Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)
Afrocarpus falcatus
RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS: Low risk, score: 0
|
Australian/New Zealand Weed Risk Assessment adapted for Hawai‘i. Information on Risk Assessments Original risk assessment |
| Nageia falcatus (bastard yellow wood, smooth barked yellow wood, East African yellowwood, outeninqua yellowwood) Synonym: Afrocarpus falcatus, Podocarpus falcatus. Family- Podocarpaceae | Answer | Score | |
| 1.01 | Is the species highly domesticated? | n | 0 |
| 1.02 | Has the species become naturalized where grown? | n | |
| 1.03 | Does the species have weedy races? | 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” | 2 | |
| 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 |
| 2.04 | Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates | y | 1 |
| 2.05 | Does the species have a history of repeated introductions outside its natural range? y=-2 | y | |
| 3.01 | Naturalized beyond native range y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2), n= question 2.05 | n | -2 |
| 3.02 | Garden/amenity/disturbance weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2) | n | 0 |
| 3.03 | Agricultural/forestry/horticultural weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2) | n | 0 |
| 3.04 | Environmental weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2) | n | 0 |
| 3.05 | Congeneric weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2) | n | 0 |
| 4.01 | Produces spines, thorns or burrs | n | 0 |
| 4.02 | Allelopathic | n | 0 |
| 4.03 | Parasitic | n | 0 |
| 4.04 | Unpalatable to grazing animals | n | -1 |
| 4.05 | Toxic to animals | n | 0 |
| 4.06 | Host for recognized pests and pathogens | n | 0 |
| 4.07 | Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans | n | 0 |
| 4.08 | Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems | n | 0 |
| 4.09 | Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle | y | 1 |
| 4.1 | Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (or limestone conditions if not a volcanic island) | y | 1 |
| 4.11 | Climbing or smothering growth habit | n | 0 |
| 4.12 | Forms dense thickets | n | 0 |
| 5.01 | Aquatic | n | 0 |
| 5.02 | Grass | n | 0 |
| 5.03 | Nitrogen fixing woody plant | n | 0 |
| 5.04 | Geophyte (herbaceous with underground storage organs -- bulbs, corms, or tubers) | n | 0 |
| 6.01 | Evidence of substantial reproductive failure in native habitat | n | 0 |
| 6.02 | Produces viable seed. | y | 1 |
| 6.03 | Hybridizes naturally | ||
| 6.04 | Self-compatible or apomictic | y | 1 |
| 6.05 | Requires specialist pollinators | n | 0 |
| 6.06 | Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation | n | -1 |
| 6.07 | Minimum generative time (years) 1 year = 1, 2 or 3 years = 0, 4+ years = -1 | 4 | -1 |
| 7.01 | Propagules likely to be dispersed unintentionally (plants growing in heavily trafficked areas) | n | -1 |
| 7.02 | Propagules dispersed intentionally by people | y | 1 |
| 7.03 | Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant | n | -1 |
| 7.04 | Propagules adapted to wind dispersal | n | -1 |
| 7.05 | Propagules water dispersed | n | -1 |
| 7.06 | Propagules bird dispersed | y | 1 |
| 7.07 | Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally) | n | -1 |
| 7.08 | Propagules survive passage through the gut | y | 1 |
| 8.01 | Prolific seed production (>1000/m2) | n | -1 |
| 8.02 | Evidence that a persistent propagule bank is formed (>1 yr) | y | 1 |
| 8.03 | Well controlled by herbicides | ||
| 8.04 | Tolerates, or benefits from, mutilation, cultivation, or fire | y | 1 |
| 8.05 | Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents) | ||
| Total score: | 0 |
Supporting data:
| Notes | Reference | |
| 1.01 | No evidence | |
| 1.02 | No evidence of naturalization | |
| 1.03 | No evidence | |
| 2.01 | "Range South Africa. "This, the tallest member of the genus in Southern Africa, occurs in coastal and montane forests from the Swellendarn district in the Cape to the northern Transvaal and southern Mozambique. It is much less common than P. latifolius and apparently is only rarely dominant" "A fairly common tree in its native range; an occasional ornamental in New South Wales and southern California." |
CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. |
