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

Ptychosperma elegans [Seaforthia elegans]; solitaire or Alexander 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

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

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

y

3.02

Garden/amenity/disturbance weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

y

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

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

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

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

4

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

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

n

8.05

Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents)

y=-1, n=1

Total score:

2

Source

Notes

1.01

no evidence

1.02

Morton, J. F. (1976) Pestiferous spread of many ornamental and fruit species in South Florida. Proceedings Florida State Horticultural Society, 1976, Vol.89, pp.348-353, 11 ref.

AB: The massive invasion of large tracts of South Florida by Melaleuca quinquenervia and Casuarina equisetifolia from Australia and Schinus terebinthifolius from Brazil is an environmental problem now receiving serious attention. There are dozens of other introduced ornamental plants and fruit trees which have been multiplying spontaneously in the area for many years or have recently become conspicuous as weeds on private and public properties - some because of seed distribution by exotic birds new to the fauna. Outstanding examples are Cestrum diurnum, Bischofia javanica, Washingtonia robusta, Ptychosperma elegans, Murraya paniculata, Eriobotrya japonica, Pouteria campechiana and Pithecellobium dulce. The planting of some undesirable species should be discouraged and warning given of the need to control the spread of others, in order to reduce the maintenance load of cultivated grounds and the threat to undeveloped areas which are being overrun by vigorous alien vegetation.

1.03

no evidence

2.01

USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?27341 (02 October 2002)

Distributional range:
Native:
Australasia: Australia - Queensland
Other: naturalized elsewhere

2.02

2.03

http://www.sylvanfarms.com/alex.htm

Zones 10-11

2.04

USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?27341 (02 October 2002)

Distributional range:
Native:
Australasia: Australia - Queensland
Other: naturalized elsewhere

2.05

Blombery, A. & Rodd, T. (1982) Palms: An informative pratical guide to palms of the world: their cultivation, care and landscape use. Angus and Robertson Publishers. 199pp. p.152

"P. elegans and P. macarthurii, have been widely cultivated in warm moist coastal areas in many parts of the world, where they are used for landscaping."

3.01

Morton, J. F. (1976) Pestiferous spread of many ornamental and fruit species in South Florida. Proceedings Florida State Horticultural Society, 1976, Vol.89, pp.348-353, 11 ref.

AB: The massive invasion of large tracts of South Florida by Melaleuca quinquenervia and Casuarina equisetifolia from Australia and Schinus terebinthifolius from Brazil is an environmental problem now receiving serious attention. There are dozens of other introduced ornamental plants and fruit trees which have been multiplying spontaneously in the area for many years or have recently become conspicuous as weeds on private and public properties - some because of seed distribution by exotic birds new to the fauna. Outstanding examples are Cestrum diurnum, Bischofia javanica, Washingtonia robusta, Ptychosperma elegans, Murraya paniculata, Eriobotrya japonica, Pouteria campechiana and Pithecellobium dulce. The planting of some undesirable species should be discouraged and warning given of the need to control the spread of others, in order to reduce the maintenance load of cultivated grounds and the threat to undeveloped areas which are being overrun by vigorous alien vegetation.

3.02

(1)Morton, J. F. (1976) Pestiferous spread of many ornamental and fruit species in South Florida. Proceedings Florida State Horticultural Society, 1976, Vol.89, pp.348-353, 11 ref. (2)Category II - Invasive exotics that have increased in abundance or frequency but have not yet altered Florida plant communities (2)http://www.fleppc.org/01list.htm

AB: The massive invasion of large tracts of South Florida by Melaleuca quinquenervia and Casuarina equisetifolia from Australia and Schinus terebinthifolius from Brazil is an environmental problem now receiving serious attention. There are dozens of other introduced ornamental plants and fruit trees which have been multiplying spontaneously in the area for many years or have recently become conspicuous as weeds on private and public properties - some because of seed distribution by exotic birds new to the fauna. Outstanding examples are Cestrum diurnum, Bischofia javanica, Washingtonia robusta, Ptychosperma elegans, Murraya paniculata, Eriobotrya japonica, Pouteria campechiana and Pithecellobium dulce. The planting of some undesirable species should be discouraged and warning given of the need to control the spread of others, in order to reduce the maintenance load of cultivated grounds and the threat to undeveloped areas which are being overrun by vigorous alien vegetation. (2)Category II - Invasive exotic

