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

Albizia chinensis (sauce tree, silk tree, the sau tree, Chinese albizia, Chinese mimosa) Synonym: A. stipulata

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

y

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

2

2.03

Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility)

y=1, n=0

y

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

y

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

y

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

4.03

Parasitic

y=1, n=0

n

4.04

Unpalatable to grazing animals

y=1, n=-1

n

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

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

4.08

Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems

y=1, n=0

y

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

y

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

y

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

y

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

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

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

y

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

8.05

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

y=-1, n=1

Total score:

8

Notes

Source

1.01

No evidence

1.02

(1)Naturalized in Hawaii. (2)Naturalized along roads and in abandoned cane fields along the Hamakua coast from Hilo to Kukuihaele … the trees not particularly common and most seen are fairly young.' (3) 'In thickets and open forests at low and medium altitudes...'

(1) Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu. (2)Bishop Museum Occasional Papers. May 28, 1998 (56)2 - 4. (3)Merrill, E.D. 1935. Enumeration of Philippine Flowering Plants. Manila Bureau of Printing. Vol 2, pg 246.

1.03

No evidence

2.01

It has a very wide natural distribution in India, China and South-East Asia and is cultivated in many other tropical countries, particularly in Malesia, Africa and Australia.

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

2.02

2.03

(1)Approximate limits north to south: 28°N to 10°S Altitude range: 0 - 2400 m (2)Climatic zone: tropical wet (3)It can be found at elevations between sea level and 1300 m, It is more windfirm than A. falcataria (4)Albizia chinensis is occasionally used as a shade for Arabica coffee and grows over a usual altitudinal range from sea level to 1900 m.[broad elevation tolerance]

(1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://ecocrop.fao.org/ (3)http://ecocrop.fao.org/ (4)http://coombs.anu.edu.au/Depts/RSPAS/RMAP/bourke.htm

2.04

It has a very wide natural distribution in India, China and South-East Asia and is cultivated in many other tropical countries, particularly in Malesia, Africa and Australia.

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

2.05

It has a very wide natural distribution in India, China and South-East Asia and is cultivated in many other tropical countries, particularly in Malesia, Africa and Australia. Also introduced to Philippines, Jamaica, Samoa and the Caribbean.

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

3.02

No evidence

3.03

No evidence

3.04

(1)Due to the species' fast growth and prolific seed production, it can become an aggressive colonizer. (2) Listed as a common weed in Indonesia. (3)On list of most harmful alien plant species in native plant communities of Samoa (p. 139)

(1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)Holm et al. 1997. An Electronic Atlas of weeds and invasive plants. CD-ROM database. Version 1. (3)Whistler, W.A. 2002. The Samoan Rainforest. Isle Botanica, Honolulu

3.05

Albizia lebbeck invading tropical hammocks in the Florida Keys. Seedlings now occurring in great numbers throughout Big Cypress National Preserve. Invading somewhat disturbed pinelands of Everglades National Park

http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/albleb.pdf

4.01

No evidence

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

4.02

(1) A bioassay experiment was conducted to study the effect of top soil, rhizosphere soil, green leaf leachate and dry leaf leachate of two tree species (Albizia stipulata [A. chinensis] and Dalbergia sericea) on germination and growth of four food crops (Eleusine coracana, Echinochloa colurna, Vigna mungo and Lens esculenta [L. culinaris]). Irrespective of the crop, the seed germination was not significant affected, although adverse effects on growth and productivity were observed. Rhizosphere soil was the most inhibitory treatment. [does not determine whether growth differences are due to soil nutrient differences versus allelopathy]

(1) Uniyal, R. C.; Nautiyal, A. R. (1997) Phytotoxic effects of leguminous tree species on food crops of Garhwal Himalaya. Range Management & Agroforestry, 1997, Vol. 18, No. 1, pp. 79-83, 7 ref.

4.03

No evidence

4.04

Important browse tree in hilly areas (2)Photo of cow browsing it

(1)http://www.fao.org/ag/AGA/AGAP/FRG/afris/Data/197.htm and (2)http://www.hear.org/pier/alchip.htm

4.05

'Leaves in the early stages may be toxic to animals as they contain saponin, and prolonged feeding even of mature leaves may cause toxic symptoms.' [refers to only a small proportion of leaves - it is widely used for fodder but a case or poisoning was mentioned under Albizia stipulata by Crane, T. D. 1973 "Plant poisoning in animals - a bibliography. Part II." Vet Bull, 43 (5), 231-249

(1)http://www.fao.org/ag/AGA/AGAP/FRG/afris/Data/197.htm and (2)http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~djw/plantnam.html

