Acacia pycnantha Benth. Family - Fabaceae Common Names(s) - broadleaf wattle, golden wattle Synonym(s) -Acacia falcinella Meisn., Acacia petiolaris Lehm., Acacia pycnantha var. petiolaris H. Vilm., Acacia pycnantha Benth. Var. pycnantha, Acacia westonii Maiden, Racosperma pycnanthum (Benth.) Pedley

Answer

Score

1.01

Is the species highly domesticated?

y=-3, n=0

1.02

Has the species become naturalized where grown?

y=1, n=-1

1.03

Does the species have weedy races?

y=-1, n=-1

2.01

Species suited to tropical or subtropical climate(s) (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) – If island is primarily wet habitat, then substitute “wet tropical” for “tropical or subtropical”

See Append 2

1

2.02

Quality of climate match data (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) see appendix 2

2

2.03

Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility)

y=1, n=0

n

0

2.04

Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates

y=1, n=0

n

0

2.05

Does the species have a history of repeated introductions outside its natural range?

y=-2, ?=-1, n=0

y

3.01

Naturalized beyond native range y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2), n= question 2.05

y

1

3.02

Garden/amenity/disturbance weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

0

3.03

Agricultural/forestry/horticultural weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

0

3.04

Environmental weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

y

2

3.05

Congeneric weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

y

1

4.01

Produces spines, thorns or burrs

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.02

Allelopathic

y=1, n=0

4.03

Parasitic

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.04

Unpalatable to grazing animals

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.06

Host for recognized pests and pathogens

y=1, n=0

4.07

Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.08

Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems

y=1, n=0

4.09

Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle

y=1, n=0

y

1

4.10

Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (or limestone conditions if not a volcanic island)

y=1, n=0

y

1

4.11

Climbing or smothering growth habit

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.12

Forms dense thickets

y=1, n=0

y

1

5.01

Aquatic

y=5, n=0

n

0

5.02

Grass

y=1, n=0

n

0

5.03

Nitrogen fixing woody plant

y=1, n=0

y

1

5.04

Geophyte (herbaceous with underground storage organs -- bulbs, corms, or tubers)

y=1, n=0

n

0

6.01

Evidence of substantial reproductive failure in native habitat

y=1, n=0

n

0

6.02

Produces viable seed.

y=1, n=-1

y

1

6.03

Hybridizes naturally

y=1, n=-1

y

1

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

y=-1, n=0

n

0

6.06

Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation

y=1, n=-1

6.07

Minimum generative time (years) 1 year = 1, 2 or 3 years = 0, 4+ years = -1

See left

2 or 3

0

7.01

Propagules likely to be dispersed unintentionally (plants growing in heavily trafficked areas)

y=1, n=-1

y

1

7.02

Propagules dispersed intentionally by people

y=1, n=-1

y

1

7.03

Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

7.04

Propagules adapted to wind dispersal

y=1, n=-1

y

1

7.05

Propagules water dispersed

y=1, n=-1

y

1

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y=1, n=-1

y

1

7.07

Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally)

y=1, n=-1

y

1

7.08

Propagules survive passage through the gut

y=1, n=-1

y

1

8.01

Prolific seed production (>1000/m2)

y=1, n=-1

8.02

Evidence that a persistent propagule bank is formed (>1 yr)

y=1, n=-1

y

1

8.03

Well controlled by herbicides

y=-1, n=1

8.04

Tolerates, or benefits from, mutilation, cultivation, or fire

y=1, n=-1

y

1

8.05

Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents)

y=-1, n=1

Total score:

16

Notes

Source

1.01

No evidence of domestication to reduce invasive characteristics.

1.02

1.03

2.01

(1) Native range: Australia - New South Wales, South Australia [s.e.], Victoria.

(1) http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?968#common [cited 2011, April 14].

2.02

(1) Native range: Australia - New South Wales, South Australia [s.e.], Victoria.

(1) http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?968#common [cited 2011, April 14].

2.03

(1) USDA hardiness zones: 8a-11.

Dave's Garden available at: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/59237/ [cited 2011 April 14]

2.04

(1) Native range: Australia - New South Wales, South Australia [s.e.], Victoria.

(1) http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?968#common [cited 2011, April 14].

2.05

(1) Introduced to South Africa in the middle of the 19th century. (2) Naturalized in California.

(1) Richardson, D.M., Kluge, R.L. 2008. Seed banks of invasive Australian Acacia species in South Africa: role in invasiveness and options for management. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. 10:161-177. (2) Calflora available at: http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=38

3.01

(1) Naturalized in California.

(1) Calflora available at: http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=38

3.02

See 3.04.

3.03

No evidence of impacts to agriculture/forestry/horticulture or control methods.

3.04

(1) In South Africa, Acacia pycnantha grows in dense thickets which smother native vegetation and associatd fauna. An undescribed species of gall wasp, Trichilogaster sp. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), was introduced to South Africa for biological control of Acacia pycnantha.

