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

Erythrina subumbrans (December tree) Synonyms: Erythrina lithosperma Miq., nom. illeg.

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

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

3.01

Naturalized beyond native range y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2), n= question 2.05

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

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

n

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

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

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

y

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

y=1, n=-1

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

y=-1, n=0

y

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

3

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

y

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y=1, n=-1

y

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

y

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

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:

5

Notes

Source

1.01

No evidence

1.02

Naturalized elsewhere [reference is vague; could find no evidence of naturalization]

http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Erythrina+subumbrans

1.03

No evidence

2.01

(1)It has a very wide natural distribution in moist, tropical areas of India, South-East Asia and Melanesia. (2)Native:
ASIA-TROPICAL
Indo-China: Laos; Myanmar; Thailand; Vietnam
Malesia: East Timor; Indonesia; Malaysia; Philippines
Indian Subcontinent: India; Sri Lanka
Other: naturalized elsewhere

(1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Erythrina+subumbrans

2.02

(1)Naturalized elsewhere (2)Introduced to the U.S.

(1)http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Erythrina+subumbrans (2)http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/plant_profile.cgi?symbol=ERYTH

2.03

(1)Approximate limits north to south: 20°N to 23°S. Altitude range: 0 - 1500 m (2)found from Northern Luzon to Mindanao in secondary forests, etc. at low and medium altitudes; occasionally planted. It is also found in Indo-china to Malaya. Like Dapdap in general features, except that Rarang is a bigger tree, it is usually found in hinterland forests and not in beach vegetations, leaves are smaller and have two pairs of glands but one pair drops early leaving the large pair at the lower pair of leaflets.

(1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://www.idrc.ca:8080/library/document/015741/015741w.htm

2.04

It has a very wide natural distribution in moist, tropical areas of India, South-East Asia and Melanesia.

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

2.05

(1)Naturalized elsewhere (2)Introduced to the U.S. [note indicates that it is possibly not in US]

(1)http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Erythrina+subumbrans (2)http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/plant_profile.cgi?symbol=ERYTH

3.01

Naturalized elsewhere [reference is vague; could find no evidence of naturalization]

http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Erythrina+subumbrans

3.02

No evidence

3.03

No evidence

3.04

No evidence

3.05

4.01

"The number of thorns on a young branch 30 cm. in length, less than two months of age, were 18.61, 23.44 and 50.98 for the varieties collected from Udomthani, Khon Kaen and Mahasarakham provinces, respectively."

http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Publicat/VIET95/V95_43.PDF

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

(1)the capacity to provide high-quality green manure and fodder. (2)Five species of fodder trees such as Leucaena leucocephala, Erythrina subumbrans, Cajanus cajan, Desmanthusvirgatus and Gliricidia sepium were investigated for establishment, yield and utilisation.

(1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:Zsyk59AmgTUJ:
www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Publicat/VIET95/V95_43.PDF+Erythrina+subumbrans&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

4.05

(1)the capacity to provide high-quality green manure and fodder. (2)Five species of fodder trees such as Leucaena leucocephala, Erythrina subumbrans, Cajanus cajan, Desmanthusvirgatus and Gliricidia sepium were investigated for establishment, yield and utilisation.
(3) The leaves are a good and palatable fodder but if eaten by rabbits it can cause sterility and death.

(1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:Zsyk59AmgTUJ:
www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Publicat/VIET95/V95_43.PDF+Erythrina+subumbrans&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
(3) Prosea online. http://www.proseanet.org/

4.06

(1)Pests recorded
Insect pests:
Euwallacea fornicatus
Homona coffearia
Icerya purchasi
Microcerotermes exiguus
Fungus diseases:
Corticium salmonicolor
Fomes
Ustulina deusta (2) Homona coffearia infests tea and coffe plants - but no evidence of intensity of damage. (3) 16 fungi species were listed to be associated with E. subumbrans.

(1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=homona%20coffearia(3http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/all/FindRecOneFungusFrame.cfm

4.07

(1) Very young leaves are steamed and eaten in salads in Java.
(2) Allen and Allen (1981) cited this plant to yield an alkaloid which causes convulsive poisoning. According to an Agta informant in Lake Buhi, Camarines Sur, raw ground seeds of Rarang can kill rats. [no evidence of poisoning in humans]

(2) http://www.idrc.ca/library/document/015741/015741w.htm

4.08

moist valleys, near streams[although may also occur in drier areas]

Prosea online. http://www.proseanet.org/dbtw-prosea/eprosea/textfile/index.cfm

4.09

in open grassland in stony or sandy, occasionally dry places; elsewhere it is widely dispersed. [found in open locations]

Prosea online. http://www.proseanet.org/dbtw-prosea/eprosea/textfile/index.cfm

4.1

Soil texture: light
- Soil drainage: free
- Soil reaction: acid
- Special soil tolerances: shallow; infertile

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

4.11

Non climbing.

http://www.ildis.org/LegumeWeb/6.00/taxa/16001.shtml

4.12

reported, to occur gregariously on the Ijen plateau in East Java [could form a thicket since it has thorns]

Prosea online. http://www.proseanet.org/dbtw-prosea/eprosea/textfile/index.cfm

5.01

Terrestrial - tree

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

5.02

A fast-growing, medium-sized (up to 25 m tall and 60 cm diameter), leguminous tree.

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

5.03

A fast-growing, medium-sized (up to 25 m tall and 60 cm diameter), leguminous tree. The main attributes of the species are its ability to fix nitrogen…

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

5.04

A fast-growing, medium-sized (up to 25 m tall and 60 cm diameter), leguminous tree.

