Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)
Microsorum musifolium
RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS: Low risk, score: 5 (low risk based on second screen)
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Australian/New Zealand Weed Risk Assessment adapted for Hawai‘i. Information on Risk Assessments Original risk assessment |
| Microsorum musifolium Synonym:Polypodium musifolium (Crocodyllus, crocodile fern) | Answer | Score | |
| 1.01 | Is the species highly domesticated? | n | 0 |
| 1.02 | Has the species become naturalized where grown? | n | |
| 1.03 | Does the species have weedy races? | 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” | 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 |
| 2.04 | Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates | y | 1 |
| 2.05 | Does the species have a history of repeated introductions outside its natural range? y=-2 | y | |
| 3.01 | Naturalized beyond native range y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2) , n= question 2.05 | n | -2 |
| 3.02 | Garden/amenity/disturbance weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2) | n | 0 |
| 3.03 | Agricultural/forestry/horticultural weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2) | n | 0 |
| 3.04 | Environmental weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2) | n | 0 |
| 3.05 | Congeneric weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2) | n | 0 |
| 4.01 | Produces spines, thorns or burrs | n | 0 |
| 4.02 | Allelopathic | n | 0 |
| 4.03 | Parasitic | n | 0 |
| 4.04 | Unpalatable to grazing animals | ||
| 4.05 | Toxic to animals | n | 0 |
| 4.06 | Host for recognized pests and pathogens | n | 0 |
| 4.07 | Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans | n | 0 |
| 4.08 | Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems | n | 0 |
| 4.09 | Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle | y | 1 |
| 4.1 | Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (or limestone conditions if not a volcanic island) | ||
| 4.11 | Climbing or smothering growth habit | n | 0 |
| 4.12 | Forms dense thickets | n | 0 |
| 5.01 | Aquatic | n | 0 |
| 5.02 | Grass | n | 0 |
| 5.03 | Nitrogen fixing woody plant | n | 0 |
| 5.04 | Geophyte (herbaceous with underground storage organs -- bulbs, corms, or tubers) | y | 1 |
| 6.01 | Evidence of substantial reproductive failure in native habitat | n | 0 |
| 6.02 | Produces viable seed. | y | 1 |
| 6.03 | Hybridizes naturally | ||
| 6.04 | Self-compatible or apomictic | ||
| 6.05 | Requires specialist pollinators | ||
| 6.06 | Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation | y | 1 |
| 6.07 | Minimum generative time (years) 1 year = 1, 2 or 3 years = 0, 4+ years = -1 | 0 | |
| 7.01 | Propagules likely to be dispersed unintentionally (plants growing in heavily trafficked areas) | y | 1 |
| 7.02 | Propagules dispersed intentionally by people | y | 1 |
| 7.03 | Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant | n | -1 |
| 7.04 | Propagules adapted to wind dispersal | y | 1 |
| 7.05 | Propagules water dispersed | y | 1 |
| 7.06 | Propagules bird dispersed | n | -1 |
| 7.07 | Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally) | n | -1 |
| 7.08 | Propagules survive passage through the gut | n | -1 |
| 8.01 | Prolific seed production (>1000/m2) | y | 1 |
| 8.02 | Evidence that a persistent propagule bank is formed (>1 yr) | ||
| 8.03 | Well controlled by herbicides | ||
| 8.04 | Tolerates, or benefits from, mutilation, cultivation, or fire | ||
| 8.05 | Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents) | ||
| Total score: | 5 |
Supporting data:
| Notes | Reference | |
| 1.01 | No evidence | |
| 1.02 | No evidence | |
| 1.03 | No evidence | |
| 2.01 | (1) It is native to a small valley in a local rainforest near Cairns, Australia. (2) The plant is a native of Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea and a rainforest valley near Cairns. (3) Philippines, Solomon Islands across Malaya. | (1) http://home.att.net/~a.j.calisi/plants.html (2) http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Microsorium%20musifolium%20pc.html (3) Copeland E.B.1960. Fern flora of the Philippines. Volume 3. Manila Bureau of Printing. Manila. Page486. |
| 2.02 | ||
| 2.03 |
(1) Hardiness: USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6° C (20° F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8° C (25° F) 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) (2) The fern was earlier known as Polypodium musifolium and some growers claim the fern does not appreciate temperatures below 55 degrees. Others say it is actually semi-tropical and can be grown in Zone 7A. It can be grown in Southern Florida as a landscape plant in bright filtered light most of the year even though temps sometimes drop quite low. (3) Collected from Kimantis trail at an elevation of 850 m in Sayap- Kinabalu park, Sabah. (4) Philippines - 'Mindanao, common alt. about 1200, on Mts. Apo and Matutum. |
