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

Nolina recurvata (Beaucarnea recurvata); ponytail palm

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

1

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

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

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

n

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

n

6.07

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

See left

20

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

n

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

y

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:

-4

Source

Notes

1.01

no evidence

1.02

no evidence

1.03

no evidence

2.01

Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.73

Native habitat: dry region of Mexico

2.02

Leeward only

2.03

(1)Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.73 (2)http://www.floridata.com/ref/B/beau_rec.cfm

(1)Native habitat: dry region of Mexico (2)scrub and semi-desert areas in southeastern Mexico.

2.04

Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.73

Native habitat: dry region of Mexico

2.05

(1) Bajaj, Y. P. S. (Eds.) Biotechnology in agriculture and forestry 40. High-tech and micropropagation VI. Biotechnology in agriculture and forestry 40. High-tech and micropropagation VI., 1997, xviii + 397 pp.
(2) Mekers, O. (1988) Beaucarnea recurvata, an ultra-vigorous room plant, which can be propagated in vitro. [FT: Beaucarnea recurvata, een oersterke kamerplant, die in vitro kan vermeerderd worden.] Verbondsnieuws voor de Belgische Sierteelt, 1988, Vol.32, No.5, pp.216-217
(3) Hamon, A. B. (1978) Opuntiaspis carinata (Cockerell) (Homoptera: Coccoidea: Diaspididae). Entomology Circular, Division of Plant Industry, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 1978, No.196, 1 p., 2 ref. (4)http://www.csupomona.edu/~fdgibbons/hor232/notes3.html

(1) India (2) Belgium (3) Florida, USA (4)California

3.01

no evidence

3.02

no evidence

3.03

no evidence

3.04

http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/BEARECA.pdf

Invasive potential: little, if any, potential at this time

3.05

Bacon, P., P.J. Terry, N. Waltham, & P.Castro S. (1997) An Electronic Atlas of World Weed and Invasive Plants. Version 1.0, 1997. A database based on the original work "A Geographical Atlas of World Weeds" by Holm et al 1979.

N. mierocarpa was listed as a serious weed in USA.

4.01

Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.73

no description of these traits

4.02

no evidence

4.03

no evidence

4.04

no evidence

4.05

no evidence

4.06

no evidence

4.07

no evidence

4.08

http://www.csupomona.edu/~fdgibbons/hor232/notes3.html

Succulent-like trunk, very swollen at the base which perhaps functions in water storage

4.09

(1)Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.73 (2)http://www.floridata.com/ref/B/beau_rec.cfm

(1)"Grown in full sun to partial shade " (2)Full sun.

4.1

(1)Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.73 (2)http://www.floridata.com/ref/B/beau_rec.cfm (3)http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/BEARECA.pdf

(1)" a wide range of soils." (2)If wet environment, then must be sandy and extremely well drained. (3)Soil tolerances: clay; loam; sand; acidic; alkaline; well-drained

4.11

Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.73

Form: "evergreen tree"

4.12

no evidence

5.01

terrestrial

5.02

tree; Agavaceae

5.03

no evidence

5.04

tree

6.01

no evidence

6.02

Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.73

"Propagation: by seed, which usually must be imported from its natural habitat in Mexico."

6.03

no evidence

6.04

no evidence

6.05

http://www.floridata.com/ref/B/beau_rec.cfm

They are creamy white and inconspicuous individually, but borne in large showy upright clusters that extend above the leaves. [moth and/or bee?}]

6.06

no evidence

6.07

(1)http://www.floridata.com/ref/B/beau_rec.cfm (2)http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/BEARECA.pdf (3)http://www.csupomona.edu/~fdgibbons/hor232/notes3.html

(1)Flowers are produced only on large specimens. (2)grows very slowly (3)Flowers are pink to chamois colored in spring after the plant is 20 to 25 years old.

7.01

no evidence

7.02

Mekers, O. (1988) Beaucarnea recurvata, an ultra-vigorous room plant, which can be propagated in vitro. [FT: Beaucarnea recurvata, een oersterke kamerplant, die in vitro kan vermeerderd worden.] Verbondsnieuws voor de Belgische Sierteelt, 1988, Vol.32, No.5, pp.216-217

AB: In vitro culture of B. recurvata [Nolina recurvata ] shows promise; in several years' trials at Melle, 95% success was achieved, compared with only 10% for vegetative propagation from shoots. Auxin was necessary in the rooting medium. Plants with up to 4 shoots could be produced after about 9 months from the start of culture.

7.03

no evidence

7.04

(1)Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.73 (2)Hickman. Jepson Manual.

(1)"Fruit: small, long-pedicelled 3-winged capsules; rarely produced in cultivation." (2)Fruit a capsule, papery [Nolina]

7.05

(1)Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.73 (2)Hickman. Jepson Manual.

(1)"Fruit: small, long-pedicelled 3-winged capsules; rarely produced in cultivation." (2)Fruit a capsule, papery [Nolina]

7.06

(1)Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.73 (2)Hickman. Jepson Manual.

(1)"Fruit: small, long-pedicelled 3-winged capsules; rarely produced in cultivation." (2)Fruit a capsule, papery [Nolina]

7.07

(1)Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.73 (2)Hickman. Jepson Manual.

(1)"Fruit: small, long-pedicelled 3-winged capsules; rarely produced in cultivation." (2)Fruit a capsule, papery [Nolina]

7.08

no evidence

8.01

Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.73

"Flowers: White, small, in large erect panicles held above the lives. Fruit: small, long-pedicelled 3-winged capsules; rarely produced in cultivation."

8.02

http://www.tropengarten.com/bio-nolina-e.html

Stratification (subjected to frost) is not necessary, but may however increase your success rate, particularly for the more frost resistant ones. Germinating occurs commonly within 10 days to 3 weeks but may often take longer with seeds of the same plant. We oberserved seed of the same Nolina plant germinated within 7 days and 2 months later seeds continued to germinated. [probably has a seed bank since it is a dessert plant]

8.03

no evidence

8.04

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/features/huber/203310

Yes, you can prune the top off, says Mike Lowery of Another Place in Time. Take the plant outdoors and prune vigorously toward the large onionlike base so you won't have to repeat the process too soon. Lowery suggests taking more rather than less. The result may be as many as three or four new sprouts, giving you a more handsome plant.

8.05

http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/BEARECA.pdf

tendency to develop root rot on poorly-drained soils.