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

Paspalum vaginatum (seashore paspalum)

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

y

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

y

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

y

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

n

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

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

y

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

1

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

y

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

n

8.03

Well controlled by herbicides

y=-1, n=1

y

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:

7

Source

Notes

1.01

No evidence.

1.02

Naturalized in coastal areas and brackish waters in Hawaii.

Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.

1.03

No evidence.

2.01

(1)Seashore Paspalum is a warm season perennial grass. (2)Seashore Paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum) is native to tropical and subtropical regions of North and South America

(1)http://grove.ufl.edu/~turf/turfcult/ralish.html (2)http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/turf/publications/seashore.html

2.02

2.03

A coastal species (=narrow) but has apparently naturalized in New Zealand and grows well in tropics, suggesting some broadness.

2.04

Native range unknown. (2)It is native to East Central South America, from Argentina through Uruguay and into Brazil. 3)Seashore Paspalum, is ostensibly indigenous to South Africa where it is found in river estuaries.

Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu. (2)http://grove.ufl.edu/~turf/turfcult/ralish.html 3)http://www.lawn.co.za/pages/1library/ensuringhealthylawn.htm

2.05

Today, Paspalum grows in tropical areas throughout the world. Paspalum is being maintained on golf courses in Asia, South Africa, South America, Hawaii, the Caribbean Islands, and in the United States.

http://grove.ufl.edu/~turf/turfcult/ralish.html

3.01

Naturalized in coastal areas and brackish waters in Hawaii.

Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.

3.02

No evidence.

3.03

No evidence.

3.04

In New Zealand it is recognized as a species that is 'outcompeting native estuarine plant species changing the composition and structure of the natural vegetation associations, and endangers threatened species populations.'

http://floridaturf.com/grasses/paspalum-vaginatum.html

3.05

Paspalum maeulosum is listed as a principal weed in Brazil. Others in this genus as well.

An electronic atlas of weeds and invasive species. CD ROM database. Version 1.0. 1997.

4.01

No evidence.

Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.

4.02

Not allelopathic

http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi

4.03

No evidence.

4.04

Low palatability to browsing animals and medium palatability to grazing animals.

http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi

4.05

Not toxic

http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi

4.06

This site lists 6 species of generalist or unimportant fungi to be associated with P. vaginatum.

http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/all/FindRecOneFungusFrame.cfm

4.07

No evidence.

4.08

Fire resistant and high fire tolerant. (In natural ecosystems it is likely to be found along beaches, where dried material might or might not be substantial enough to cause a fire hazard)

http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi

4.09

(1)Shade intolerant. (2)Contradictory to the first source - 'Seashore Paspalum is shade and drought tolerant. ' (3)Requires full sun. 4)tolerates 35% light reduction 5)does not perform well under tree shade

(1)http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi (2)http://grove.ufl.edu/~turf/turfcult/ralish.html (3)Plant master 5.5 CD-ROM database. 4)http://www2.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/pubstat.asp?pubid=TM-1.pdf 5)http://turf.ufl.edu/residential/seashorepaspalum.htm

4.1

1)pH range 5.5 to 8 2)Seashore paspalum does well in a wide range of soil types,

1)http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi 2)http://www2.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/pubstat.asp?pubid=TM-1.pdf

4.11

No evidence. Not a vine.

4.12

No evidence.

5.01

5.02

Perennial grass

Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.

5.03

5.04

6.01

No evidence.

6.02

It does not produce highly viable seed, and therefore must be propagated vegetatively.

http://grove.ufl.edu/~turf/turfcult/ralish.html

6.03

No information.

6.04

'Most ecotypes are intraspecies cross fertile but self-incompatible.'

Zhao Wei, Lu et al. 1994. Genetic relationships and variation among ecotypes of seashore paspalum determinedby random amplified polymorphic DNA markers. Vol 37(6): 1011

6.05

No direct evidence- probably not as it is a grass.

6.06

Propagated by sprigs and vegetative spread is rapid.

http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi

6.07

A fast-growing grass

7.01

Propagules do not have any means of attachment.

7.02

A valued turf grass

7.03

7.04

No feathery awns/papus on spikelets

7.05

Very likely because it is a coastal species/brackish water species.

7.06

7.07

Propagules do not have any means of attachment.

7.08

No information.

8.01

1) "Seed is not available" for establishing turt (estblished with plugs or stolons) "produces few viable seeds" .-- Inflorescences are small, does not flower profusely. 2)produces less than 5% viable seed

http://www2.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/pubstat.asp?pubid=TM-1.pdf 2)Cardona, C. A.; Duncan, R. R. 1997.Callus induction and high efficiency plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis in paspalum. Crop Science,Vol.37, No.4, pp.1297-1302

8.02

No seed bank found in soil within a natural seashore paspalum marsh

Baldwin, A. H.; McKee, K. L.; Mendelssohn, I. A.1996 The influence of vegetation, salinity, and inundation on seed banks of oligohaline coastal marshes. American Journal of Botany, , Vol.83, No.4, pp.470-479

8.03

Most herbicides cannot be used for weed control in sea shore paspalum turf because the grass is so sensitive to herbicides.

http://www2.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/pubstat.asp?pubid=TM-1.pdf

8.04

A turf grass that tolerates frequent mowing, commonly established using stolon pieces obtained from cultivation

8.05

Don’t know.