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

Pentalinon luteum (L.)B.F.Hansen & Wunderlin (Urechites lutea, hammock viper's-tail, wild allamanda, yellow Mandevilla, yellow nightshade)

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

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

n

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

y

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

y

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

y

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

y

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

y

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

y

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

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

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

n

8.01

Prolific seed production (>1000/m2)

y=1, n=-1

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:

9

Notes

Source

1.01

no evidence

1.02

no evidence [where it is a weed, it is also native]

1.03

no evidence

2.01

Origin: Peninsular Florida and West Indies

http://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Pentlute

2.02

2.03

(1)"USDA hardiness zones: 10B through 11" (2)Temperature should not fall below 65°F. (3)Wetland plant (4)Moderate salt tolerance (5)It is even more cold-sensitive than the regular allamanda. (6)Climbing on shrubs and other vegetation, on pine or saline flats and rocky open soil (7)Thicket along or near coast (8)Common in fields, dunes, mangrove margins 0-3000ft

(1)http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/URELUTA.PDF (2)http://www.coastalcuttings.com/mandevilla.htm (3)http://www.plantatlas.usf.edu/main.asp?plantID=3706# (4)http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP222 (5)http://mchristi.wso.net/new_garden.html (6)http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/enpp/94-3-4all.htm (7)Liogier, H.A. and Martorell, L.F. 1982. Flora of Puerto Rico and adjacent islands. Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras (8)Adams, C.D. 1972. Flowering Plants of Jamaica, University of the West Indies, Mona

2.04

Origin: native to Florida

http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/URELUTA.PDF

2.05

(1)Texas

http://plantsdatabase.com/go/56268/

3.01

no evidence [where it is a weed, it is also native]

3.02

no evidence

3.03

(1)common weed of Puerto Rico (2)Weed of Cuba [poison to livestock] (3)Common in fields

(1)Holm et al. Geographic Atlas of World Weeds (2)Acuna, G.J. (1974). Plantas Indeseables en Los Cultivos Cubanos. Academia de Ciencias, Insitituto de Investigaciones de Cuba, Havana. Weed (3)Adams, C.D. 1972. Flowering Plants of Jamaica, University of the West Indies, Mona

3.04

"Invasive potential: aggressive, spreading plant" [no direct evidence of invasion outside its native range]

http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/URELUTA.PDF

3.05

no evidence

4.01

no description of these traits

http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/URELUTA.PDF

4.02

no evidence

4.03

no evidence

4.04

AB: "A cattle disease found in some parts of Cuba is described. It has 2 clinical forms: sudden death in grazing cattle, and haemorrhagic diarrhoea in forage-fed housed cattle. Clinical signs and PM findings are described briefly. Pastures and fodder showed a high contamination with U. lutea. Phytochemical examination of plants revealed steroidal glycosides containing an unsaturated lactone ring at C17 and a hydroxy group at C3. The compound is structurally related to the cardiotonic glycosides of the digitalis family, and when administered by i.v. injection to calves 6 months of age at 0.15-0.30 mg/kg body weight, all calves died following severe heart electrical conduction disturbances that ended with ventricular fibrillation. The clinical form of the disease was dose-dependent. Preventive measures based on control of the plant in pastures or by prevention of access by grazing cattle to infested pastures, are recommended."

Marrero Faz, E. (1996) Urechites lutea (L) Britton toxicity in cattle. Veterinary and Human Toxicology, 1996, Vol. 38, No. 4, pp. 313-314, 5 ref.

4.05

"reports of animal intoxications in Cuba caused toxins from by Urechites lutea, ..."

Marrero, E. , Aparicio, M. , Figueredo, M. A. , Bulnes, C. , Sánchez, L. M. , Palenzuela, I. , Durand, R. (2004) Common natural and experimental plant intoxications in animals reported in Cuba. Poisonous plants and related toxins, 2004, pp. 335-340, 18 ref.

4.06

no evidence

4.07

(1)"COMMENTS: Like many members of the dogbane family, the milky sap of the wild allamanda is a severe skin irritant causing blistering to the most sensitive individuals." (2)All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction (3)Harmful plant - leaves; cardiovascular system affected by the cardiac glycoside urechitoxin.

(1)http://www.allergenica.com/Details.asp?PLANTID=148 (2)http://plantsdatabase.com/go/56268 (3)http://www.anapsid.org/pdf/plantlists.txt

4.08

no evidence [evergreen w/ fleshy leaves]

4.09

"Although growth continues in the total shade, Wild Allamanda will flower best in full sun or partial shade."

http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/URELUTA.PDF

4.1

Soil tolerances: acidic; alkaline; sand; loam; clay; (2)pH range 5.6 to 8.5

http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/URELUTA.PDF (2)http://plantsdatabase.com/go/56268/

4.11

"Slender or shrubby vine to 3 m to more long "

http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/enpp/94-3-4all.htm

4.12

no evidence

5.01

"Pine woods, coastal hammocks, edges of coastal marshes"

http://www.biologicalresearch.com/plants/plant_www.php?uniq=penta_lut

5.02

vine, Apocynaceae

5.03

no evidence

5.04

This plant forms tuberous roots

http://www.coastalcuttings.com/mandevilla.htm

6.01

no evidence

6.02

"FRUITS: Twin pods, to 4-6" long, seeds with tuft of hair"

http://www.allergenica.com/Details.asp?PLANTID=148

6.03

no evidence

6.04

no evidence

6.05

(1)Urechites lutea Jamaica Trochilus polytmus (Aves: Trochilidae) [hummingbird] (2)Attracts butterflies [but corolla tube is wide so proboscis unlikely to contact stigma?]

(1)http://www.uni-bayreuth.de/departments/planta2/research_wgl/pollina/APO_POL_d.html (2)http://www.fnps.org/pages/plants/plants_by_county.php?county=PALMBEACH

6.06

no evidence

6.07

(1)Fast growing (2)Fast growing, twining vine [miniumum estimate for a fast growing, tuberous perennial vine]

(1)http://www.coastalcuttings.com/mandevilla.htm (2)http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP222

7.01

no evidence

7.02

an ornamental

http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/URELUTA.PDF

7.03

no evidence

7.04

"FRUITS: Twin pods, to 4-6" long, seeds with tuft of hair"

http://www.allergenica.com/Details.asp?PLANTID=148

7.05

no evidence

7.06

"Follicles 2, rather woody, linear, slightly curved but not reflexed, 8-20 cm long. "

http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/enpp/94-3-4all.htm

7.07

no evidence

7.08

no evidence of ingestion

8.01

"Follicles 2, rather woody, linear, slightly curved but not reflexed, 8-20 cm long. " [possible, relatively large fruit containing wind-dispersed seeds]

http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/enpp/94-3-4all.htm

8.02

no evidence

8.03

no evidence

8.04

"aggressive, spreading plant; Wild Allamanda can be maintained as a shrub with periodic pruning to check its size. Cut the longest stems back inside the plant so new growth helps keep the shrub full. It makes a nice addition to the native landscape in tropical areas as a specimen, or it can be trained to grow onto an arbor or trellis. The vine will need periodic clipping to keep it from overtaking the trellis. A row of Wild Allamanda planted several feet apart can be maintained as a low hedge with regular clipping." [fast growing, tolerate heavy pruning]

http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/URELUTA.PDF

8.05

Caterpillars on this plant have been a major problem (they're the infamous oleander caterpillars. So much so that actually gave up killing them. It was a losing battle. The plant was infested with them.

http://mchristi.wso.net/new_garden.html