(1) http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/69775/ (2) http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Microsorium%20musifolium%20pc.html (3) Jaman, R and Latiff A. 1998. On some pteridophytes of Sayap-Kinabalu Park, Sabah. ASEAN Review of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation (ARBEC) . Article IV. (4) Copeland E.B.1960. Fern flora of the Philippines. Volume 3. Manila Bureau of Printing. Manila. Page486. |
| 2.04 | (1) It is native to a small valley in a local rainforest near Cairns, Australia. (2) The plant is a native of Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea and a rainforest valley near Cairns. (3) Philippines, Solomon Islands across Malaya. | (1) http://home.att.net/~a.j.calisi/plants.html (2) http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Microsorium%20musifolium%20pc.html (3) Copeland E.B.1960. Fern flora of the Philippines. Volume 3. Manila Bureau of Printing. Manila. Page486. |
| 2.05 | (1) Available for sale online through T & C Terranium located in Port Orange, Florida. (2) Introduced to Florida, Louisiana and Washington in the U.S. | (1) http://home.att.net/~a.j.calisi/plants.html (2) http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/122914/ |
| 3.01 | No evidence | |
| 3.02 | No evidence | |
| 3.03 | No evidence | |
| 3.04 | No evidence | |
| 3.05 | No evidence | |
| 4.01 | No evidence | |
| 4.02 | No evidence | |
| 4.03 | No evidence | |
| 4.04 | Don’t know | |
| 4.05 | No evidence | |
| 4.06 | No evidence | |
| 4.07 | No evidence | |
| 4.08 | Probably not - a fern, adapted to wet habitats. | |
| 4.09 | (1) Sun Exposure: Light Shade (2) ''Climbing on tree in light shade." | (1) http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/122914/ (2) http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:3_-il9gENAcJ:www.arbec.com.my/pdf/june-4.pdf+Microsorium+musifolium&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=9 |
| 4.1 | Does best in low to medium light conditions with a moist but well drained substrate. | http://micro189.lib3.hawaii.edu:2087/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&DB=pubmed |
| 4.11 | No evidence | Jaman, R and Latiff A. 1998. On some pteridophytes of Sayap-Kinabalu Park, Sabah. ASEAN Review of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation (ARBEC) . Article IV. |
| 4.12 | No evidence | |
| 5.01 | ||
| 5.02 | ||
| 5.03 | ||
| 5.04 | A fern with stout rhizome. | http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:3_-il9gENAcJ:www.arbec.com.my/pdf/june-4.pdf+Microsorium+musifolium&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=9 |
| 6.01 | No evidence regarding reproductive failure in the native habitat of Phiippines | Copeland E.B.1960. Fern flora of the Philippines. Volume 3. Manila Bureau of Printing. Manila. Page486. |
| 6.02 | (1) Propagation: Polypodium musifolium is easily propagated by division or by spores. The ripe spores can be collected on a piece of paper placed under spore bearing leaves. Sow spores on damp peat moss in late winter. They germinate best at a temperature of 68-70 degrees. (2) Plant is a fern. Propagation Methods: By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets) . From spores | (1) http://www.plantoftheweek.org/week103.shtml (2) http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/122914/ |
| 6.03 | Not Applicable. Plant is a fern. | |
| 6.04 | Not Applicable. Plant is a fern. | |
| 6.05 | Not Applicable. Plant is a fern. | |
| 6.06 |
NA. Plant is a fern. Propagation Methods: By dividing rhizomes, tubers,
corms or bulbs (including offsets) From spores |
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/122914/ |
| 6.07 | Don’t know. | |
| 7.01 | Probably yes - plant is fern with minute spores that can get attached to or settle on any surface and hence get unintentionally dispersed. | |
| 7.02 | (1) Available for sale online through T & C Terranium located in Port Orange, Florida. | http://home.att.net/~a.j.calisi/plants.html |
| 7.03 | Probably not - no evidence that the species grows near produce crops. | |
| 7.04 | Probably yes - the plant is a fern producing minute spores. | |
| 7.05 | Probably yes - the plant is a fern producing spores. | |
| 7.06 | Probably not - plant is a fern with minute spores. | |
| 7.07 | Probably not - no evidence of attachment | |
| 7.08 | No evidence of ingestion. | |
| 8.01 | A ferns producing thousands of minute seeds. | |
| 8.02 | No evidence regarding spore longevity. | |
| 8.03 | No evidence that the species is being controlled for. | |
| 8.04 | No evidence | |
| 8.05 | Don’t know. |
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This page was created on 26 December 2006 by JS, and was last updated on 30 June 2017 by PT.