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

Schefflera elegantissima (syn. Dizygotheca elegantissima, Aralia elegantissima); false aralia

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

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

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

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

n

7.08

Propagules survive passage through the gut

y=1, n=-1

y

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

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

8.05

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

y=-1, n=1

Total score:

0

Source

Notes

1.01

no evidence

1.02

no evidence

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.
URL: http://www.ars-grin.gov/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Schefflera+elegantissima (16 December 2003

Distributional range:
Native: PACIFIC Southwestern Pacific: New Caledonia

2.02

2.03

(1)Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7. (2)http://www.mnhn.fr/publication/adanson/a01n1a5.pdf

(1)Hardiness Range 10A to 11 (2)Vegetation type - rain forest [wet]

2.04

USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program.
Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database].
National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: http://www.ars-grin.gov/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Schefflera+elegantissima (16 December 2003

Distributional range:
Native: PACIFIC Southwestern Pacific: New Caledonia

2.05

(1) Abdel-Gawad, M. M.; El-Mobayed, M.; El-Sayed, M. M.; El-Nahas, H. A.; Abdel-Hameed, E. S. S. (1998) Evaluation of the molluscicidal activity of some local plants. Egyptian Journal of Bilharziasis, 1998, Vol.20, pp.81-96, 23 ref.
(2) Klinkan, H.; Röber, R. (1990) How do water level height and fertilizing affect plants grown in a hydroponic system? [FT: Wie wirken Wasserstandshöhe und Düngung auf Pflanzen in Hydrokultur?] Deutscher Gartenbau, 1990, Vol.44, No.28, pp.1813-1817, 6 ref.
(3) Poole, R. T.; Chase, A. R. (1986) Growth of six ornamental plants and soluble salts of the growing media. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society, 1986, Vol.99, pp.278-280, 14 ref.  

(1) Egypt, (2) Germany, (3) Florida, USA

3.01

no evidence

3.02

no evidence

3.03

no evidence

3.04

no evidence

3.05

Batianoff, G. N.; Franks, A. J. (1998) Environmental weed invasions on south-east Queensland foredunes. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland, 1998, Vol.107, pp.15-34, 37 ref.

AB: " The most invasive seashore weeds were Asparagus aethiopicus cv. Sprengeri, Bryophyllum spp., Chrysanthemoides monilifera [C. moniliferum ] subsp. rotundata , Gloriosa superba , Lantana camara , Panicum maximum , Schefflera actinophylla , Schinus terebinthifolia [S. terebinthifolius ], Senna pendula var. glabrata and Wedelia trilobata ."

4.01

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

no description of these traits

4.02

no evidence

4.03

no evidence

4.04

no evidence

4.05

Abdel-Gawad, M. M.; El-Mobayed, M.; El-Sayed, M. M.; El-Nahas, H. A.; Abdel-Hameed, E. S. S. (1998) Evaluation of the molluscicidal activity of some local plants. Egyptian Journal of Bilharziasis, 1998, Vol.20, pp.81-96, 23 ref.

no evidence except molluscicidal activity

4.06

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

Dizygotheca elegantissima
Alternaria panax [generalist]
Cercospora sp.
Colletotrichum sp.
Diplodia sp.
Fusarium oxysporum [generalist]
Nectriella pironii [generalist]
Phyllosticta sp.
Polyporus hirsutus [saprophyte]
Pythium irregulare [generalist]
Pythium splendens [generalist]
Rhizoctonia solani [generalist]
Sphaceloma araliae [attcked other two Araliaceae plants, Schefflera octophylla, Tetrapanax papyrifera but no known economic importance]

4.07

(1)http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=
http://nature.jardin.free.fr/arbuste/nmauric_Dizygotheca_elegantissima.
html&prev=/search%3Fq%3DSchefflera%2Belegantissima%2B%26start%3D10
%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DN

(1) 'Its sap (latex) is irritating for the skin. ' [no indication of poisoings]

4.08

wet rainforest plant

4.09

(1) Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7.
(2) http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/DIZELEA.PDF (3)http://www.tropicalplant.com/PlantCareTips/tips.asp?AID=030599

(1) Exposure Full shade to partial sun (2) Light requirement: plant grows in part shade/part sun; plant grows in the shade (3)minimum of 150 footcandles.

4.1

(1) Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7.
(2) http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/DIZELEA.PDF (3)http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=
http://nature.jardin.free.fr/arbuste/nmauric_Dizygotheca_elegantissima.
html&prev=/search%3Fq%3DSchefflera%2Belegantissima%2B%26start%3D10
%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DN (4)http://www.mnhn.fr/publication/adanson/a01n1a5.pdf

(1) Soil Condition Loamy, neutral
(2) Soil tolerances: slightly alkaline; clay; sand; acidic; loam (3)rich, well drained (4)Loam (5)found on calcareous and ultramafic rocks as well as other substrates

4.11

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

large shrub or small tree.

4.12

no evidence

5.01

terrestrial

5.02

large shrub or small tree; Araliaceae

5.03

Araliaceae

5.04

large shrub or small tree.

6.01

no evidence

6.02

Zimmer, K. (1981) Germination conditions for some rare ornamental plants. [ FT: Zeimbedingungen fur einige seltenere Zierpflanzen.] Deutscher Gartenbau, 1981, Vol.36, No.21, pp.868-869

"Dizygotheca elegantissima seed in 18-75 days at 25 deg"

6.03

no evidence

6.04

no evidence

6.05

http://www.etera.com/school/plants/PlantDetails.asp?PlantID=17044

Umbels of yellowish green flowers

6.06

no evidence

6.07

don't know

7.01

no evidence

7.02

http://www.excelsagardens.com/Products/EGPlantDetails.asp?PLANTDETAILSID=4031

an ornamental

7.03

no evidence

7.04

no evidence

7.05

no evidence

7.06

(1) Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7.
(2) http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/DIZELEA.PDF (3)http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=
http://www.arbolesornamentales.com/Scheffleraelegantissima.
htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3DSchefflera%2Belegantissima%2B
%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DG

(1) Fruit Color: Black (2) Fruit cover: fleshy (3)Fruit is a drupe

7.07

no evidence

7.08

bird-dispersed

8.01

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

Fruit
Fruit shape: unknown
Fruit length: less than .5 inch
Fruit cover: fleshy
Fruit color: brown
Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy

8.02

(1) Zimmer, K. (1981) Germination conditions for some rare ornamental plants. [ FT: Zeimbedingungen fur einige seltenere Zierpflanzen.] Deutscher Gartenbau, 1981, Vol.36, No.21, pp.868-869 (2)http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Araliaceae/Schefflera_elegantissima.html

(1)"Dizygotheca elegantissima seed in 18-75 days at 25 deg". [no ondication of dormancy] (2)seeds that must be fresh

8.03

no evidence

8.04

no evidence

8.05

no evidence