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

Ruellia caroliniensis (J.F. Gmel.) Steud. ssp. ciliosa (Pursh) R.W. Long var. cinerascens (Fern.) Kartesz & Gandhi (syn. Ruellia ciliosa )Carolina wild petunia

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

1

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

y

2.04

Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates

y=1, n=0

n

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

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

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

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

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

y

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

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

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

8.05

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

y=-1, n=1

Total score:

1

Source

Notes

1.01

no evidence

1.02

no evidence

1.03

no evidence

2.01

(1)USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. (2)http://www.growingedge.com/community/archive/read.php3?c=PR&q=713

(1)Plant Distribution by State : Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas (2)In order for Ruellia caroliniensis (wild Carolina petunia) seeds to germinate, they must first undergo cold stratification. Provide 8 to 12 weeks of moist, cold temperatures below 50 deg. F.

2.02

does not reach tropics

2.03

(1)Horticopia, Inc. (2002) Horticopia Plant Information. Available at<http://www.hortpix.com/pc3773.htm> (2)http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/RUECARA.PDF

(1)Hardiness Range: 6B - 10A (2)USDA zones 8 through 11

2.04

no evidence

2.05

no evidence

3.01

no evidence

3.02

Galera, H.; Ratyska, H. (1999) Greenhouse weeds in the botanical garden of Pas in Warsaw-Powsin. Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae, 1999, Vol.68, No.3, pp.227-236, 30 ref.

AB: Systematic studies carried out in the greenhouses of the Botanical Garden in Warsaw-Powsin, Poland, from 1992-95 revealed that the flora of weeds was very species rich. A total of 243 taxa of vascular plants and 17 species of bryophytes were recorded and lists of these species are presented. Native plants (89 species), greenhouse-escapes (87 species) and permanently established aliens (48 species) co-dominated in the garden. In addition, 10 species of garden-escapes, i.e. plants cultivated in the immediate neighbourhood of the greenhouses, were recorded indoors. Noteworthy were two species (Ruellia caroliniensis and Pilea microphylla ) that had been brought accidentally to the glasshouses together with plant material - this group of plants is least numerous, but quite frequent in the study area.

3.03

no evidence

3.04

no evidence

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.

R. coccinea was listed as a serious weed of Puerto Rico. R. graecizans was listed as a principal weed of USA. R. patula was listed as a principal weed of India. R. prostrata was listed as a principal weed in both India and Indonesia. R. tuberosa was listed as common to serious weed by ten countries.

4.01

no evidence

4.02

no evidence

4.03

no evidence

4.04

Hickman, K. R.; Hartnett, D. C.2002. Effects of grazing intensity on growth, reproduction, and abundance of three palatable forbs in Kansas tallgrass prairie. Plant Ecology 159:.23-33

Ruellia showed reduced shoot height and biomass, percentage of stems flowering, and reproductive biomass in response to grazing.[Ruellia humilis]

4.05

http://www.nsis.org/garden/family/acanthus.html

not listed as toxic

4.06

no evidence

4.07

no evidence

4.08

no evidence [dicot herb]

4.09

(1)Horticopia, Inc. (2002) Horticopia Plant Information. Available at<http://www.hortpix.com/pc3773.htm> (2)http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/RUECARA.PDF (3)http://www.maplestreetnatives.com/wflowers.htm

(1)"prefers full shade to partial shade or partial sun" (2)plant grows in part shade/part sun; plant grows in the shade (3)An excellent perennial for shaded areas

4.1

(1)Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7. (2)http://www.nsis.org/gallery/pl-acanthus.html

(1)"loamy, sandy, clay" (2)prefers sandy soils

4.11

Horticopia, Inc. (2002) Horticopia Plant Information. Available at<http://www.hortpix.com/pc3773.htm>

perenial; mature Height: 6" to 12" / 15cm to 30cm

4.12

no evidence

5.01

terrestrial

5.02

perennial herb; Acanthaceae

5.03

no evidence

5.04

no evidence

6.01

no evidence

6.02

Dave's Garden, Inc. (2000-2002) The Palnts Database. Available at <http://plantsdatabase.com/go/1991.html>

Propagation Methods:
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; direct sow after last frost"

6.03

no evidence

6.04

no evidence

6.05

Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7.

"nactar is appealing to various species of butterflies."

6.06

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

sprouts from roots [after winter dieback]

6.07

7.01

no evidence

7.02

Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7.

use as flowering ground cover

7.03

Galera, H.; Ratyska, H. (1999) Greenhouse weeds in the botanical garden of Pas in Warsaw-Powsin. Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae, 1999, Vol.68, No.3, pp.227-236, 30 ref.

AB: Systematic studies carried out in the greenhouses of the Botanical Garden in Warsaw-Powsin, Poland, from 1992-95 revealed that the flora of weeds was very species rich. A total of 243 taxa of vascular plants and 17 species of bryophytes were recorded and lists of these species are presented. Native plants (89 species), greenhouse-escapes (87 species) and permanently established aliens (48 species) co-dominated in the garden. In addition, 10 species of garden-escapes, i.e. plants cultivated in the immediate neighbourhood of the greenhouses, were recorded indoors. Noteworthy were two species (Ruellia caroliniensis and Pilea microphylla ) that had been brought accidentally to the glasshouses together with plant material - this group of plants is least numerous, but quite frequent in the study area.

7.04

http://www.maplestreetnatives.com/wflowers.htm

The seeds spread by popping [explosive, gravity]

7.05

no evidence

7.06

no evidence

7.07

no evidence

7.08

no evidence that it is consumed

8.01

Wagner et al. 1999. Flora of the Hawaiian Islands

4-20 seed per capsule (Ruellia) [probably less that 1000]

8.02

http://plantsdatabase.com/go/1991.html

Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored [no indication of how long; artificial conditions]

8.03

no evidence

8.04

(1)http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/RUECARA.PDF (2)http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~danielss/florida.html (3)Hickman, K. R.; Hartnett, D. C.2002. Effects of grazing intensity on growth, reproduction, and abundance of three palatable forbs in Kansas tallgrass prairie. Plant Ecology 159:.23-33

(1)Ruellia species will be frozen to the ground in the winter but regrowth should occur from the roots (2)Maintenance: Use string trimmer or swing blade to remove seed heads but don't cut lower than 10 inches (3)Ruellia showed reduced shoot height and biomass, percentage of stems flowering, and reproductive biomass in response to grazing.[Ruellia humilis]

8.05

no evidence