Research directed by C. Daehler (UH Botany) with funding from the Kaulunani Urban Forestry Program and US Forest Service

Information on Risk Assessments
Original risk assessment

Acalypha godseffiana Masters; Acalypha wilkesiana var. marginata, Acalypha wilkesiana var. Godseffiana, copper leaf, fire dragon

Answer

1.01

Is the species highly domesticated?

y=-3, n=0

n

1.02

Has the species become naturalized where grown?

y=-1, n=-1

n

1.03

Does the species have weedy races?

y=-1, n=-1

n

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

2

2.02

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

1

2.03

Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility)

y=1, n=0

n

2.04

Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates

y=1, n=0

y

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

n

3.02

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

n=0

n

3.03

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

n=0

n

3.04

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

n=0

n

3.05

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

n=0

y

4.01

Produces spines, thorns or burrs

y=1, n=0

n

4.02

Allelopathic

y=1, n=0

n

4.03

Parasitic

y=1, n=0

n

4.04

Unpalatable to grazing animals

y=1, n=-1

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

n

4.06

Host for recognized pests and pathogens

y=1, n=0

n

4.07

Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans

y=1, n=0

n

4.08

Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems

y=1, n=0

n

4.09

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

y=1, n=0

n

4.1

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

y=1, n=0

n

4.11

Climbing or smothering growth habit

y=1, n=0

n

4.12

Forms dense thickets

y=1, n=0

n

5.01

Aquatic

y=5, n=0

n

5.02

Grass

y=1, n=0

n

5.03

Nitrogen fixing woody plant

y=1, n=0

n

5.04

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

y=1, n=0

n

6.01

Evidence of substantial reproductive failure in native habitat

y=1, n=0

n

6.02

Produces viable seed.

y=1, n=-1

6.03

Hybridizes naturally

y=1, n=-1

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

y=1, n=-1

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

y=-1, n=0

n

6.06

Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation

y=1, n=-1

n

6.07

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

See left

2

7.01

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

y=1, n=-1

n

7.02

Propagules dispersed intentionally by people

y=1, n=-1

y

7.03

Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant

y=1, n=-1

n

7.04

Propagules adapted to wind dispersal

y=1, n=-1

n

7.05

Propagules water dispersed

y=1, n=-1

n

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y=1, n=-1

n

7.07

Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally)

y=1, n=-1

n

7.08

Propagules survive passage through the gut

y=1, n=-1

n

8.01

Prolific seed production (>1000/m2)

y=1, n=-1

n

8.02

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

y=1, n=-1

8.03

Well controlled by herbicides

y=-1, n=1

y

8.04

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

y=1, n=-1

y

8.05

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

y=-1, n=1

Total score:

-7

Notes

Source

1.01

no evidence

1.02

no evidence

1.03

no evidence

2.01

"perhaps native to New Guinea or Malaysia but its origin is uncertain and it is widely cultivated in the tropics for its variegated foliage."

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.30

2.02

2.03

Climate Zone: 10A-11. To 30F.

http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/Tropical%20Plants/acalyphawilkesiana.htm

2.04

"perhaps native to New Guinea or Malaysia but its origin is uncertain and it is widely cultivated in the tropics for its variegated foliage."

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.30

2.05

"widely cultivated in the tropics for its variegated foliage."

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.30

3.01

no evidence

3.02

no evidence

3.03

no evidence

3.04

no evidence

3.05

A. segetalis was listed as a serious weed in Mozambique. A. alopeculoides in Dominican Republic, A. australis in japan, A. ciliata in Gahna, A. fallax in Malaysia, and A. indica in Sudan were listed as principal weeds.