| 2.02 | "Range South Africa. "This, the tallest member of the genus in Southern Africa, occurs in coastal and montane forests from the Swellendarn district in the Cape to the northern Transvaal and southern Mozambique. It is much less common than P. latifolius and apparently is only rarely dominant" "A fairly common tree in its native range; an occasional ornamental in New South Wales and southern California." |
CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. |
| 2.03 | (1)"This species is found in various
vegetation types including coastal swamp forest, transitional rainforest,
dry evergreen forest and Afromontane rainforest." Altitude range: 10
- 3000 m - Mean annual rainfall: 1200 - 1800 mm - Mean annual temperature: 13 - 20ºC - Absolute minimum temperature: > 10ºC (2)USDA hardiness zones 10 to 11. |
(1) CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2) http://hort.ufl.edu/trees/PODFALA.pdf |
| 2.04 | "Range South Africa. "This, the tallest member of the genus in Southern Africa, occurs in coastal and montane forests from the Swellendarn district in the Cape to the northern Transvaal and southern Mozambique. It is much less common than P. latifolius and apparently is only rarely dominant" "A fairly common tree in its native range; an occasional ornamental in New South Wales and southern California." |
CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. |
| 2.05 | (1)Introduced to Florida. (2)A fairly common tree in its native range; an occasional ornamental in New South Wales and southern California. (3)Introduced and cultivated in Hawaii. | (1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry
Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://www.conifers.org/po/af/falcatus.htm (3)Staples, W George and Derral H Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora. Bishop Museum Press. Honolulu. Hawaii. Page 73 |
| 3.01 | No evidenece of naturalization | |
| 3.02 | No evidence | |
| 3.03 | No evidence | |
| 3.04 | Invasive potential - little if any known invasive potential at this time. | http://hort.ufl.edu/trees/PODFALA.pdf |
| 3.05 | No evidence regarding weedy congeners. | |
| 4.01 | No evidence of such structures. | http://hort.ufl.edu/trees/PODFALA.pdf |
| 4.02 | No evidence | |
| 4.03 | No evidence | |
| 4.04 | "Abstract: A study was made of the vegetation in southern Wello (Ethiopia) in relation to human impact and the environment. 65 sample plots were laid out and analysed with respect to the cover value of vascular plant species. Altitude, slope, aspect and estimates of grazing pressure for each plot were also recorded along with physical and chemical soil properties analysed for samples taken from each plot. The following environmental factors, isolated by forward selection, show correlation with the axes of Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA): altitude, grazing, pH, K, Ca, Mg, slope and aspect. Through hierarchical and non-hierarchical clustering methods the vegetation was divided into eight types, from which one was secondary forest characterised by patch dominance of Juniperus procera and Olea europaea ssp. cuspidata. These forest patches are found at high altitude sites and because of their inaccessibility are usually characterised by low livestock density and consequently low grazing pressure. The presence of large boulders and stones in Podocarpus falcatus forest decreases accessibility and creates natural protection for the trees. The other vegetation types. most of which are found at lower altitude and associated with varying intensities of grazing. include grasslands (grazed and protected), regenerating sites dominated by Euclea racemosa and Dodonaea angustifolia. dense and open shrublands and Olea europaea ssp. cuspidata woodlands. Human interference has a major impact on the vegetation of the study area and its recovery will depend on the degree of participation of the local people." [Suggest that Podocarpus falcatus can be grazed]. | Tekle, Kebrom; Backeus, I.; Skoglund, J.,
et al. Vegetation on hill slopes in southern Wello, Ethiopia: Degradation
and regeneration Nordic Journal of Botany 17 (5) : 483-493 1997 |
| 4.05 | No evidence | |
| 4.06 | (1)The following pests were listed to be
associated with N.
falcatus.
