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

Schotia brachypetala (elephant hedge bean tree, tree fuschia and weeping boer-bean)

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

1

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

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

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

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

n

5.03

Nitrogen fixing woody plant

y=1, n=0

y

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

y

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

5

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

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

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

y

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

Naturalized in China.

Lee, S. 1935. Foresy Botany of China. The commercial Press Ltd.

1.03

No evidence

2.01

(1)Native to South Africa. (2)Schotia brachypetala occurs in warm dry areas in bushveld, deciduous woodland and scrub forest most often on the banks of rivers and streams or on old termite mounds at lower altitudes from around Umtata in the Eastern Cape, through KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland, Mpumalanga, Northern Province and into Mozambique and Zimbabwe. (3)Suitable for warm humid climates without heavy frosts

(1)Neal, M.C. 1965. In gardens of Hawaii. Bishop museum press. (2)http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/schotiabrachy.htm (3)http://www.forests.qld.gov.au/qts/treetext.html

2.02

somewhat mediteranean?

2.03

(1)found in vegetation that is a mix of scrub and savanna (2)Central Lowveld vegetation

(1)http://www.environment.gov.za/nsoer/data/vegrsa/veg26.htm (2)http://www.melissa.org/pdf/KrugerBiosphere%20Main%20part%201.pdf

2.04

(1)Native to South Africa. (2)Schotia brachypetala occurs in warm dry areas in bushveld, deciduous woodland and scrub forest most often on the banks of rivers and streams or on old termite mounds at lower altitudes from around Umtata in the Eastern Cape, through KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland, Mpumalanga, Northern Province and into Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

(1)Neal, M.C. 1965. In gardens of Hawaii. Bishop museum press. (2)http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/schotiabrachy.htm

2.05

(1)Introduced to India, Pakistan and Mauritius. (2) Hawaii (3)Florida

(1)http://biodiversity.soton.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Araneus.pl?version~6.05&LegumeWeb&tno~1022&genus~Schotia&species~brachypetala (2)Neal, M.C. 1965. In gardens of Hawaii. Bishop museum press. (3)http://mobot.mobot.org/cgi-bin/search_vast

3.01

Naturalized in China.

Lee, S. 1935. Foresy Botany of China. The commercial Press Ltd.

3.02

No evidence

3.03

No evidence

3.04

No evidence

3.05

No evidence

4.01

No evidence

Bose, T.K., Das, P & Maiti, G.G. 1998. Trees of the world. Vol 1. Regional Plant Resource center. Inida.

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

'...leaves are browsed by game and black rhino also eat the bark. The latter visitors of course are only expected in game reserves.'

http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/schotiabrachy.htm

4.05

edible seeds

http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/schotiabrachy.htm

4.06

One fungus - Oidium species (in Africa) is reported to be associated with S. brachypetala. No further information regarding pest or pathogens associated with S. brachypetala.

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

4.07

No evidence

4.08

No information on fire ecology -- native habitat is savanna shaped by fire, but don't know how well it burns.

4.09

(1)Requires full sun. (2)Light : Sun

(1)http://www.rareflora.com/schotiabrac.htm (2)http://gardening.worldonline.co.za/0510.htm

4.1

(1)sandy soil (2)black clays, red, structured clays or duplex soils derived from Ecca Group shale and mudstone.

(1)http://gardening.worldonline.co.za/0510.htm (2)http://www.environment.gov.za/nsoer/data/vegrsa/veg26.htm

4.11

Probably not -not a vine.

4.12

No evidence

5.01

A small attractive tree in Fabaceae.

Neal, M.C. 1965. In gardens of Hawaii. Bishop museum press.

