Abrus precatorius: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Seeds are used as standards of weight and measurement in jewelry as beads or in percussion instruments
Plant Profile: Abrus precatorius
Taxonomy: Abrus precatoriusNames
Buddhist Rosary Bead, Crab's Eyes, Indian Bead, Indian Licorice, Jequirity Bean, Love Bean, Lucky Bean, Prayer Bean, Precatory Bean, Rosary Pea, Seminole Bead, Weather Plant
Phonetic Spelling:AH-broos prek-ah-TOR-ee-us
Genus:Abrus
Species:precatorius
Family:Fabaceae
Seeds that are highly toxic when crushed are often utilized in the creation of rosary necklaces. This plant originates from tropical regions and has become invasive, with its seeds dispersed by birds. While it is not frequently cultivated in North Carolina, it has proliferated in Florida, particularly in pinelands, where it has established itself as a troublesome weed. The plant's deep root system poses significant challenges for removal.
Abrus precatorius Feature Summary
Abrus precatorius Image Gallery
Tags
#evergreen
#deciduous
#poisonous
#full sun tolerant
#weedy
#legume
#toxic
#vines
#twining
#beads
#glossy leaves
#red fruits
#exotic looking
#problem for cats
#problem for dogs
#problem for horses
#tropical feel
Similar Plants
Abrus precatorius Feature Summary
Attributes
Seeds are used as standards of weight and measurement in jewelry as beads or in percussion instruments
Tropical
Imported to USA
Woody
Twining
Fruit
The seeds, from a pea-shaped oblong flat truncate pod, 1 1/2"-2" long curls back when opening to reveal 3 to 8 hard-coated, glossy, two-toned: brilliant scarlet-red over 2/3 of the length and black over the narrow 1/3. The seeds give its common name of crab's eyes.
Legume
Red/Burgundy
Black
1-3 inches
Flowers
Small, white to violet-pink, clustered in the axils of leaves.
Pink
Purple/Lavender
White
Leaves
Pinnately compound leaves alternate, petioled, and 2-5 inches long, with 5 to 15 pairs of oval to oblong leaflets less than 1″ long
Deciduous
Broadleaf Evergreen
Green
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Opposite
Ovate
Oblong
Entire
3-6 inches
Poisonous to Humans
HIGHLY TOXIC MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN! If chewed seeds are ingested, then after a delay of hours or days: nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal pain and diarrhea, tremors, high heart rate, fever, shock, burning in throat; later ulcerative lesions of mouth and esophagus; can be fatal.
Abrin, a protein
High
Seeds
Whole Plant Traits
Poisonous
Vine
Deciduous
Broadleaf Evergreen
Spreading
Rapid
High
Fine
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
12-24 feet
Stem
Landscape
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Weedy
Abrus precatorius Image Gallery
Abrus precatorius Attributes
Abrus precatorius: Country Or Region Of Origin
Tropical
Abrus precatorius: Distribution
Imported to USA
Abrus precatorius: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Abrus precatorius: Climbing Method
Clinging
Scrambler
Tendrils
Twining
Abrus precatorius Fruit
Abrus precatorius: Fruit Description
The seeds, from a pea-shaped oblong flat truncate pod, 1 1/2"-2" long curls back when opening to reveal 3 to 8 hard-coated, glossy, two-toned: brilliant scarlet-red over 2/3 of the length and black over the narrow 1/3. The seeds give its common name of crab's eyes.
Abrus precatorius: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Abrus precatorius: Fruit Color
Black
Red/Burgundy
Abrus precatorius: Fruit Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Abrus precatorius: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Abrus precatorius Flowers
Abrus precatorius: Flower Description
Small, white to violet-pink, clustered in the axils of leaves.
Abrus precatorius: Flower Color
Pink
Purple/Lavender
White
Abrus precatorius Leaves
Abrus precatorius: Leaf Description
Pinnately compound leaves alternate, petioled, and 2-5 inches long, with 5 to 15 pairs of oval to oblong leaflets less than 1″ long
Abrus precatorius: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Abrus precatorius: Leaf Color
Green
Abrus precatorius: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Abrus precatorius: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Abrus precatorius: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Abrus precatorius: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Abrus precatorius: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Abrus precatorius: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Abrus precatorius Poisonous to Humans
Abrus precatorius: Poison Symptoms
HIGHLY TOXIC MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN! If chewed seeds are ingested, then after a delay of hours or days: nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal pain and diarrhea, tremors, high heart rate, fever, shock, burning in throat; later ulcerative lesions of mouth and esophagus; can be fatal.
Abrus precatorius: Poison Toxic Principle
Abrin, a protein
Abrus precatorius: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Abrus precatorius: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Abrus precatorius: Poison Part
Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems
Abrus precatorius Whole Plant Traits
Abrus precatorius: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Abrus precatorius: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Abrus precatorius: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Abrus precatorius: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Abrus precatorius: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Abrus precatorius: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Abrus precatorius Cultural Conditions
Abrus precatorius: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Abrus precatorius: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Abrus precatorius Stem
Abrus precatorius: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Abrus precatorius Landscape
Abrus precatorius: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
