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

Bucida buceras; Buceras bucida, gregorywood, black olive, ucar, oxhorn Bucida

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

2

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

n

4.01

Produces spines, thorns or burrs

y=1, n=0

y

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

y

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

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

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

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

4

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

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y=1, n=-1

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

n

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:

-3

Source

Notes

1.01

no evidence

1.02

no evidence

1.03

no evidence

2.01

Morton, J. F. (1994) The black olive (Bucida buceras L.), a tropical timber tree, has many faults as an ornamental. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society, 1994, Vol.106, pp.338-343, 44 ref.

AB: "This species is native to the Yucatan peninsula and along the coast of Mexico, Central America and northern South America to the Guianas, the Bahamas, and the Greater and Lesser Antilles as far as Guadeloupe."

2.02

2.03

(1)http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/bucbuca.pdf (2)http://mobot.mobot.org/cgi-bin/search_vast (3)http://mobot.mobot.org/cgi-bin/search_vast?ssdp=01429838 (4)http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/Bucidabuceras.pdf

(1)USDA hardiness zones: 10B through 11; Plants may be slightly damaged at 32-degrees F. but are killed at 25-degrees F. (2)Specimens << 1000 m [a salt-tolerant coastal plant] (3)abundant in riparian vegetation (4)A coastal plant that can grow up to a few hundred m elevation

2.04

Morton, J. F. (1994) The black olive (Bucida buceras L.), a tropical timber tree, has many faults as an ornamental. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society, 1994, Vol.106, pp.338-343, 44 ref.

AB: "This species is native to the Yucatan peninsula and along the coast of Mexico, Central America and northern South America to the Guianas, the Bahamas, and the Greater and Lesser Antilles as far as Guadeloupe."

2.05

(1)Duryea, M. L.; Blakeslee, G. M.; Hubbard, W. G.; Vasquez, R. A. (1996) Wind and trees: a survey of homeowners after Hurricane Andrew. Journal of Arboriculture, 1996, Vol.22, No.1, pp.44-50, 7 ref. (2)http://www2.ctahr.hawaii.edu/forestry/Newsletter_Pages/Summer%201999.pdf (3)http://www.btptc.org.sg/Upcoming%20Events/Upcoming.htm (4)http://www.nepa.gov.jm/eias/RIU/APPENDICES.pdf

(1)Florida (2)Hawaii (3)Singapore (4)Jamaica

3.01

no evidence

3.02

no evidence

3.03

no evidence

3.04

no evidence

3.05

no evidence

4.01

http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/bucbuca.pdf

thorns are present on the trunk or branches

4.02

no evidence

4.03

no evidence

4.04

Morton, J. F. (1994) The black olive (Bucida buceras L.), a tropical timber tree, has many faults as an ornamental. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society, 1994, Vol.106, pp.338-343, 44 ref.

very rich tanin found on leaves. "Both galls and leaves are high in tannin that stains pavements, vehicles, white roofs and other surfaces." [also, no records of fodder use]

4.05

no evidence

4.06

Ivie, M. A.; Miller, R. S. (1984) Buprestidae (Coleoptera) of the Virgin Islands. Florida Entomologist, 1984, Vol.67, No.2, pp.288-300, 37 ref.

AB: " C. tranquebarica (Gmel.) on red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle ), Australian pine (Casuarina equisetifolia ), buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus ), gree-gree (Bucida buceras ) and Eucalyptus sp.", " were of economic importance." [very broad host range]

4.07

no evidence

4.08

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ST102

evergreen single trunk tree

4.09

(1)Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7. (2)http://www.floridagardener.com/pom/Bucida.htm (3)http://www.bonsai-bci.com/species/bucida.html

(1)Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun (2)Light Requirements: Full sun (3)Lighting: Full sun

4.1

(1) http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/bucbuca.pdf
(2) Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7.

(1) Soil tolerances: clay; loam; sand; slightly alkaline; acidic; well-drained
(2) Soil Condition Loamy, sandy, clay, acidic, neutral, slightly alkaline, tolerates salt well, drought tolerant

4.11

http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/bucbuca.pdf

"Black olive is a 40 to 50-foot-tall evergreen tree with a smooth trunk holding up strong, wind resistant branches, forming a pyramidal shape when young but developing a very dense, full, oval to rounded crown with age."

4.12

no evidence

5.01

Morton, J. F. (1994) The black olive (Bucida buceras L.), a tropical timber tree, has many faults as an ornamental. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society, 1994, Vol.106, pp.338-343, 44 ref.