4.06

(1)Pests recorded
Insect pests:
Indarbela quadrinotata
Xystrocera globosa
Fungus diseases:
Fusarium oxysporum [1]
Ravenelia sessilis [2]
(2) 10 fungi were found to be associated with A. chinensis. (3)Infestation of Bruchidius sp. (Coleoptera, Bruchidae) on Albizia chinensis and its impact on seed germination was studied at different locations in Albizia growing regions of Himachal Pradesh, India, during 1998-99. The beetles were found infesting the seed under field conditions as well as in storage. The infestation ranged from 2 to 16% in nature and 23 to 69% in storage during both the years of study. (4) 'Over 25 species of insects have been reported to attack this tree in Kerala, of which at least 2 species cause serious damage in plantations. This include a bagworm defoliator Pteroma plagiophleps Hamp.(Lepidoptera, Psychidae) and the tree borer Indarbela quadrinotata (Lepidoptera, Metarbelidae). ... I. quadrinotata is a polyphagous insect attacking a variety of trees like Casuarina equisetifolia, Prunus d

(4)http://www.metla.fi/iufro/iufro95abs/d2pap106.htm

4.07

Listed on this FDA site as potentially toxic to humans but no evidence of any reported cases.

http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~djw/plantnam.html

4.08

Probably yes. It is a deciduous tree.

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

4.09

(1) 'Yields of A. villosa, S.grandiflora and A. chinensis were significantly reduced by shade…' [Lowest shade tolerance among 6 woody legumes]

(1)A. Benjamin*, H.M. Shelton* and R.C. Gutteridge. Shade Yolereance of Some Tree Legumes at http://216.239.57.100/search?q=cache:mb5Y91ABOUQJ:www.aciar.gov.au/web.nsf/doc/JFRN-5J476S/%24file/PR32%2520Chapter%252016.pdf+Albizia+chinensis+shade&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 OR http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/AGRICULT/AGP/AGPC/doc/Publicat/Gutt-shel/x5556e0e.htm OR http://www.aciar.gov.au/web.nsf/doc/JFRN-5J476S/$file/PR32%20Chapter%2016.pdf

4.1

Soil tolerance, optimal: heavy, medium, light

http://ecocrop.fao.org/

4.11

Not climbing

http://www.ildis.org/LegumeWeb/6.00/taxa/171.shtml

4.12

No evidence

5.01

5.02

5.03

A. chinensis is a multipurpose, fast-growing, large deciduous tree up to 30 m tall and 100 cm diameter. Ability to fix nitrogen

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

5.04

6.01

'...Pods of Albizia chinensis collected in Himachal Pradesh, India, from mid-December to February were studied to determine the optimum diameter class for the best seed collection date. …'

6.02

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

6.03

No evidence

6.04

Don’t know

6.05

Bee pollinated.

http://agroforestry.net/overstory/overstory40.html

6.06

Propagation by seed and cuttings. No evidence of vegetative means of spread in the wild.

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

6.07

Don’t know

7.01

no evidence that the propagules have any means of attachment.

Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.

7.02

'A. chinensis is planted as an ornamental …' 'A. chinensis has great potential as a plantation species, especially in areas where rehabilitation is needed.'

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

7.03

seeds relatively large. 'Seeds ellipsoidal, laterally flattened, ca. 7 mm long and 4.5 mm in diameter, distinctly median (remote from sutures), with small basal ;peurogram ca. 1 mm in diameter.'

Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.

7.04

(1)Indehiscent pods. (2) Fruits remain on tree for several months after flowering is over.

(1)Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu. (2) Bose, T.K., Das, P., and Maiti, G.G. Trees of the World. Vol I. Regional Plant Resources Center. Orissa. India.

7.05

No evidence [not documented as abundant along river banks]

7.06

No evidence [no pulp]

7.07

No evidence that the propagules have any means of attachment.

7.08

Cattle browse live plants [although ripe pod are dry and probably unattractive to grazers, some could be incidentally consumed while feeding on foliage; in that case the seeds could potentially survive]

8.01

(1)seeds relativley large. 'Seeds ellipsoidal, laterally flattened, ca. 7 mm long and 4 5 mm in diameter, distinctly median (remote from sutures), with small basal ;peurogram ca. 1 mm in diameter.' (2)Only 2-9 seeds per pod based on photo

(1) Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.(2)http://www.hear.org/pier/imagepages/singles/vchr_bish_83903.htm

8.02

The seeds retain their viability for up to five years, although they are liable to bruchid attack and need to be treated with insecticide if being stored.

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

8.03

No evidence

8.04

http://www.fao.org/ag/agp/agpc/doc/Counprof/southpacific/Samoa.htm

8.05

Don’t know