5.02

5.03

n-fixing

http://www.winrock.org/forestry/factpub/nftlist.htm

5.04

6.01

'The fruit is a hard, flattened, woody, dark brown pod containing flattened, pale brown approx. 20 mm diameter seeds with a conspicuous yellow aril. … Schotia brachypetala grows easily from seed, which should be sown in spring to early summer, in a well-drained general-purpose potting soil.'

http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/schotiabrachy.htm

6.02

'The fruit is a hard, flattened, woody, dark brown pod containing flattened, pale brown approx. 20 mm diameter seeds with a conspicuous yellow aril. … Schotia brachypetala grows easily from seed, which should be sown in spring to early summer, in a well-drained general-purpose potting soil.'

http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/schotiabrachy.htm

6.03

No information.

6.04

No information.

6.05

[ the information below suggests that it is probably pollinated by birds. ] (1)'The flowers are rich deep red, and are produced in masses, in dense branched heads on the old wood during spring (Aug.-Nov.). The flowering time is somewhat irregular in that a tree in bloom may be a few meters away from one that has no sign of flowers. This irregularity is of value to the nectar feeding birds, and ensures a longer feeding season. '
... The flowers produce copious amounts of nectar, which over-flows and drips or 'weeps' from the flowers and may be the origin of the common name, the weeping boer-bean.' (2)Black-collared Barbet Lybius torquatus

(1)http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/schotiabrachy.htm (2)http://www.uct.ac.za/depts/fitzpatrick/docs/r464.html

6.06

Propagation by seed.

http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/schotiabrachy.htm

6.07

First flowering occurs at about 5 years.

http://www.up.ac.za/academic/botany/garden/species/103.html

7.01

Probably not - the propagules do not have any means of attachment.

Bose, T.K., Das, P & Maiti, G.G. 1998. Trees of the world. Vol 1. Regional Plant Resource center. Inida.

7.02

(1) 'Schotia brachypetala with its decorative foliage, showy flowers and symmetric shapely habit is an excellent tree for gardens and parks but it is not advisable to plant it over paved areas, car parks etc, because of the dripping nectar in the spring.' (2) ' Schotia brachypetala should not be planted too close to a patio or driveway - it may damage paving and "weep" on parked vehicle.'

(1)http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/schotiabrachy.htm (2) http://gardening.worldonline.co.za/0510.htm

7.03

(1)Probably not - the seeds are relatively large (20mm) with a conspicuous aril. (2) Globose seeds about 1 cm long and broad.

(1)http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/schotiabrachy.htm (2) Lee, S. 1935. Foresy Botany of China. The commercial Press Ltd.

7.04

(1)'The pods split on the tree, maturing during late summer to autumn.' (2) 'The woody pods tend to disintegrate while still on the tree, to reveal pale pinkish-brown seeds.' - Probably mechanical dispersal - the seeds do not have any adaptations for wind dispersal

(1)http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/schotiabrachy.htm (2)http://gardening.worldonline.co.za/0510.htm

7.05

often on the banks of rivers and streams

http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/schotiabrachy.htm

7.06

'The seeds are encased in a woody pod which eventually splits along its seams, and may remain on the tree long after the seeds have been dispersed. Each seed is attached to the pod by a waxy yet nutritious aril - yellow in color - which is used as bait to encourage Brown-headed Parrots and Grey Louries to distribute them. '

http://www.wildwatch.com/resources/plants/boerbean.asp

7.07

No evidence

7.08

Not sure - whether the birds disperse the seeds by eating the arils or if they actually swallow the seeds too.

8.01

(1)The fruit is a hard, flattened, woody, dark brown pod containing flattened, pale brown approx. 20 mm diameter seeds with a conspicuous yellow aril. (2)Pods 4-8 cm long with 1 to 3 in each. (3) Globose seeds about 1 cm long and broad.

(1)http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/schotiabrachy.htm (2) Bose, T.K., Das, P & Maiti, G.G. 1998. Trees of the world. Vol 1. Regional Plant Resource center. Inida. (3) Lee, S. 1935. Foresy Botany of China. The commercial Press Ltd.

8.02

The seeds germinate readily, even if stored for some time.

http://gardening.worldonline.co.za/0510.htm

8.03

No evidence that the species is being controlled for.

8.04

No information.

8.05

Don’t know.