"It is salt-tolerant and grows well in coastal swamps, wet inland woods and on river banks"

5.02

tree; Combretaceae

5.03

no evidence

5.04

tree

6.01

Olmsted, I.; García, R. D. (1998) Distribution and ecology of low freshwater coastal forests of the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. (ED: Laderman, A. D.) Coastally restricted forests., 1998, pp.237-256, 30 ref.

AB: "5 communities (4 inundated forests and a palm swamp) dominated by different species (Dalbergia glabra , Bucida spinosa , B. buceras , Haematoxylon campechianum and Acoelorrhaphe wrightii , respectively). " [dominate local forest community]

6.02

Soto A., L. E.; Ramírez S., Y.; González R., H. (1997) Effect of various treatments on the germination of Bucida buceras L. [FT: Efecto de diferentes tratamientos en la germinación de Bucida buceras L.] Proceedings of the Interamerican Society for Tropical Horticulture, 1997, Vol.41, pp.99-103, 8 ref.

AB: "Treatment with sulfuric acid for 90 s resulted in the highest percentage germination (9% and 7.5% in April and November, respectively). Seed soaking for 48 h showed the lowest percentage germination for both seasons (4.25% and 4.75%, respectively). "

6.03

no evidence

6.04

no evidence

6.05

(1)http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ST102 (2)http://www.floridagardener.com/pom/Bucida.htm

(1)inconspicuous, small, greenish-yellow flowers [suggests insect (fly? Or bee) pollination] (2)Flowers: Small, yellow, odd smelling when in bloom -- very attractive to bees

6.06

Morton, J. F. (1994) The black olive (Bucida buceras L.), a tropical timber tree, has many faults as an ornamental. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society, 1994, Vol.106, pp.338-343, 44 ref.

It is prone to producing suckers at the base [at base does not yield natural vegetative fragmentation]

6.07

(1)http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ST102 (2)http://www.floridagardener.com/pom/Bucida.htm (3)http://www.bonsaiweb.com/care/faq/bucida.html

(1)slow growing tree (2)Rate of Growth: Slow (3)Be patient, for they grow very slowly. [minimum for a large slow growing tree]

7.01

no evidence

7.02

Morton, J. F. (1994) The black olive (Bucida buceras L.), a tropical timber tree, has many faults as an ornamental. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society, 1994, Vol.106, pp.338-343, 44 ref.

AB: " It was widely planted for shade and ornamental use in the 1930s but has since been found to have many drawbacks"

7.03

no evidence

7.04

http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/bucbuca.pdf

Fruit
Fruit shape: oval
Fruit length: < .5 inch
Fruit covering: fleshy
Fruit color: black

7.05

http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/Bucidabuceras.pdf

the seeds are capable of floating [but not often occuring near water]

7.06

(1)http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/bucbuca.pdf (2)http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/Bucidabuceras.pdf

(1)Fruit shape: oval
Fruit length: < .5 inch
Fruit covering: fleshy
Fruit color: black [possibly yes, flesy fruit] (2)The fruits have no apparent dispersal mechanisms [in native habitat]

7.07

no means of attachment

7.08

http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/Bucidabuceras.pdf

)The fruits have no apparent dispersal mechanisms [in native habitat]

8.01

(1)http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/bucbuca.pdf (2)http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/Bucidabuceras.pdf

(1)Fruit shape: oval
Fruit length: < .5 inch
Fruit covering: fleshy
Fruit color: black ; Propagation is by seeds (with difficulty) (2)One seed per fruit [probably n, relatively large fruit containig only one seed]

8.02

(1)http://www.bonsaiweb.com/care/faq/bucida.html (2)http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/Bucidabuceras.pdf

(1)Gather the seeds as soon as they fall, for they are more vital and willing to germinate in the first ten days after they ripen. (2)Seeds loose viability rapidly

8.03

no evidence

8.04

(1)Morton, J. F. (1994) The black olive (Bucida buceras L.), a tropical timber tree, has many faults as an ornamental. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society, 1994, Vol.106, pp.338-343, 44 ref. (2)http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/Bucidabuceras.pdf

(1) It is prone to producing suckers at the base (2)Resprout capability

8.05

Morton, J. F. (1994) The black olive (Bucida buceras L.), a tropical timber tree, has many faults as an ornamental. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society, 1994, Vol.106, pp.338-343, 44 ref.

the mite Eriophyes buceras prevents normal fruit development by inducing long bean-like galls. Not known from Hawaii.