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

Intsia bijuga (Afzelia bijuga, I. palembanica, kwila, Moluccan ironwood, Borneo teak)

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

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

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

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

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

n

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

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

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:

-6

Notes

Source

1.01

No evidence

1.02

No evidence of naturalization

1.03

No evidence

2.01

Exclusive natural stands of I. bijuga occur in Papua New Guinea on sites destroyed by fire during natural droughts. I. bijuga is also indigenous to New Caledonia (Cherrier, 1986).

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

2.02

'I. bijuga is the most widespread species within the genus, and is distributed from Tanzania and Madagascar, through southern India and Burma, to Malesia, northern Australia, Fiji and Polynesia.'

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

2.03

(1)Approximate limits north to south: 13°N to 24°S - Altitude range: 0 - 600 m (2) tropical wet & dry (Aw), tropical wet (Ar). It is usually found near sea level and is common along sea shores and swamp borders, often in a zone behind the mangrove. It can, however, be found at elevations up to 600 m

(1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://ecocrop.fao.org/

2.04

Exclusive natural stands of I. bijuga occur in Papua New Guinea on sites destroyed by fire during natural droughts. I. bijuga is also indigenous to New Caledonia (Cherrier, 1986).

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

2.05

'I. bijuga is the most widespread species within the genus, and is distributed from Tanzania and Madagascar, through southern India and Burma, to Malesia, northern Australia, Fiji and Polynesia.' [introduced or native?, not listed in Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands - this book lists most Forestry species used in the region]

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

3.01

No evidence of naturalization

3.02

No evidence

3.03

No evidence

3.04

No evidence

3.05

No evidence

4.01

No evidence

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

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

In Kalimantan, young plantations suffered from grazing by deer and mouse deer, …'

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

4.05

No evidence

4.06

(1)Pests recorded
Nematodes:
Helicotylenchus
Rotylenchulus (2)Nematodes belonging to Helicotylenchus are commonly known as spiral nematodes due to the form the heat killed nematode takes. Spiral nematodes are of limited economic importance but have a wide host range. (3)The Rotylenchulus nematodes are commonly known as reniform nematodes. Rotylenchulus nematodes are of economic importance where they occur and damage a wide range of plants. The most well studied of the reniform nematodes is R. reniformis which has a very wide host range including grasses, vegetables, grapes and citrus.

(1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://www.lucidcentral.com/keys/nematodes/html/Helicotylenchus%20note.htm (3)http://www.lucidcentral.com/keys/nematodes/html/Rotylenchulus%20note.htm

4.07

Orsler (1973) received unconfirmed reports of irritation from this species (Instia palembanica Merbau) and from Instia bijuga.

http://bodd.cf.ac.uk/index.html

4.08

large tree [not likely]

4.09

(1) I. bijuga seedlings require high light intensity for optimal growth rates, and growth appears more rapid in the open, rather than under closed canopy conditions. However experiments in Indonesia showed growth of seedlings under shade was faster than in full sunlight [contradictory] (2)Seed should be propagated below full sunshine.

(1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://www.tropicalbuildings.com/timber/merbau-specs/

4.1

(1)Soil types: clay soils; mangrove soils; saline soils; sandy soils; tropical soils [both clay and sandy soil] (2)can grow on "limestone rock with little soil development"

(1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://www.thewoodexplorer.com/Country%20Data/Fiji/home.html

4.11

tree

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

4.12

No evidence

5.01

'I. bijuga is a large tree and may reach up to 50 m in height with a d.b.h. of 250 cm.'

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

5.02

'I. bijuga is a large tree and may reach up to 50 m in height with a d.b.h. of 250 cm.'

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

5.03

(1)"Intsia bijuga, a monotypic genus foundmainly in Asia and Madagascar and for which Allen andAllen (1981) give several negative reports of nodulation. However, there is one positive, by the well-respected scientistNorris, who claimed to have isolated rhizobia from nodule ofthis species in Queensland, Australia. This may have been acase of mistaken identity, but it would be helpful if one of ourAustralian colleagues could go back to the site and check, orcollect soil from there and growing seedlings of I. bijuga init." (2)It is nitrogen fixing (3)Listed as a nitrogen fixing tree

(1)http://216.239.53.104/search?q=cache:DpIpbBNsC48J:iufro.boku.ac.at
/iufro/iufronet/d2/wu20802/nftnews3.pdf+Intsia+bijuga+nitrogen+rhizobium&hl=zh-TW&ie=UTF-8 (2)http://ecocrop.fao.org/ (3)http://cstaf.ifas.ufl.edu/nftguide.pdf

5.04

'I. bijuga is a large tree and may reach up to 50 m in height with a d.b.h. of 250 cm.'

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

6.01

I. bijuga flowers and fruits throughout the year

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

6.02

(1) 'Within natural stands in Papua New Guinea, dormant seeds may germinate abundantly in gaps remaining after logging. Germination of I. bijuga is preferable in full sun, and is epigeal.' (2) Although viable, an Intsia bijuga (Kwila) seed may not germinate even when the environment (eg. water, oxygen, and temperature) is perfectly adequate for germination.

http://www.spcforests.org/NEWS/MAY2001/Germination_Technique.html

6.03

now considered a monospecific genus

6.04

Flowers are bisexual.

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

6.05

Morphology of flowers does not suggest adaptation to specialist pollinators.

http://www.uog.edu/cals/PEOPLE/POG/ifit.html

6.06

No evidence of propagation by vegetative fragmentation.

http://www.spcforests.org/NEWS/MAY2001/Germination_Technique.html

6.07

Plantation trees can in 7-8 years reach a height of 8-16 m with a diameter about 7.5-10 cm [inadequate information]

http://ecocrop.fao.org/

7.01

Probably not- no evidence that the seeds have any means of attachment.

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

7.02

(1) it is valued for wood and non-wood properties like medicine. 'Due to its physical and mechanical properties, high natural durability and attractive appearance, I. bijuga is suitable for many purposes'.
(2) "cultivated "

(1) CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.
(2) USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database].
National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: http://www.ars-grin.gov/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Intsia+bijuga (12 January 2004)

7.03

seeds relatively large. 'Fruit a pod, black or brown when ripe, oblong, flattened, 12.5-25 x 4-7 cm, valves woody, splitting open. Seeds oblong or flat, large, hard, without an aril, dark brown when mature.'

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

7.04

no evidence that the seeds have any adaptation for wind dispersal such as wings or pappus. 'Fruit a pod, black or brown when ripe, oblong, flattened, 12.5-25 x 4-7 cm, valves woody, splitting open.' Splitting open suggests the seeds are probably dispersed by gravity.

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

7.05

No evidence of the seeds having adaptation for water dispersal. No evidence that the species is coastal or of riverine habitats.

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

7.06

the fruit is a pod which splits open to release the seeds.

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

7.07

no evidence that the seeds have any means of attachment.

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

7.08

no evidence that the seeds are ingested by animals.

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

8.01

(1) 'Fruit a pod, black or brown when ripe, oblong, flattened, 12.5-25 x 4-7 cm, valves woody, splitting open. Seeds oblong or flat, large, hard, without an aril, dark brown when mature.' [large seeds] (2)seldom Natural regeneration because the seed difficult to germination.

(1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://www.tropicalbuildings.com/timber/merbau-specs/

8.02

'Seeds are classified as orthodox, and may retain viability for a long time.' 'I. bijuga seeds are protected by a hard seed coat which is impenetrable to water. Mature seeds may survive more than three years without any treatment, due to the moisture content of the seed being less than 10%.'

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

8.03

No evidence that the species is being controlled for.

8.04

Don’t know

8.05

Don’t know