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

Ixora coccinea L. (Ixora, flame of the woods, jungle flame, or jungle geranium)

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

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

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

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

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

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

y

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

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:

4

Notes

Source

1.01

(1)several dwarf cultivars are available (2)The “wild” flower color is red or red-orange, but ornamental varieties may have white, yellow, salmon, or pink flowers. There are also dwarf varieties.

(1)http://www.floridagardener.com/pom/ixora.htm (2)The “wild” flower color is red or red-orange, but ornamental varieties may have white, yellow, salmon, or pink flowers. There are also dwarf varieties.

1.02

(1)Jungle-geranium is native to India and Sri Lanka (Griffiths 1994). It is planted worldwide in tropical and subtropical climates and has naturalized in at least Puerto Rico (author’s observation, Liogier 1997) Jungle-geranium is spreading slowly in Puerto Rico, presumably dispersed by birds (2)Occasionally persisting around former habitations and waste areas [Florida]

(1)http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:sUbK8noFf-0J:www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pdf/shrubs/Ixora%2520coccinea.pdf+Ixora+coccinea&hl=en (2)Long, R.W. and Lakela, O. 1971. A flora of Tropical Florida. University of Miami Press. Coral Gables.

1.03

No evidence

2.01

Origin: India, Sri Lanka

http://www.floridagardener.com/pom/ixora.htm

2.02

(1)Jungle-geranium is native to India and Sri Lanka (Griffiths 1994). It is planted worldwide in tropical and subtropical climates and has naturalized in at least Puerto Rico (author’s observation, Liogier 1997) (2)cultivated elsewhere

(1)http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:sUbK8noFf-0J:www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pdf/shrubs/Ixora%2520coccinea.pdf+Ixora+coccinea&hl=en (2)http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Ixora+coccinea

2.03

(1)Zones: 10 - 11 (2)Ixora is too tender to grow outside of the tropics and subtropics. It prefers a warm, humid climate with temperatures rarely dipping below 60F, and has only moderate drought tolerance. (3)Specimens below 1000 m

(1)http://www.floridagardener.com/pom/ixora.htm (2)http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/ixora.htm (3)http://mobot.mobot.org/cgi-bin/search_vast

2.04

Origin: India, Sri Lanka

http://www.floridagardener.com/pom/ixora.htm

2.05

(1)Jungle-geranium is native to India and Sri Lanka (Griffiths 1994). It is planted worldwide in tropical and subtropical climates and has naturalized in at least Puerto Rico (author’s observation, Liogier 1997) (2)cultivated elsewhere

(1)http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:sUbK8noFf-0J:www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pdf/shrubs/Ixora%2520coccinea.pdf+Ixora+coccinea&hl=en (2)http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Ixora+coccinea

3.01

(1)Jungle-geranium is native to India and Sri Lanka (Griffiths 1994). It is planted worldwide in tropical and subtropical climates and has naturalized in at least Puerto Rico (author’s observation, Liogier 1997) Jungle-geranium is spreading slowly in Puerto Rico, presumably dispersed by birds (2)Occasionally persisting around former habitations and waste areas [Florida]

(1)http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:sUbK8noFf-0J:www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pdf/shrubs/Ixora%2520coccinea.pdf+Ixora+coccinea&hl=en (2)Long, R.W. and Lakela, O. 1971. A flora of Tropical Florida. University of Miami Press. Coral Gables.

3.02

No evidence

3.03

No evidence

3.04

No evidence

3.05

No evidence

4.01

No evidence of such structures.

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

Don’t know

4.05

No evidence

4.06

(1)Pests or diseases: Nematodes, root rot, leaf spots, scale insects, iron deficiency (2)This site lists 33 different fungi species to be associated with Ixora coccinea.
(3) AB: Oncometopia nigricans (Wlk.), a polyphagous cicadellid, is suspected of being a vector of the causal agent of the lethal yellowing disease of coconut palms, which since 1974 infected and killed over 200 000 coconut palms in southern Florida. I. coccinea, which is planted extensively in the area for hedges, is suspected of being the main breeding site of O. nigricans in the field.
(4) AB: The biology of Pteroma plagiophleps, a pest of the ornamental plant Delonix regia in Bangladesh, was studied in the laboratory and field in 1976-80 and 1986-91. Among 12 host plants recorded, 5 were observed in 1976-80 and 7 in 1986-91, indicating invasion of new host plants. In the laboratory, D. regia and Lagerstroemia indica were the most suitable, and Albizzia procera, Peltophorum inerme, Swietenia mahagoni, Spondias mangifera [S. pinnata] and

(1)http://www.floridagardener.com/pom/ixora.htm (2)http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/all/FindRecOneFungusFrame.cfm
(3) Tsai, J. H. Anwar, M. (1977) Molting and longevity of Oncometopia nigricans (Homoptera: Cicadellidae), a suspected vector of lethal yellowing of coconut palms, on various host plants. Florida Entomologist, 1977, Vol. 60, No. 2, pp. 105-108, 6 ref.
(4) Howlader, M. A. (1992) Host range, suitability of host plants as food, and seasonal abundance of the bagworm moth, Pteroma plagiophleps Hamps (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Zoology, 1992, Vol. 20, No. 1, pp. 177-183, 5 ref.

