Abrus melanospermus
Licorice Root
Also known as: Abrus pulchellus f. melanospermus (Hassk.) Backer
- Abrus pulchellus f. melanospermus (Hassk.) Backer
Botanical Data
- Taxonomic Rank: Species
- Botanical Family: Fabaceae
- WCVP Morphological Data: Recorded natively as a climber.
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Found natively in Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, and the Pacific, Abrus melanospermus (commonly known as Licorice-Root) is a climbing plant belonging to the Fabaceae family. Within its native range, this species is primarily associated with seasonally dry tropical conditions. There are naturally occurring subspecies of this species, which are linked below.
Macro Climate
Tropical
Plant Type
Climber / Vine
Native Range
Continents (WGSRPD)
AFRICA, ASIA-TEMPERATE, ASIA-TROPICAL, PACIFIC
Regions (WGSRPD)
China, East Tropical Africa, Indian Subcontinent, Indo-China, Malesia, Northeast Tropical Africa, Papuasia, South Tropical Africa, Southwestern Pacific, West Tropical Africa, West-Central Tropical Africa, Western Indian Ocean
Botanical Countries (WGSRPD L3)
Andaman Is., Angola, Assam, Bangladesh, Benin, Borneo, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China South-Central, China Southeast, Congo, East Himalaya, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hainan, India, Jawa, Kenya, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaya, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Nigeria, Philippines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Vietnam, West Himalaya, Zambia, Zaïre
Introduced Range
An “Introduced” distribution indicates that the plant is recorded outside its native range in that region as a result of deliberate or accidental human introduction. Introduced records may include casual, naturalized or invasive populations, but do not include plants that are only cultivated or planted without self-sustaining populations.
Botanical Countries (Non-Native)
Bolivia, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil West-Central, Colombia, Venezuela
Subspecies, Varieties & Forms