3.03

no evidence

3.04

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/WG209

see comments under 3.02; commonly invades hammocks

3.05

no evidence

4.01

Blombery, A. & Rodd, T. (1982) Palms: An informative pratical guide to palms of the world: their cultivation, care and landscape use. Angus and Robertson Publishers. 199pp. p.152

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.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Ptychosperma/elegans.html

single, slender trunked palm

4.09

(1)Meerow, A.W. (1992) Betrock's Guide to Landscape Palms. Etrock information Systems, Inc.; Cooper City, Florida.153pp. p.77 (2)http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Ptychosperma/elegans.html (3)http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Palm/Ptychosperma_elegans.html

(1)"Light requirements: moderate to high." (2)They do equally well in sun or shade (3)Sun Requirements: Light shade to shade

4.1

Meerow, A.W. (1992) Betrock's Guide to Landscape Palms. Etrock information Systems, Inc.; Cooper City, Florida.153pp. p.77

"Soil requirements: widely adaptable"

4.11

solitary palm

4.12

no evidence

5.01

terrestrial

5.02

Arecaceae, palm

5.03

no evidence

5.04

solitary palm

6.01

no evidence

6.02

Meerow, A.W. (1992) Betrock's Guide to Landscape Palms. Etrock information Systems, Inc.; Cooper City, Florida.153pp. p.77

"Propagation: seed, germinating in 2-3 months"

6.03

no evidence

6.04

no evidence

6.05

http://www.frenchviss.qld.edu.au/palms.htm

typical palm white flowers [visited by bees]

6.06

http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Ptychosperma/elegans.html

single, slender trunked palm

6.07

http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Ptychosperma/elegans.html

standard horticultural practice will produce a 1.5m specimen in 2 years [tree growns to 10 m and likely requires several more years before fruiting]

7.01

no evidence

7.02

Blombery, A. & Rodd, T. (1982) Palms: An informative pratical guide to palms of the world: their cultivation, care and landscape use. Angus and Robertson Publishers. 199pp. p.152

"P. elegans and P. macarthurii, have been widely cultivated in warm moist coastal areas in many parts of the world, where they are used for landscaping."

7.03

no evidence

7.04

no evidence

7.05

no evidence

7.06

Morton, J. F. (1976) Pestiferous spread of many ornamental and fruit species in South Florida. Proceedings Florida State Horticultural Society, 1976, Vol.89, pp.348-353, 11 ref.

AB: The massive invasion of large tracts of South Florida by Melaleuca quinquenervia and Casuarina equisetifolia from Australia and Schinus terebinthifolius from Brazil is an environmental problem now receiving serious attention. There are dozens of other introduced ornamental plants and fruit trees which have been multiplying spontaneously in the area for many years or have recently become conspicuous as weeds on private and public properties - some because of seed distribution by exotic birds new to the fauna. Outstanding examples are Cestrum diurnum, Bischofia javanica, Washingtonia robusta, Ptychosperma elegans, Murraya paniculata, Eriobotrya japonica, Pouteria campechiana and Pithecellobium dulce. The planting of some undesirable species should be discouraged and warning given of the need to control the spread of others, in order to reduce the maintenance load of cultivated grounds and the threat to undeveloped areas which are being overrun by vigorous alien vegetation.

7.07

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/WG209

fruit dispersed by birds, raccoons and opossums

7.08

bird-dispersed

8.01

Blombery, A. & Rodd, T. (1982) Palms: An informative pratical guide to palms of the world: their cultivation, care and landscape use. Angus and Robertson Publishers. 199pp. p.152

"Fruits are egg-shaped, about 15mm long and bright red." [although the fuit is not small the inflorescence composed of a dense branches of spikes, borderline but likely less than 1000 viable seeds/m2 because of abortion.]

8.02

http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Ptychosperma/elegans.html

most will germinate in three months.

8.03

no evidence

8.04

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/WG209

cut mature trees down at ground level [to kill them without herbicide]

8.05

no evidence