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

Desmodium umbellatum (Dendrolobium umbellatum) horse bush

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

n

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

4.09

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

y=1, n=0

4.1

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

y=1, n=0

4.11

Climbing or smothering growth habit

y=1, n=0

n

4.12

Forms dense thickets

y=1, n=0

y

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

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

7.01

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

y=1, n=-1

y

7.02

Propagules dispersed intentionally by people

y=1, n=-1

n

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

y

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

8.05

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

y=-1, n=1

Total score:

5

Source

Notes

1.01

No evidence

1.02

No evidence of naturalization

1.03

No evidence

2.01

'Africa, Australia, Pacific Island, Polynesia, Philippines, Ceylon, India, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indo-China, China, Taiwan and Ryukyu's. Along seashores in Taiwan in the southern part of the island.

Edited by Flora of Taiwan Editorial Committee. 1997. Flora of Taiwan. Vol. 3. Epoch publishing Co. Taipei.

2.02

2.03

found along shores and in understory of low-elevation forests

(1)http://sdnp.delhi.nic.in/nbsap/themes/terrestrial/andaman.html (2)http://users.noord.bart.nl/~edcolijn/floralariang.html (3)http://users.bart.nl/~edcolijn/seribu.html

2.04

'Africa, Australia, Pacific Island, Polynesia, Philippines, Ceylon, India, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indo-China, China, Taiwan and Ryukyu's.'

Edited by Flora of Taiwan Editorial Committee. 1997. Flora of Taiwan. Vol. 3. Epoch publishing Co. Taipei.

2.05

rare casual introduction to Jamaica

Adams, G.D. 1970 Flowering plants of Jamaica, West Indies Press, Mona

3.01

No evidence of introductions or naturalization.

3.02

No evidence

3.03

No evidence

3.04

No evidence

3.05

Desmodium diffusum is a principal weed in India.

Holm et al. 1997. An electronic atlas of weeds and invasive species. CD-ROM database. Version 1.

4.01

No evidence

Walker, E.H. 1976. Flora of Okinawa and southern Ryukyu islands. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington D.C.

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

No information

4.05

No evidence

4.06

Cercospora sp., Eutypella sp., Meliola stizolobii var. eriosematis are the fungi found to be associated with this species. None of these were found to be recognized pests. Did not find any further information on associated pathogen or pest.

http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/all/FindRecOneFungusFrame.cfm

4.07

No evidence

4.08

No information on fire ecology [possibly -- it can form dense stands within dry strand communities]

http://www.gu.edu.au/ins/lils/webb/html/13-80.htm

4.09

No information

4.1

No information

4.11

Probably not - not a vine.

Walker, E.H. 1976. Flora of Okinawa and southern Ryukyu islands. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington D.C.

4.12

these shrubs can form thickets

http://www.gu.edu.au/ins/lils/webb/html/13-80.htm

5.01

Small tree up to 4 m high.

Walker, E.H. 1976. Flora of Okinawa and southern Ryukyu islands. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington D.C.

5.02

5.03

a legume

5.04

no evidence

6.01

many viable populations in Asia/Pacific

Edited by Flora of Taiwan Editorial Committee. 1997. Flora of Taiwan. Vol. 3. Epoch publishing Co. Taipei.

6.02

many viable populations in Asia/Pacific

Edited by Flora of Taiwan Editorial Committee. 1997. Flora of Taiwan. Vol. 3. Epoch publishing Co. Taipei.

6.03

No information

6.04

No information on reproductive ecology.

6.05

No information

6.06

No information

6.07

No information

7.01

Desmodium -- sticky pods dispersed by trousers

Mabberley, D.J. 1998. The Plant Book. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

7.02

Probably not - no evidence that the species is valued for ornamental or food purposes.

7.03

no products

7.04

no adaptations for wind

7.05

no evidence

7.06

no evidence

7.07

genus Desmodium -- usually spread externally by sticky pods that break into one-seeded units

Mabberley, D.J. 1998. The Plant Book. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

7.08

no evidence of consumption

8.01

unlikley -- legume seeds relatively large

8.02

Desmodium genus -- hard seeded legumes

8.03

No evidence that the species is being controlled for.

8.04

No information

8.05

Don’t know.