Abrus precatorius

Abrus precatorius
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Abrus
Species:
A. precatorius
Binomial name
Abrus precatorius
Occurrence data from GBIF
Synonyms[1]
  • Abrus maculatus Noronha
  • Abrus pauciflorus Desv.
  • Glycine abrus L.
  • Orobus americanus Mill.
  • Zaga latifolia Raf.
  • Zaga parvifolia Raf.

Abrus precatorius, commonly known as jequirity bean or rosary pea, is a herbaceous flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae. It is a slender, perennial climber with long, pinnate-leafleted leaves that twines around trees, shrubs, and hedges.

The plant is best known for its seeds, which are used as beads and in percussion instruments, and which are toxic because of the presence of abrin. Ingestion of a single seed, well chewed, can be fatal to both adults and children.[2] The plant is native to Asia and Australia.[1] It has a tendency to become weedy and invasive where it has been introduced.

  1. ^ a b c "Abrus precatorius L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  2. ^ "Abrus precatorius L." InChem. Retrieved 2016-04-29.