Armillaria tabescens (armillaria root rot) fungus Corynelia urberata fungus Pinnaspis aspidistrae (scale insect) insect Radopholus similis (burrowing nematode) insect - [No evidence that the above pests are of economic importance]. (2)The tree has not been grown much and the pest and disease problems are poorly understood. |
CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. |
| 4.07 | No evidence | |
| 4.08 | Probably not - an evergreen tree. This species is found in coastal swamp forest, transitional rainforest, dry evergreen forest and Afromontane rainforest. No evidence of it occurring in dense stands. | CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. |
| 4.09 | (1)prefers partial shade or partial sun to full sun (2)Tree grows in part shade/part sun, tree grows in full sun. | (1)http://www.horticopia.com/hortpix/html/pc252.htm (2)http://hort.ufl.edu/trees/PODFALA.pdf |
| 4.1 | (1) Soil texture: light - Soil drainage: free (2)Soil tolerance - clay,loam, sand, acidic. (3) It will tolerate a wide range of well drained soils. | (1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://hort.ufl.edu/trees/PODFALA.pdf (3)Hoticopia. Professional. 2006. CD-ROM database. Version 4. |
| 4.11 | A tall tree. | http://hort.ufl.edu/trees/PODFALA.pdf |
| 4.12 | No evidence | |
| 5.01 | "Tall tree generally 10-25 m high but attaining a height of 60 m with a clean bole of more than 20 m and a girth of about 7 m." | http://www.conifers.org/po/af/falcatus.htm |
| 5.02 | ||
| 5.03 | ||
| 5.04 | ||
| 6.01 | "The trees in southern Africa flower in September to May and peak fruiting takes place from December to May." | Seed Leaflet No. 75: Podocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) R.Br. ex Mirb. (May 2003) |
| 6.02 | (1)Stand establishment using direct sowing (2)Some of the seed may take up to six months to germinate, so be patient. Seedlings can be pricked out at a height of 50-80 mm and planted into bags or pots. | (1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantnop/podocarpfalcat.htm |
| 6.03 | No evidence regarding hybrids. | |
| 6.04 | "Abstract: No data are available on pollen flow distances for wind-pollinated canopy trees in broad-leaf, closed, evergreen forests. Nevertheless, major biogeographic patterns, such as the relative absence of anemophilic tree species in lowland tropical forests and the rise of the angiosperms, have been explained in terms of the supposed relative ineffeciency of anemophily compared to zoophily. In this study, fruits were found below females of the dioecious anemophilous tree species Podocarpus falcatus in the Knysna Forest, which were up to 70 m from male trees. This pollen flow is overmore than twice the distance previously suggested as a maximum and indicates that wind-pollinated species could produce out-crossed progeny in species-rich communities." [Probably yes - no evidence of self incompatability - wind pollinated] | MIDGLEY J.POLLEN DISPERSAL DISTANCES FOR A CONIFER CANOPY SPECIES IN THE KNYSNA FOREST SOUTH AFRICA (South African Journal of Botany 55 (6) : 662-664 1989) |
| 6.05 | The flowers are mainly wind-pollinated. | Seed Leaflet No. 75: Podocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) R.Br. ex Mirb. (May 2003) |
| 6.06 | No evidence of spread by vegetative means. | |
| 6.07 | (1)Growth rate is slow. (2)Fast growing species- because it resembles the slow growing yew (Taxus) some people expect it to grow slowly which it does not as long as coniditions are favorable. (3)Fast growing species - "Male and female cones occur on different trees. The large, yellow, fleshy fruits take a year to ripen and hang from the branches in clusters." "Some of the seed may take up to six months to germinate, so be patient." [Even if it is fast growing it probably takes 4+ years to form mature cones - given that this is a large gynosperm - takes about 6 months to germinate and the cone formation takes another year or so.] | (1)Horticopia Professional. 2006. CD-ROM database. Version 4. (2)Staples, W George and Derral H Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora. Bishop Museum Press. Honolulu. Hawaii. Page 73 (3)http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantnop/podocarpfalcat.htm |
| 7.01 | Probably not - no evidence the the propagules have any means of attachment. | |
| 7.02 | (1) "P. falcatus is a source of firewood and timber for furniture, panelling, shelving, drawer linings, shop counters and light duty impregnated railway sleepers. Tannins can be extracted from the bark and its leaves contain podolide, a main ingredient in some insecticides. It is also an ornamental tree with several medicinal uses." (2)It is an excellent container plant and can also be decorated and used as an indoor Christmas tree. | (1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantnop/podocarpfalcat.htm |