(1) Hoffmann, J.H., Donnelly, D., Moran, V.C., Impson, F.A.C. 2002. Biological control of invasive golden wattle trees (Acacia pycnantha) by a gall wasp, Trichilogaster sp. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), in South Africa. Biological control: theory and applications in pest management. 25 (1):64-73.

3.05

(1) Acacia nilotica is considered one of the worst weeds of Australia.

(1) http://www.weeds.gov.au/publications/guidelines/wons/a-nilotica.html [cited 2011 April 14]

4.01

(1) "Shrub or tree usually 3–8 m high. Branchlets sometimes pruinose, glabrous. Phyllodes often pendulous, falcately recurved to oblanceolate, pulvinus 4–7 mm long, much-narrowed at base."

(1) Acacia search at : http://www.worldwidewattle.com/speciesgallery/species-intro.php?id=3504 [cited 2011 April 14].

4.02

Unknown. (1) An undescribed species of gall wasp, Trichilogaster sp. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), was introduced to South Africa for biological control of Acacia pycnantha. The wasp is now widespread and considered a successful biocontrol.

4.03

(1) Fabaceae

(1) http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?968#common [cited 2011, April 14].

4.04

(1) Documented as a useful fodder for animals at a workshop on shrubs and tree fodders for farm animals.

(1) Devendra, C. (ed.) 1989. Shrub and tree fodders for farm animals. Proceedings of a workshop in Denpasar, Indonesia, 24-29 July 1989. International Development Research Center. 14 pages.

4.05

(1) Documented as a useful fodder for animals at a workshop on shrubs and tree fodders for farm animals.

(1) Devendra, C. (ed.) 1989. Shrub and tree fodders for farm animals. Proceedings of a workshop in Denpasar, Indonesia, 24-29 July 1989. International Development Research Center. 14 pages.

4.06

(1) A. pycnantha is affected by a wide range of insect pests and diseases including: the rust fungi Uromyces phyllodorium , U. simplex, and U, tepperianum.

(1) Acacia search at : http://www.worldwidewattle.com/speciesgallery/species-intro.php?id=3504 [cited 2011 April 14].

4.07

(1) No evidence of toxicity or allergies.

(1) PubMed available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=acacia%20pycnantha [cited 2011 April14].

4.08

Unknown. (1) Fire adapted. (2) Fire response: Fire stimulates mass germination of soil stored seed. Adult plants can resprout following fire.

(1) Richardson, D.M., Kluge, R.L. 2008. Seed banks of invasive Australian Acacia species in South Africa: role in invasiveness and options for management. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. 10:161-177. (2) Florabase: The Western Australian flora Available at: http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/3504 [cited 2011 April 14].

4.09

(1) This experiment tested the shade tolerance of four tree species that are components of Eucalyptus woodland in Victoria, Australia. Acacia pycnantha was tolerant of deep shade (2, 4, 8% of daylight) for 90 days (experiment length) still having mainly bipinnate foliage.

(1) Withers, J.R. 1979. Studies on the status of unburnt Eucalyptus woodland at Ocean Grove, Victoria. IV* the effect of shading on seedling establishment. Australian Journal of Botany 27:47-66.

4.10

(1) Grows on a wide variety of soils including calcareous sands, deep podsolic sands, red earths, clays and skeletal, stony loams.

(1) Acacia search at : http://www.worldwidewattle.com/speciesgallery/species-intro.php?id=3504 [cited 2011 April 14].

4.11

(1) Shrub, small tree.

(1) Florabase: The Western Australian flora Available at: http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/3504 [cited 2011 April 14

4.12

(1) Forms dense thickets.

(1) Hoffman, J.H., Impson, F.A.C., Moran, V.C., Donnelly, D. 2002. Biological control of invasive golden wattle trees (Acacia pycnantha) by a gall wasp, Trichilogaster sp. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), in South Africa. Biological Control 25:64-73.

5.01

(1) Terrestrial.

(1)Florabase: The Western Australian flora Available at: http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/3504 [cited 2011 April 14

5.02

(1) Fabaceae

(1) http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?968#common [cited 2011, April 14].

5.03

(1) In this experiment assessing the growth and survivorship of Acacia pycnantha under different shade conditions, deep shading decreased the dry weight of the root nodules (2) Considerable symbiotic fixation of nitrogen by species of Rhizobium occurs in many acacias.

(1) Withers, J.R. 1979. Studies on the status of unburnt Eucalyptus woodland at Ocean Grove, Victoria. IV* the effect of shading on seedling establishment. Australian Journal of Botany 27:47-66. (2) New, T.R. 1984. A Biology of Acacias. Oxford University Press. Auckland. 153 p.

5.04

(1) Shrub, small tree.

(1) Florabase: The Western Australian flora Available at: http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/3504 [cited 2011 April 14

6.01

No evidence.

6.02

(1) In this study on seed set and germination, Acacia pycnantha germinated over a broad range of temperatures (60-100ºC).

(1) Brown, J., Enright, N.J., Miller, B. P. 2003. Seed production and germination in two rare and three common co-occurring Acacia species from south-east Australia. Austral Ecology 28:271-280.

6.03

(1) Putative natural hybrids between A. pycnantha and A. williamsonii occur in the Bendigo ‘Whipstick’, Victoria.

