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
Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)
Mussaenda frondosa
RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS: Low risk, score: -4
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Australian/New Zealand Weed Risk Assessment adapted for Hawai‘i. Research directed by C. Daehler (UH Botany) with funding from the Kaulunani Urban Forestry Program and US Forest Service Information on
Risk Assessments |
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Mussaenda frondosa L. (flag bush, white flag) |
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 |
|
|
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 |
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 |
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 |
|
|
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 |
n |
|
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 |
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 |
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 |
y |
|
8.05 |
Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents) |
y=-1, n=1 |
|
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Total score: |
-4 |
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Supporting data:
|
Notes |
Source |
|
|
1.01 |
No evidence |
|
|
1.02 |
No evidence |
|
|
1.03 |
No evidence |
|
|
2.01 |
(1)Wild distribution: Tropical Himalaya from Dehra Dun eastwards, Khasi Mountains, Deccan Peninsula, Andaman Isl., Indochina. (2)[Of genus] Distribution- Old World tropics from Africa & Madgascar to India & Ceylon, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Polynesia, New Guinea, and Australia. (3)Mussaenda frondosa (Dhobi tree) is found from Indo-China to Malaysia. |
(1)http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/Mansfeld/Taxonomy/ |
|
2.02 |
Introduced to (1) Hawaii. (2)Florida |
(1)http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/rubi.htm
(2)http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:A-gO6S8Ys9UJ:miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/programs/commorn/publications/ |
|
2.03 |
(1)Cultivation possible in tropical, sub tropical, warm temperate and mediterranean climates. [indicated by generic lettering only, no description of actual growth requirements (2)grown in the wet zone [Sri Lanka] [probably narrow environmental tolerance in nature; wet] |
(1)http://www.treefarm.com.au/Mussaenda_frondosa_x.htm (2)http://www.mssrf.org/fris9809/srilanka-box6.html |
|
2.04 |
(1)Wild distribution: Tropical Himalaya from Dehra Dun eastwards, Khasi Mountains, Deccan Peninsula, Andaman Isl., Indochina. (2)[Of genus] Distribution- Old World tropics from Africa & Madgascar to India & Ceylon, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Polynesia, New Guinea, and Australia. (3)Mussaenda frondosa (Dhobi tree) is found fromIndo-China to Malaysia. |
(1)http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/Mansfeld/Taxonomy/datenvoll.afp?module |
|
2.05 |
Introduced to (1) Hawaii. (2)Florida (3)Australia (4)South Africa |
(1)http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/rubi.htm
(2)http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:A-gO6S8Ys9UJ:miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/programs/commorn/publications/ |
|
3.01 |
No evidence |
|
|
3.02 |
No evidence |
|
|
3.03 |
No evidence |
|
|
3.04 |
No evidence |
|
|
3.05 |
No evidence |
|
|
4.01 |
No evidence of such structures. 'Spine absent' |
http://www.uni-bayreuth.de/departments/planta2/wgl/delta_ru/www/mussaend.htm |
|
4.02 |
No evidence |
|
|
4.03 |
No evidence |
http://www.omnisterra.com/bot/pp_home.cgi?name= |
|
4.04 |
Don’t know |
|
|
4.05 |
No evidence |
|
|
4.06 |
Botryodiplodia theobromae: [generalist] |
http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/all/FindRecOneFungusFrame.cfm |
|
4.07 |
The leaves and the sepals are eaten as salad vegetable. ...Leaves, flowers and roots are medicinally used. |
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/Mansfeld/Taxonomy/datenvoll.afp? |
|
4.08 |
Evergreen shrub [wet environment] |
http://www.treefarm.com.au/Mussaenda_frondosa_x.htm |
|
4.09 |
(1)Grows in open sunny sites. (2)Except for the white, Mussaenda wants full sun |
(1)http://www.treefarm.com.au/Mussaenda_frondosa_x.htm (2)http://www.mgonline.com/mussaenda.html |
|
4.1 |
Grows in rich composted medium soil. [could not confirm soil limits] |
http://www.treefarm.com.au/Mussaenda_frondosa_x.htm |
|
4.11 |
A shrub |
http://www.treefarm.com.au/Mussaenda_frondosa_x.htm |
|
4.12 |
No evidence |
|
|
5.01 |
Terrestrial |
|
|
5.02 |
A shrub |
http://www.treefarm.com.au/Mussaenda_frondosa_x.htm |
