serious threat. However, now that it is known to be an exotic form of this species, crab's eye creeper (Abrus precatorius subsp. africanus) is beginning to be treated with more concern as a potentially invasive plant. Populations of this weed are becoming more common and widespread in the region, and are often seen in riparian areas and revegetation sites in suburban Brisbane (e.g. along Enoggera Creek in The Gap and the along the Brisbane River in St. Lucia). Infestations are also being actively controlled on Fraser Island.Crab's eye creeper (Abrus precatorius) is also regarded as a serious invasive weed in some parts of the USA, particularly throughout the central and southern parts of Florida, where it is noted to establish well in disturbed drier forests and spread rapidly after fires.
