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

Iresine herbstii Hook. (Beefsteak Plant, chicken gizzard, blood leaf) Synonym: Achyranthes verschaffelti

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

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

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

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

y

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

y

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

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

n

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

y=-1, n=0

n

6.06

Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation

y=1, n=-1

y

6.07

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

See left

2

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

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:

0

Notes

Source

1.01

No evidence

1.02

No evidence

1.03

No evidence

2.01

(1)Origin: Brazil (2)probable origin neotropics (3)Wild distribution: Brazil.

(1)http://www.agristarts.com/ires_herbstii.htm (2)http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Iresine+herbstii+ (3)http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/Mansfeld/Taxonomy/datenvoll.afp?module
=mf&ID=botnam_19O027SRD&source=botnam&taxid=29631&akzanz=0

2.02

2.03

(1)USDA: 10b-12 (2)Hardiness: USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1°C (30° F), USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7° C (35° F), USDA Zone 11: above 4.5° C (40° F) (3)Specimens collected 150-2500 m elevation (4)It grows between 500 and 2500 m altitude (5)their heat tolerance is very low and they require frequent watering

(1)http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Amaranthaceae/Iresine_herbstii.html (2)http://plantsdatabase.com/go/51652/ (3)http://mobot.mobot.org/cgi-bin/search_vast (4)http://www.ecoport.org/ (5)http://plantsdatabase.com/go/51652

2.04

(1)Origin: Brazil (2)probable origin neotropics (3)Wild distribution: Brazil.

(1)http://www.agristarts.com/ires_herbstii.htm (2)http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Iresine+herbstii+ (3)http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/Mansfeld/Taxonomy/datenvoll.afp?module
=mf&ID=botnam_19O027SRD&source=botnam&taxid=29631&akzanz=0

2.05

(1)widely cultivated in tropics (2)Like other species of the genus grown in Europe as ornamental plant since the 19th century, in the Chimobo area of New Guinea cultivated as leaf vegetable.

(1)http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Iresine+herbstii+ (2)http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/Mansfeld/Taxonomy/datenvoll.afp?module=
mf&ID=botnam_19O027SRD&source=botnam&taxid=29631&akzanz=0

3.01

No evidence

3.02

No evidence

3.03

No evidence

3.04

No evidence

3.05

AB: "The following weed species are new hosts for M. hapla: Iresine celosia, Piqueria trinervia, Conyza coronapifolia, Cirsium mexicanum, Gnaphalium americanum and Sisyrinchium sp."

Lopez Ch., R. Salazar F., L. A. (1978) The morphology and hosts of Meloidogyne hapla in the central volcanic upland of Costa Rica. (Foreign Title: Morfometria y algunos hospedantes de Meloidogyne hapla en la cordillera volcanica central de Costa Rica.) Agronomia Costarricense, 1978, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 29-38

4.01

No evidence of such structures.

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

Safe plant for pet birds

http://www.petbirdbreeder.com/safeplants.htm

4.05

No evidence

4.06

AB: "A. alternantherae from Alternanthera phylloxeroides was pathogenic on 7 ornamental and 1 weed sp. in the Amaranthaceae which were infected with conidial suspensions. Light leaf spot infections with moderate defoliation occurred on Amaranthus caudatus, A. retroflexus (a local weed sp.) and Gomphrena globosa. Moderate infections and defoliation occurred on A. phylloxeroides and A. bettzickiana. Severe infections, defoliation and occasionally death occurred from inoculations on Celosia argentea vars. cristata, and plumosa and Iresine herbstii."
[a specialist pathogen infecting some ornamental plants in Amaranthaceae]

Holcomb, G. E. (1978) Alternaria alternantherae from alligatorweed also is pathogenic on ornamental Amaranthaceae species. Phytopathology, 1978, Vol. 68, No. 3, pp. 265-266, 3 ref.

4.07

non-toxic plant for children

http://lancaster.unl.edu/factsheets/031.htm

4.08

Evergreen perennial.

http://gardening.worldonline.co.za/0205.htm

4.09

(1)Sun Exposure: Full sun (2)Light: Sun to semi-shade (3)Light : Sun to semi-shade (4)prefers partial shade or partial sun to full sun (5)It suits moist shady places.

(1)http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Amaranthaceae/Iresine_herbstii.html (2)Origin: Brazil (3)http://gardening.worldonline.co.za/0205.htm (4)http://www.horticopia.com/hortpix/html/pc3106.htm (5)http://www.ecoport.org/

4.1

(1)Soil Condition: Loamy, sandy, neutral (2)Soil: Well-drained medium

(1)Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7. (2)http://www.agristarts.com/ires_herbstii.htm

4.11

No evidence

4.12

No evidence

5.01

Amaranthacaeae

5.02

Amaranthacaeae

5.03

Perennial herb

5.04

Root Form: fibrous

Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7.

6.01

Photos of flowering plants.

http://toptropicals.com/cgi-bin/garden_catalog/cat.cgi?uid=iresine_herbstii

6.02

Propagation Methods: From herbaceous stem cuttings. Seed Collecting: Unknown
(2) seed and germination information on a prostrate form cultivar indentified as Iresine herbstii
(3) seeds for sale

http://plantsdatabase.com/go/51652/
(2) http://ballseed.com/Media/Culture/PAS/IresinePurpleLady.pdf
(3) http://www.ethnobotany.com/seeds/Seed_f-z.html

6.03

no evidence

6.04

"Flowers small, unisexual on different plants. "

http://flora_of_china.mirror.ac.cn/mss/volume05/Amaranthaceae-AGH_reviewing.htm

6.05

Probably not - Photos of flowering plants.

http://toptropicals.com/cgi-bin/garden_catalog/cat.cgi?uid=iresine_herbstii

6.06

Probably yes - Propagation Methods: From herbaceous stem cuttings. Seed Collecting: Unknown

http://plantsdatabase.com/go/51652/

6.07

Iresine is a short lived and tender perennial [best estimate based on description]

http://plantsdatabase.com/go/51652

7.01

Probably not - not an avenue species. Not a food crop.

7.02

Cultivated for its striking, colourful foliage … Grow as an edging in a bed, in a window box or in a container on a patio.

http://gardening.worldonline.co.za/0205.htm

7.03

No evidence

7.04

[round shiny seeds - no adaptation to wind]

http://ballseed.com/Media/Culture/PAS/IresinePurpleLady.pdf

7.05

No evidence

7.06

"Fruit a tiny utricle containing a single shiny black seed but infrequently formed in cultivation."

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Ornamentals: A Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.276

7.07

"Bracts and bracteoles persistent, greenish white or yellowish white, ovate, 1--1.5 mm, glabrous. Flowers small, unisexual on different plants. Perianth segments greenish white or yellowish white, oblong, ca. 1 mm. Ovary globose, compressed; style very short." [no evidence of mechanical attchment]

http://flora_of_china.mirror.ac.cn/mss/volume05/Amaranthaceae-AGH_reviewing.htm

7.08

No evidence of ingestion but if it is consumed as fodder then seeds may be incidentally ingested

8.01

(1)Seeds infrequently formed in cultivation (2)Does not fruit [New Guinea]

(1)Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Ornamentals: A Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.276 (2)http://www.ecoport.org/

8.02

No evidence regarding seed bank.

8.03

No evidence that the species is being controlled for.

8.04

(1) it can propagate from stem cuttings. (2)needs "grooming" almost weekly (3)Pinch back in summer to encourage plant

(1)http://plantsdatabase.com/go/51652/ (2)http://plantsdatabase.com/go/51652 (3)http://www.landsendtexotics.co.nz/cat_misc.shtml

8.05

Don’t know