Bocconia frutescens L., Papaveraceae

Click on an image for links to BIGGER PICTURES

Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 18 (Go to the risk assessment)

Common name(s): [more details]

English: bocconia, parrotweed, plume poppy, tree celandine, tree poppy

French: bois codine

Spanish: palo de toro, pan cimarrón

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "Branched shrubs; stems 2-6 m long, pith white.  Leaves often somewhat congested toward the tips of the branches, oblong-obovate to oblong-lanceolate, 10-45 cm long, 4-20 cm wide, pinnately cleft ca. 1/2 to midrib, upper surface sparsely strigillose, lower surface glaucous and puberulent, especially along veins.  Panicles densely branched, 20-60 cm long, bracts lanceolate, 2-5 mm long, pedicels 3-10 mm long; sepals erect, elliptic, 8-10 mm long; stamens 8-10; filaments filiform; anthers linear, pendent by the filaments at anthesis.  Capsules grayish at maturity, pulp pale yellow, ca. 12 mm long, stipe ca. 5 mm long.  Seed 1, black, 6-7 mm long, the surface smooth and glossy, the lower 1/2-1/3 covered with a red, pulpy aril." (Wagner et al, 1999; p. 1006).

Habitat/ecology:  "Pan cimarrón grows in a wide variety of soil types at middle elevations up to 2,150 m in Mexico (Secretar¡a de Madio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales 2002). In Puerto Rico, it grows in subtropical dry forest along streams (750 to 1000 mm/year precipitation), in subtropical moist forest (1000 to 2000 mm/year precipitation), and in subtropical wet forests (2000 to 3000 mm/year precipitation). In Nicaragua, the species grows even in the cloud forests (Stevens and others 2001). In Puerto Rico, pan cimarrón is most common along streams, road cuts, and landslides. The species also grows widely scattered in brush lands, which develop from abandoned fields and pastures, and in secondary forest. Pan cimarrón is intolerant of shade. It competes vigorously with herbs and brush after establishment  (Wildland shrubs of the United States and its territories).

This evergreen shrub to small tree forms dense stands in dry habitats.  It grows at elevations between 300-1,000 m in dry habitats (Smith, 1985; p. 186).

"Because bocconia is able to flourish in a broad range of environmental conditions and along a large elevational gradient within its home range it appears to have the potential to invade native and non-native habitats in dry and mesic environments in Hawai‘i. Given its potential to reach tree-sized stature and its ability to form thick stands, bocconia is expected to be a serious competitor with native or other desirable species.   In the Wood Valley area of Hawaii, bocconia quickly spread from one landscape planting near to occupy in excess of 3,500 acres of abandoned cane land.  This recent population explosion coincides with the demise of active cane farming in the area that allowed bocconia to reach maturity and rapidly increase its range. Bocconia is now considered a major weed in small agricultural lots in the area. On Maui, bocconia has been observed at 5800' elevation.  Art Medeiros (U.S. Geological Survey) considers bocconia to be one of the most threatening weeds in the Kanaio Natural Area Reserve"  (Motooka et al., 2003).

Propagation:  "Bocconia produces large numbers of seed with a red fleshy aril at the base that attracts birds, which disperse seed over long distances." (Motooka et al., 2002)

Native range:  Central America and the West Indies; also cultivated and naturalized (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1006)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1006)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized

Comments:  On the State of Hawai‘i noxious weed list.

Control: 

Physical:  "Medeiros recommended a strategy of removal of all flowering trees with periodic follow-up to remove new seedlings emerging from the soil seed bank" (Motooka et al., 2003).

Chemical:  "Good control with 2,4-D and fair control with triclopyr applied basal bark. Very little other work on bocconia management.  Aerial spot spraying with the "spray ball" applicator would be an effective way to kill emerging trees in pastures and abandoned sugarcane land.  Trials are needed to determine an effective herbicide and rate for this method" (Motooka et al., 2003).