Rosary Pea, Precatory Bean

Abrus precatorius L.

AY-bus prek-uh-TOR-ee-us

Fabaceae

Native to:  India and Tropical Asia, introduced to Florida

Florida abundance and distribution: Introduced to Florida and found along fenced rows and amongst citrus groves.

Recognition: A climbing vine that can get up to 10 feet high. It has opposite, pinnately compound leaves that are narrow and oblong in shape.   The flowers are from rose to violet and small, seeds glossy red/scarlet, black at the base, pods are 1 ½” long and oblong.

Other:  Seeds are very toxic if ingested!  The seeds are used to make Rosary Beads and other types of necklaces.  Each seed has a uniform weight of 1/10^th of a gram.

Contributed by: Andrea Schechter