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

6.01

In Singapore it flowers from October to December during the height of the wet season. In Java, flowering and fruiting occur almost throughout the year, with peaks in February-March and October-November. Thornless forms generally produce fewer flowers and fruits than the armed, wild ones.

Prosea online. http://www.proseanet.org/dbtw-prosea/eprosea/textfile/index.cfm

6.02

Stand establishment using stump plants; natural regeneration; direct sowing. (2) AB: One effective approach to forest restoration in degraded tropical forestland is the so-called 'framework species method' which involves planting 20-30 indigenous forest tree species to re-establish a basic forest structure that catalyses the recovery of biodiversity. For the seasonally dry tropical forests of Doi Suthep-Pui National Park in northern Thailand, a provisional list of 36 potential framework species was compiled, from 19 different families representing a broad spectrum of the tree flora. This paper examines the seed germination characteristics of these species when grown as a nursery 'crop' for planting to restore degraded sites, focussing on germination phenology and dormancy. It considers how such characteristics affect the first stage of nursery production from seed collection to pricking out seedlings in the nursery. Twenty-nine species had a germination percentage of 60% or greater, which is acceptable for n

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)Record 1 of 3 in Biological Abstracts 2002/07-2002/12
TI: Propagating framework tree species to restore seasonally dry tropical forest: Implications of seasonal seed dispersal and dormancy.
AU: Blakesley-David {a}; Elliott-Stephen; Kuarak-Cherdsak; Navakitbumrung-Puttipong; Zangkum-Sudarat; Anusarnsunthorn-Vilaiwan
SO: Forest-Ecology-and-Management. [print] 1 July, 2002; 164 (1-3): 31-38..
PY: 2002

6.03

Prosea online. http://www.proseanet.org/dbtw-prosea/eprosea/textfile/index.cfm

6.04

As in other Erythrina spp., the red, odourless, nectar-rich flowers are so constructed that cross-pollination is universal. Pollination is by birds which feed on the abundant nectar. [not autogamous]

Prosea online. http://www.proseanet.org/dbtw-prosea/eprosea/textfile/index.cfm

6.05

bird pollinated - 'Trees species that are most likely to attract such animals produce small to medium-sized fleshy fruits (e.g. Callicarpa arborea, Ficus semicordata, F. subulata, Phoebe lanceolata, Prunus cerasoide,) or flowers with copious quantities of nectar (e.g. Erythrina subumbrans) less than 4 years after planting. Tree species used by birds as nesting sites, within 4 years after planting include Balacata baccatum, Erythrina subumbrans, Eugenia albiflora, Ficus subulata , Ficus glaberima, Ficus semicordata, Helicia nilagirica, Hovenia dulcis, ...'

6.06

No evidence of vegetative spread in the wild.

6.07

A fast-growing, medium-sized (up to 25 m tall and 60 cm diameter), leguminous tree [minimum estimate for a medium tree]

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

7.01

no evidence that the propagules have any means of attachment.

7.02

The bark and leaves have medicinal uses and the tree is planted as an ornamental for its red, showy flowers.

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

7.03

relatively large seeds

7.04

Probably not - a legume

7.05

Ecology Erythrina subumbrans occurs at low and medium altitudes, from (0- )300-1500 m, in moist valleys, near streams, in open locations and secondary forest. Seeds are dispersed by water and occasionally by birds.

Prosea online. http://www.proseanet.org/dbtw-prosea/eprosea/textfile/index.cfm

7.06

Ecology Erythrina subumbrans occurs at low and medium altitudes, from (0- )300-1500 m, in moist valleys, near streams, in open locations and secondary forest. Seeds are dispersed by water and occasionally by birds.

Prosea online. http://www.proseanet.org/dbtw-prosea/eprosea/textfile/index.cfm

7.07

No evidence that the propagules have any means of attachment.

7.08

bird-dispersed

8.01

Pod flat, curved, 10-15 cm long, on a slender stalk 3-4.5 cm long, lower part seedless and 2-2.5 cm wide, upper part thicker, 1-1.5 cm wide and 1-5-seeded, septate between the seeds, dehiscent. Seed ellipsoid, 7-18 mm x 5-11 mm, smooth, dull black.
[relatively large seeds, few seeds per pod]

Prosea online. http://www.proseanet.org/dbtw-prosea/eprosea/textfile/index.cfm

8.02

AB: The median length of dormancy (MLD) ranged from 7 days in the case of Erythrina subumbrans to 219 days for Lithocarpus garrettianus. Germination was defined as rapid if the MLD occurred within 3 weeks, and slow if occurring after 12 weeks. Twelve species germinated rapidly and eight germinated slowly, the remainder being intermediate. Seedling emergence range over a period of 7 days in the case of Erythrina stricta and E. subumbrans to 322 days in the case of L. garrettianus. [reference suugests low dormancy but it is a hard seeded legume]

TI: Propagating framework tree species to restore seasonally dry tropical forest: Implications of seasonal seed dispersal and dormancy.
AU: Blakesley-David {a}; Elliott-Stephen; Kuarak-Cherdsak; Navakitbumrung-Puttipong; Zangkum-Sudarat; Anusarnsunthorn-Vilaiwan
SO: Forest-Ecology-and-Management. [print] 1 July, 2002; 164 (1-3): 31-38..
PY: 2002

8.03

No evidence that the species is being controlled.

8.04

regenerate rapidly; suited for coppicing; suited for pollarding

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

8.05

Don’t know