(1) Acacia search at : http://www.worldwidewattle.com/speciesgallery/species-intro.php?id=3504 [cited 2011 April 14].

6.04

(1) "Quantitative estimates of self-incompatibility in individual trees of natural populations of Acacia species have been achieved using the index of self-incompatibility (ISI, or the ratio of infructescenes or pods set after self-pollination/cross-pollination). The ISI was 0 or very low for three species. A. mearsii, A. pycnantha, and A. retinodes-indicating high levels of self-incompatibility."

(1) Kenrick, J., Know, R.B. 1989. Quantitative analysis of self-incompatibility in trees in seven species of Acacia. Journal of Heredity 80 (2):240-245.

6.05

(1) A number of bird species, honey bees and native bees were seen foraging on Acacia pycnantha flowers during this experiment. Pod production was greater among the trees that included birds and insects than those that excluded birds or excluded birds and insects.

(1) Vanstone, V.A., Paton, D.C. 1988. Extrafloral nectaries and pollination of Acacia pycnantha Benth. By birds. Australian Journal of Botany 36:519-31.

6.06

(1) Vegetative regeneration strategy: resprouts.

(1) Florabase: The Western Australian flora Available at: http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/3504 [cited 2011 April 14

6.07

(1) Flowers within 2-3 years of flowering.

(1) Acacia search at : http://www.worldwidewattle.com/speciesgallery/species-intro.php?id=3504 [cited 2011 April 14].

7.01

(1) A. pycnantha is dispersed unintentionally over wide distances and in large numbers through soil movement by humans, for example in topsoil, gravel for roads, mud on cars, and with horticultural stock.

(1) Richardson, D.M., Kluge, R.L. 2008. Seed banks of invasive Australian Acacia species in South Africa: role in invasiveness and options for management. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. 10:161-177.

7.02

(1) Introduced to South Africa in the middle of the 19th century. (2) Naturalized in California.

(1) Richardson, D.M., Kluge, R.L. 2008. Seed banks of invasive Australian Acacia species in South Africa: role in invasiveness and options for management. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. 10:161-177. (2) Calflora available at: http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=38

7.03

No evidence of produce contamination.

7.04

(1) Dispersal: Water, birds, ants, wind, garden refuse, soil movement.

(1) Florabase: The Western Australian flora Available at: http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/3504 [cited 2011 April 14].

7.05

(1) Dispersal: Water, birds, ants, wind, garden refuse, soil movement.

(1) Florabase: The Western Australian flora Available at: http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/3504 [cited 2011 April 14].

7.06

(1) Dispersal: Water, birds, ants, wind, garden refuse, soil movement.

(1) Florabase: The Western Australian flora Available at: http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/3504 [cited 2011 April 14].

7.07

(1) Acacia pycnantha seeds have an elaiosome that predisposes it to vertical dispersal by ants.

(1) Richardson, D.M., Kluge, R.L. 2008. Seed banks of invasive Australian Acacia species in South Africa: role in invasiveness and options for management. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. 10:161-177.

7.08

(1) Acacia pycnantha seeds have an elaiosome that predisposes it to vertical dispersal by ants.

(1) Florabase: The Western Australian flora Available at: http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/3504 [cited 2011 April 14].

8.01

(1) Plants set seed annually with very heavy crops being produced every couple of years; on average there are 33,000 seeds per kg.

(1) Acacia search at : http://www.worldwidewattle.com/speciesgallery/species-intro.php?id=3504 [cited 2011 April 14].

8.02

(1) Physical dormancy with a water impermeable coat that requires a high temperature to break the dormancy. (2) Seedbank persistence. Long, 5+ years.

(1) Richardson, D.M., Kluge, R.L. 2008. Seed banks of invasive Australian Acacia species in South Africa: role in invasiveness and options for management. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. 10:161-177. (2) Florabase: The Western Australian flora Available at: http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/3504 [cited 2011 April 14].

8.03

Unknown. (1) An undescribed species of gall wasp, Trichilogaster sp. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), was introduced to South Africa for biological control of Acacia pycnantha. The wasp is now widespread and considered a successful biocontrol.

8.04

(1) Fire adapted. (2) Fire response: Fire stimulates mass germination of soil stored seed. Adult plants can resprout following fire.

(1) Richardson, D.M., Kluge, R.L. 2008. Seed banks of invasive Australian Acacia species in South Africa: role in invasiveness and options for management. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. 10:161-177. (2) Florabase: The Western Australian flora Available at: http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/3504 [cited 2011 April 14].

8.05

Unknown. (1) An undescribed species of gall wasp, Trichilogaster sp. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), was introduced to South Africa for biological control of Acacia pycnantha. The wasp is now widespread and considered a successful biocontrol.

(1) Hoffmann, J.H., Donnelly, D., Moran, V.C., Impson, F.A.C. 2002. Biological control of invasive golden wattle trees (Acacia pycnantha) by a gall wasp, Trichilogaster sp. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), in South Africa. Biological control: theory and applications in pest management. 25 (1):64-73.