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

Hernandia sonora (toporite)

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

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

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

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

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

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

n

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

n

6.07

Minimum generative time (years) 1 year = 1, 2 or 3 years = 0, 4+ years = -1

See left

9

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

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

y

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y=1, n=-1

7.07

Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally)

y=1, n=-1

7.08

Propagules survive passage through the gut

y=1, n=-1

n

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

n

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

(1)Naturalized in beach forests on the coasts of Andaman island in India. (2)Naturalized in the Philippines. (3)Common and widespread in beach scrub formations in Japan and the Ryukyu islands.

(1)Brandis, D. 1907. Indian trees. Archibald Constable & co ltd. (2) Merrill, E. D. 1925. An enumeration of Philippine flowering plants. Manila Bureau of Printing. (3)Walker, E. H. Flora of Okinawa and the southern Ryukyu islands. Smithsonian Institution Press.

1.03

No evidence

2.01

'Range - Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and Lesser Antilles from St. Kitts to St. Vincent and Barbados. Also from Mexico to Costa Rica and from Colombia to Ecuador. Planted in other tropical and subtropical areas, including southern Florida.'

Little, E.L. and Wadsworth, F. H. 1964. Common trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. USDA Handbook no 249. Washington D.C.

2.02

'Range - Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and Lesser Antilles from St. Kitts to St. Vincent and Barbados. Also from Mexico to Costa Rica and from Colombia to Ecuador. Planted in other tropical and subtropical areas, including southern Florida.'

Little, E.L. and Wadsworth, F. H. 1964. Common trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. USDA Handbook no 249. Washington D.C.

2.03

A coastal species, low elevations along rivers and streams.

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

2.04

'Range - Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and Lesser Antilles from St. Kitts to St. Vincent and Barbados. Also from Mexico to Costa Rica and from Colombia to Ecuador. Planted in other tropical and subtropical areas, including southern Florida.'

Little, E.L. and Wadsworth, F. H. 1964. Common trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. USDA Handbook no 249. Washington D.C.

2.05

(1) 'Occasionally planted in the tropics and in the subtropical Europe as an ornamental' 'Planted in other tropical and subtropical areas, including southern Florida.' (2) Introduced to Samoa

(1) Little, E.L. and Wadsworth, F. H. 1964. Common trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. USDA Handbook no 249. Washington D.C. (2) http://www.dittmar.dusnet.de/english/ewisspfl4.html

3.01

(1)Naturalized in beach forests on the coasts of Andaman island in India. (2)Naturalized in the Philippines. (3)Common and widespread in beach scrub formations in Japan and the Ryukyu islands.

(1)Brandis, D. 1907. Indian trees. Archibald Constable & co ltd. (2) Merrill, E. D. 1925. An enumeration of Philippine flowering plants. Manila Bureau of Printing. (3)Walker, E. H. Flora of Okinawa and the southern Ryukyu islands. Smithsonian Institution Press.

3.02

No evidence

3.03

No evidence

3.04

No evidence

3.05

No evidence

4.01

No evidence

Little, E.L. and Wadsworth, F. H. 1964. Common trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. USDA Handbook no 249. Washington D.C.

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

The related Pacific species Hernandia nymphaeifolia is not used as animal fodder

http://www.uog.edu/cals/PEOPLE/Pubs/Agrofors/ChsTimbr.pdf

4.05

No evidence

4.06

Did not find any fungi to be associated with this species.

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

4.07

No evidence

4.08

No information on fire ecology.

4.09

(1) '… grows fairly rapidly if not in full shade.' (2)seedlings in containers showed good growth under 50% shade; under natural conditions in moderate shade, the majority of seedlings will die by the time they reach 20-30 cm in height; moderately intolerant of shade as an adult.

(1)Little, E.L. and Wadsworth, F. H. 1964. Common trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. USDA Handbook no 249. Washington D.C. (2)http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/Hernandiasonora.pdf

4.1

plantation success in: pH 4.5-7.5, texture ranging from marl (limestone) to clay

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

4.11

No evidence - not a vine.

Little, E.L. and Wadsworth, F. H. 1964. Common trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. USDA Handbook no 249. Washington D.C.

4.12

No evidence

5.01

Perennia tree/shrub in Hernandiaceae.

http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi

5.02

5.03

5.04

6.01

Easily propagated by seed.

Little, E.L. and Wadsworth, F. H. 1964. Common trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. USDA Handbook no 249. Washington D.C.

6.02

Easily propagated by seed.

Little, E.L. and Wadsworth, F. H. 1964. Common trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. USDA Handbook no 249. Washington D.C.

6.03

"Hybrids have not been reported" in Hernandia

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

6.04

'Several to many flowers are borne usually 3 together, 2 male and 1 female (monoecious) … .' [no direct evidence]

Little, E.L. and Wadsworth, F. H. 1964. Common trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. USDA Handbook no 249. Washington D.C.

6.05

No information on pollination. [Flowers are greenish white and inconspicuous]

Little, E.L. and Wadsworth, F. H. 1964. Common trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. USDA Handbook no 249. Washington D.C.

6.06

Easily propagated by seed. (No evidence of vegetative reproduction).

Little, E.L. and Wadsworth, F. H. 1964. Common trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. USDA Handbook no 249. Washington D.C.

6.07

Nine-year old plantation trees were observed to fruit. [Minimum may be less than 9 years, but is at least 4 years.]

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

7.01

Propagules do not have any means of attachment.

7.02

Probably not as the species is not valued as an ornamental but is used for medicinal purposes in Polynesia.

7.03

Probably not as there is no evidence of the species being involved in any kind of trade.

7.04

7.05

Dispersal by sea. Fruits float in the sea and eventually the mesocarp and exocarp erode.

Nakamishi, H. 1988. Dispersal ecology of the maritime plants in the Ryukyu islands, Japan. Ecological Research. 3(2): 163-174

7.06

Exocarp is brown/black with yellow, fleshy meoscarp [mesocarp might be consumed by animals]

7.07

Possibly, if animals consume flesh and discard seed.

7.08

Could only be swallowed by a large animal

8.01

Elliptical fruits 1- 1-1/4 inches long inside a rounded, hollow greenish yellow fleshy case about 2 inches in diameter.' Fruit is one seeded. (2) Its capacity to reproduce is small.' (3) A medium sized trees only produced 10-100 viable seeds per year!

Little, E.L. and Wadsworth, F. H. 1964. Common trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. USDA Handbook no 249. Washington D.C. (2) http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=
http://edu.ocac.gov.tw/CultureEspanol/Taiwan/taiwan0602_03.htm&prev=
/search%3Fq%3DHernandia%2Bsonora%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DG (3)http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/Hernandiasonora.pdf

8.02

unlikely -- a large-seeded water dispersed seed -- mesocarp and exocarp erode in a matter of months

8.03

No evidence that the species is being controlled for.

8.04

Young trees will sprout again after being cut, but larger, old ones won't; lacks epicormic suckers

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

8.05

Don’t know.