Hillsborough County ISTF - Manatee County Extension Office ...

Rosary peaCrab’s eyesAbrus precatoriusIdentifying CharacteristicsA high climbing (10 to 20 feet), twining or trailing woodyvine with slender green branches. Leaves are alternate, 2to 5 inches long, even-pinnately compound with 5 to 15pairs of leaflets. Each leaflet is oval to oblong and lessthan 1 inch long. Flowers are shaped like pea flowers;small and white to pink to reddish in color. Prolificflowers and fruits in the summer. The fruit is a short,oblong pod that splits before falling, revealing 3 to 8shiny, hard, scarlet red seeds with black bases. Each redseed is about 1 /4 inch in diameter.Seeds are extremely poisonous to humans, cattle andhorses.HabitatInvades pinelands and hammocks. Naturalized in roadsideareas, waste areas and along fencerows of south andcentral Florida; typically a problem in old citrus groves.Growth HabitsIn sunny locations, may form a smothering blanket. Rootsgrow very deep and are difficult to eradicate. Fires tend toencourage growth. Seeds are dispersed by birds.Control Methods: Cut-Stump or FoliarCut large woody vines down and apply triclopyr esterimmediately. For foliar method, apply triclopyr amine orglyphosate with care if treating around desirable plants.The roots of this plant are deep and difficult to pull up.ReplacementsLeather flower (Clematis crispa)Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)37