|
5.03 |
Rubiaceae |
|
|
5.04 |
Rubiaceae |
|
|
6.01 |
No evidence |
|
|
6.02 |
Seeds, which are rarely available, germinatereadily at a soil temperature of 66 - 75°F. |
http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:A-gO6S8Ys9UJ: |
|
6.03 |
Many cultivars have been derived from M. erthrophylla and M. frondosa |
Chin, W.Y.2003.Tropical trees and shrubs. Suntree Publishing, Singapore. |
|
6.04 |
Bract removal caused a significant decline in fruit set, indicating their importance as visual signals to pollinators. [not autogamous] |
TI: Butterfly pollination and high-contrast visual signals in a low-density distylous plant. AU: Borges,-Renee-M [Author,-Reprint-Author]; Gowda,-Vinita [Author]; Zacharias,-Merry [Author] SO: Oecologia-(Berlin). 2003; 136(4): 571-573. PY: 2003 |
|
6.05 |
AB: In low-density butterfly-pollinated Mussaenda frondosa (Rubiaceae), flowers attract pollinators at short distances while conspicuous, non-rewarding accessory bracts are detectable at long distances by long-ranging pollinators such as the birdwing butterfly Troides minos that did not detect flower-bearing plants in the absence of these bracts. However, even in the absence of flowers, the white, ultraviolet-absorbing bracts attracted butterflies that visited flowerless plants. Although flower visits by short-ranging territorial butterflies declined significantly on removal of bracts, they did not cease completely. Nectar-robbing carpenter bees and birds did not change their behaviour following bract removal. Bract removal caused a significant decline in fruit set, indicating their importance as visual signals to pollinators. |
TI: Butterfly pollination and high-contrast visual signals in a low-density distylous plant. AU: Borges,-Renee-M [Author,-Reprint-Author]; Gowda,-Vinita [Author]; Zacharias,-Merry [Author] SO: Oecologia-(Berlin). 2003; 136(4): 571-573. PY: 2003 |
|
6.06 |
No evidence |
|
|
6.07 |
Plant flowers within two years. [In general about Mussaendas]. |
http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:A-gO6S8Ys9UJ: |
|
7.01 |
No evidence that the propagules have any means of attachment. (1) 'Fruits fleshy, not multiple, non-pyreniferous, berry, globose or ellipsoid; ridges or grooves absent; crown of calyx segments present, or absent. Seeds numerous, angular, wingless, endospermic; exotestal cells isodiametric, with thickenings, in the inner tangential walls or along the radial wall; isolated fibers absent. ' |
(1)http://www.uni-bayreuth.de/departments/planta2/wgl/delta_ru/www/mussaend.htm |
|
7.02 |
(1)Probably yes -attractive leaves and flowers. Used as background shrub, hedge and in rock gardens. (2)In India cultivated in gardens. |
(1)http://www.treefarm.com.au/Mussaenda_frondosa_x.htm
(2)http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/Mansfeld/Taxonomy/datenvoll.afp?module |
|
7.03 |
no products |
|
|
7.04 |
The fruit fleshy |
http://pages.intnet.mu/einstein/floralis/rubi.html |
|
7.05 |
The fruit fleshy |
http://pages.intnet.mu/einstein/floralis/rubi.html |
|
7.06 |
fleshy fruit. |
(1)http://www.uni-bayreuth.de/departments/planta2/wgl/delta_ru/www/mussaend.htm (2)http://pages.intnet.mu/einstein/floralis/rubi.html |
|
7.07 |
No evidence that the propagules have any means of attachment. |
|
|
7.08 |
fleshy fruit. |
|
|
8.01 |
(1) 'Fruits fleshy, not multiple, non-pyreniferous, berry, globose or ellipsoid; ridges or grooves absent; crown of calyx segments present, or absent. Seeds numerous, angular, wingless, endospermic; exotestal cells isodiametric, with thickenings, in the inner tangential walls or along the radial wall; isolated fibers absent. ' (2) [Genus characteristic] The fruit fleshy t. (3)Flowers (and fruits) are sparse based on photo. (4)Seeds are rarely available |
(1)http://www.uni-bayreuth.de/departments/planta2/wgl/delta_ru/www/mussaend.htm
(2)http://pages.intnet.mu/einstein/floralis/rubi.html (3)http://www.mgonline.com/mussaenda04.jpg
(4)ttp://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:A-gO6S8Ys9UJ:miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/programs/commorn/publications/ |
|
8.02 |
"Seeds, which are rarely available, germinate readily at a soil temperature of 66 - 75°F." [no evidence of dormancy] |
http://miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/programs/commorn/publications/ |
|
8.03 |
No evidence |
|
|
8.04 |
(1)"Mussaendas can stand heavy pruning " [characters of the genus] (2)It is good to prune heavily in late fall to late winter. |
(1)http://miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/programs/commorn/publications/ |
|
8.05 |
Don’t know |
|
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