Holm, L.; J.V. Puncho; J.P. Herberger & D.L. Plucknett (1980) A Geographical Atlas of World Weeds. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

4.01

no description of these traits

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.30

4.02

no evidence

4.03

no evidence

4.04

no evidence

4.05

no evidence

4.06

Quarantine interceptions include Meloidogyne hapla on Acalypha godseffiana and Pseudaeranthemum from Singapore. [generalist nematode]

Australia, New South Wales Department of Agriculture (1977) Plant disease survey 1976-77, Biology Branch. Articles and notes on the occurrence of plant diseases in New South Wales for the twelve months ending 30th June, 1977. Plant disease survey 1976-77, Biology Branch. Articles and notes on the occurrence of plant diseases in New South Wales for the twelve months ending 30th June, 1977., 1978, pp. 55

4.07

several congeners are cited to cause an acute dermatitis on contact with their sap or latex, one of them A. wilkesiana is often confused with A. godseffiana

http://bodd.cf.ac.uk/index.html

4.08

evergreen

http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/Tropical%20Plants/acalyphawilkesiana.htm

4.09

(1) "Acalypha species require full sun" (2) Light requirements: High

(1) http://toptropicals.com/cgi-bin/garden_catalog/cat.cgi?uid=Acalypha_godseffianahttp://toptropicals.com/cgi-bin/garden_catalog/cat.cgi?uid=Acalypha_godseffiana (2) http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/Tropical%20Plants/acalyphawilkesiana.htm

4.1

Soil requirements: Wide range

http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/Tropical%20Plants/acalyphawilkesiana.htm

4.11

shrub to 4 m tall

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.30

4.12

no evidence

5.01

terrestrial

5.02

shrub, Euphorbiaceae

5.03

no evidence

5.04

shrub

6.01

no evidence

6.02

"propagate by cuttings." [no information about seeds of this species/variety]

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.31

6.03

no evidence

6.04

no evidence

6.05

"flowers inconspicuous, unisexual, in axillary spikes. The male spikes with numberous flowers, the female spikes with several, each of which is borne in a bract. Fruit a small capsule, infrequently formed in cultivation." [wind pollination syndrome]

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.31

6.06

no evidence

6.07

Fast growing [minimum estimate for a fast growing small shrub]

http://www.toptropicals.com/cgi-bin/garden_catalog/cat.cgi?uid=

7.01

Fruit infrequently formed in cultivation.

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.31

7.02

"widely cultivated in the tropics for its variegated foliage."

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.30

7.03

no evidence

7.04

table2. "autochorous/diplochorous (dispersed by ants) diaspores" [character of the genus]

http://www.botanischestaatssammlung.de/staff/telopea.pdf

7.05

table2. "autochorous/diplochorous (dispersed by ants) diaspores" [character of the genus]

http://www.botanischestaatssammlung.de/staff/telopea.pdf

7.06

table2. "autochorous/diplochorous (dispersed by ants) diaspores" [character of the genus]

http://www.botanischestaatssammlung.de/staff/telopea.pdf

7.07

table2. "autochorous/diplochorous (dispersed by ants) diaspores" [character of the genus]

http://www.botanischestaatssammlung.de/staff/telopea.pdf

7.08

table2. "autochorous/diplochorous (dispersed by ants) diaspores" [character of the genus]

http://www.botanischestaatssammlung.de/staff/telopea.pdf

8.01

The male spikes with numberous flowers, the female spikes with several, each of which is borne in a bract. Fruit a small capsule, infrequently formed in cultivation." [unlikely, few fruits formed]

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.31

8.02

no evidence

8.03

(1) "Asulam was effective for the selective control of several grassy weeds in established St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum), Tifway Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), and Emerald zoysiagrass (Zoysia matrella). Bahia grass (Paspalum notatum) and centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) were severely injured when asulam was used at 2.24 kg a.i./ha. Thirty-six species of ornamental plants were relatively tolerant to foliage applications of asulam at 2.24 and 4.48 kg a.i./ha, with growth normal on all but 4 spp. (Ficus benjamina, Nephrolepis exaltata, Schinus terebinthifolius and Acalypha wilkesiana) 22 weeks after treatment. Details on visual rating, phytotoxicity symptoms and overall sensitivity are tabulated." (2) "Acalypha wilkesiana, Asparagus densiflorus cv. Sprengeri, Brassaia [Schefflera] actinophylla, Carissa grandiflora, Coccoloba uvifera, Ficus benjamina, Ixora coccinea, Jasminum volubile, Ligustrum japonicum, Murraya paniculata and Viburnum suspensum were especially sensitive to the analogu

8.04

"it will tolerate a severe pruning"

http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/Tropical%20Plants/acalyphawilkesiana.htm

8.05

no evidence