| 7.03 | Probably not - no evidence that the species is planted in or around fields of produce crops. | |
| 7.04 | (1)Podocarpus belongs to the gymnosperms so no fruit layer is produced, the seeds are borne "naked" insded a cone. Each seed is almost rounf and up to 2 cm in diameter. The seeds resembles a drupe with fleshy, about 3 mm thick outer layer and a very hard, 4-8 mm thick inner layer. At maturity the seeds are of a deep yellow color.' (2)"The structure of the P. falcatus fruit is related to adaptation for protection during seed dispersal by bats. The stony sclerotesta delays germination for about one year and thereby causes the exposure of the seed to high post-dispersal predation by rodents and bushpig. Seedling recruitment is low." [Dispersed by bats - by being carried by them in the fleshy fruit - predation by rodents and bushpigs suggests that that the seeds probably do not survive passage through the gut]. |
(1) Seed Leaflet No. 75: Podocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) R.Br. ex Mirb. (May 2003)
#search=%22%22podocarpus%20falcatus%22%20year%20flower%7Cflowering%22 (2) Geldenhuys, C. J.Reproductive biology and population structures of Podocarpus falcatus and Podocarpus latifolius in southern Cape forests. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 112 (1) : 59-74 1993 |
| 7.05 | (1)Disperses by bats. (2)The seeds are dispersed by birds, bats and wild pigs. | (1)Geldenhuys, C. J.Reproductive biology
and population structures of Podocarpus falcatus and Podocarpus latifolius
in southern Cape forests Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 112 (1) : 59-74 1994 (2) Seed Leaflet No. 75: Podocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) R.Br. ex Mirb. (May 2003) arch=%22%22podocarpus%20falcatus%22%20year%20flower%7Cflowering%22 |
| 7.06 | (1)Disperses by bats. (2)The seeds are dispersed by birds, bats and wild pigs. | (1)Geldenhuys, C. J.Reproductive biology
and population structures of Podocarpus falcatus and Podocarpus latifolius
in southern Cape forests Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 112 (1) : 59-74 1994 (2)http://www.dfsc.dk/pdf/Seedleaflets/podocarpusfalcatus_int.pdf #search=%22%22podocarpus%20falcatus%22%20year%20flower%7Cflowering%22 |
| 7.07 | "The structure of the P. falcatus fruit is related to adaptation for protection during seed dispersal by bats. The stony sclerotesta delays germination for about one year and thereby causes the exposure of the seed to high post-dispersal predation by rodents and bushpig. Seedling recruitment is low." [No evidence that the seeds have any means of attachment]. | http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantnop/podocarpfalcat.htm |
| 7.08 | "The structure of the P. falcatus fruit is related to adaptation for protection during seed dispersal by bats. The stony sclerotesta delays germination for about one year and thereby causes the exposure of the seed to high post-dispersal predation by rodents and bushpig. Seedling recruitment is low." [Dispersed by bats and birds - probably yes]. | http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantnop/podocarpfalcat.htm |
| 8.01 | (1)Seed subspherical to obovoid, (1.2-) 1.3-1.7 (-1.8) cm long, glaucous to greyish-green, ripening to a yellowish or light reddish-brown colour. (2)In the female structures, usually only 1 seeds is produced at the end of the woody stalk. [Probably not seeds relativley large]. | (1) http://www.conifers.org/po/af/falcatus.htm
(2) Seed Leaflet No. 75: Podocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) R.Br. ex Mirb. (May 2003) |
| 8.02 | "The structure of the P. falcatus fruit is related to adaptation for protection during seed dispersal by bats. The stony sclerotesta delays germination for about one year and thereby causes the exposure of the seed to high post-dispersal predation by rodents and bushpig. Seedling recruitment is low." [germinatin delayed for about one year under field conditions]. | Geldenhuys, C. J.Reproductive biology and
population structures of Podocarpus falcatus and Podocarpus latifolius in
southern Cape forests Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 112 (1) : 59-74 1993 |
| 8.03 | No evidence that the species is being controlled for. | |
| 8.04 | "If confined to a contianer or trimmed regularly it retains its graceful juvenile foliage and remains shrubby; this is the growth form seen in most gardens here." | Staples, W George and Derral H Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora. Bishop Museum Press. Honolulu. Hawaii. Page 73 |
| 8.05 | Don’t know |
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This page was created on 24 December 2006 by JS, and was last updated on 27 August 2017 by PT.