4.07

In the traditional medicine of India, infusions of the leaves and juice from the roots are used to treat a wide variety of ailments including dysentery, ulcers, and gonorrhea

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:sUbK8noFf-0J:www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pdf/shrubs/Ixora%2520coccinea.pdf+Ixora+coccinea&hl=en

4.08

evergreen plant, humid climates

http://www.floridagardener.com/pom/ixora.htm

4.09

(1)Light Requirements: Full sun (2)Jungle-geranium grows well in full sun and light to moderate shade; Shrubs in heavy shade survive but rarely flower.

(1)http://www.floridagardener.com/pom/ixora.htm (2)http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pdf/shrubs/Ixora%20coccinea.pdf

4.1

(1)Soil Requirements: Rich, well drained, moist, acidic (2)Soil tolerances: clay; sand; acidic; loam (3)Jungle-geranium grows well in all textured soils if moisture is adequate and drainage is good. The species prefers slightly acid soils with good fertility and becomes chlorotic under alkaline conditions. It tolerates mild salt spray (Watkins and Sheeham 1975).

(1)http://www.floridagardener.com/pom/ixora.htm (2)http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:5Ir1tyCqZ6AJ:hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/IXOCOCA.PDF+Ixora+coccinea&hl=en (3)http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pdf/shrubs/Ixora%20coccinea.pdf

4.11

No evidence

4.12

No evidence

5.01

Bushy shrub

http://www.floridagardener.com/pom/ixora.htm

5.02

Rubiaceae

5.03

Rubiaceae

5.04

Rubiaceae

6.01

No evidence

6.02

Planted in commercial potting mix, 70 percent of these seeds germinated between 30 and 72 days following sowing

(1)http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:sUbK8noFf-0J:www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pdf/shrubs/Ixora%2520coccinea.pdf+Ixora+coccinea&hl=en (2)http://theseedsite.co.uk/list19.html

6.03

The Ixora hybrids, which are crosses between species, account for the majority of Ixoras which are used in landscapes. [No evidence of natural hybrids]

http://www.rockledgegardens.com/factsheets/ixora.pdf

6.04

No evidence

6.05

Attracts butterflies

http://www.naba.org/ftp/sefl.pdf

6.06

Frequent suckering occurs from lateral roots out to a distance of 30 cm or more from the parent plant. It also layers whenever a branch touches the ground.

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:sUbK8noFf-0J:www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pdf/shrubs/Ixora%2520coccinea.pdf+Ixora+coccinea&hl=en

6.07

Suckers and sprouts may grow as much as 1 m the first year,

http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pdf/shrubs/Ixora%20coccinea.pdf

7.01

No evidence that the propagules have any means of attachment.

7.02

Uses: Flowering hedge, shrub, flowering pot plant

http://www.floridagardener.com/pom/ixora.htm

7.03

no products

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:sUbK8noFf-0J:www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pdf/shrubs/Ixora%2520coccinea.pdf+Ixora+coccinea&hl=en

7.04

Jungle-geranium is spreading slowly in Puerto Rico, presumably dispersed by birds

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:sUbK8noFf-0J:www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pdf/shrubs/Ixora%2520coccinea.pdf+Ixora+coccinea&hl=en

7.05

No evidence

7.06

The fruits are fleshy, globose berries that ripen to a dark red or purplish-black . Jungle-geranium is spreading slowly inJungle-geranium is spreading slowly in Puerto Rico, presumably dispersed by birds.'

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:sUbK8noFf-0J:www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pdf/shrubs/Ixora%2520coccinea.pdf+Ixora+coccinea&hl=en

7.07

No evidence that the propagules have any means of attachment.

7.08

The fruits are fleshy, globose berries that ripen to a dark red or purplish-black . Jungle-geranium is spreading slowly inJungle-geranium is spreading slowly in Puerto Rico, presumably dispersed by birds.'

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:sUbK8noFf-0J:www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pdf/shrubs/Ixora%2520coccinea.pdf+Ixora+coccinea&hl=en

8.01

'The fruits are fleshy, globose berries that ripen to a dark red or purplish-black (Liogier 1997). When fully developed, there are two seeds per fruit. … A collection of fruits in Puerto Rico averaged 0.618 + 0.015 g/fruit. Air-dry seeds from these fruits averaged 0.067 + 0.001 g or 15,000 seeds/kg.' [only 2 seeds per fruit]

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:sUbK8noFf-0J:www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pdf/shrubs/Ixora%2520coccinea.pdf+Ixora+coccinea&hl=en

8.02

No evidence regarding seedbank.

8.03

No evidence that the speceis is being controlled for.

8.04

Maintenance of junglegeranium in hedges requires frequent pruning.The shrub is difficult to kill by mechanical means.

http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pdf/shrubs/Ixora%20coccinea.pdf

8.05

PLANT PROBLEMS -- Scale Insects—Sucking-type insects that remove plant juices from leaves and stems, weakening plants.

http://www.rockledgegardens.com/factsheets/ixora.pdf