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

Sophora tomentosa (yellow necklacepod)

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

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

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

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

n

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

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

n

7.03

Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant

y=1, n=-1

7.04

Propagules adapted to wind dispersal

y=1, n=-1

n

7.05

Propagules water dispersed

y=1, n=-1

y

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

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:

-3

Source

Notes

1.01

No evidence

1.02

No evidence of introduction or naturalization. Pantropical near coasts.

Wiersema, J.H. & Leon B. World economic plants. CRC press. New York.

1.03

No evidence

2.01

(1)Native to Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands. (2)Also native to several countries in Asia, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Caribbean and Cental America. (3) Pantropical near coasts. (4)Native to Florida

(1)http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi (2)http://biodiversity.soton.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Araneus.pl?version~6.05&LegumeWeb&tno~4879&genus~Sophora&species~tomentosa (3) Wiersema, J.H. & Leon B. World economic plants. CRC press. New York. (4)www.afnn.org/

2.02

2.03

(1)USDA zones 9a to 11. (2)Common shrub of coastal dunes.

(1)http://plantsdatabase.com/go/2245/ (2)http://www.sms.si.edu/IRLSpec/Sophor_toment.htm

2.04

(1)Native to Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands. (2)Also native to several countries in Asia, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Caribbean and Cental America. (3) Pantropical near coasts.

(1)http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi (2)http://biodiversity.soton.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Araneus.pl?version~6.05&LegumeWeb&tno~4879&genus~Sophora&species~tomentosa (3) Wiersema, J.H. & Leon B. World economic plants. CRC press. New York.

2.05

(1)Native to Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands. (2)Also native to several countries in Asia, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Caribbean and Cental America. (3) Pantropical near coasts. (4)Introduced to California (5)growing at tropical coastal sites around the world

(1)http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi (2)http://biodiversity.soton.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Araneus.pl?version~6.05&LegumeWeb&tno~4879&genus~Sophora&species~tomentosa (3) Wiersema, J.H. & Leon B. World economic plants. CRC press. New York. (4)http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/SOPTOMA.PDF (5)http://www.chlorischile.cl/Pena2/pena2.htm

3.01

No evidence of introduction or naturalization. Pantropical near coasts.

Wiersema, J.H. & Leon B. World economic plants. CRC press. New York.

3.02

No evidence

3.03

No evidence

3.04

No evidence

3.05

No evidence

4.01

No evidence

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

No information

4.05

(1)Seed is poisonous if ingested. (2) Poisonous to mammals (livestock and humans).

(1)http://plantsdatabase.com/go/2245/ (2) Wiersema, J.H. & Leon B. World economic plants. CRC press. New York.

4.06

The following 3 species of fungi are reported to be associated with S. tomentosa. Alternaria sp.
Fusarium sp.
Thanatephorus cucumeris
None of the above are recognized pests. [they are generalists]

4.07

(1)Seed is poisonous if ingested. (2) Poisonous to mammals (livestock and humans).

(1)http://plantsdatabase.com/go/2245/ (2) Wiersema, J.H. & Leon B. World economic plants. CRC press. New York.

4.08

possibly if it were to form thickets along the coast, but normally does not.

4.09

(1)Requires full sun. (2) prefers full sun.

(1)http://plantsdatabase.com/go/2245/ (2)http://www.hortpix.com/pc4029.htm

4.1

(1)sandy soil (2)Soil tolerances: acidic; alkaline; sand; loam; clay; plant on well-drained sandy soil. (3)sand

(1)http://fs.broward.cc.fl.us/~pgreen/necklacepod1.htm (2)http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/SOPTOMA.PDF (3)http://nativeplantproject.tripod.com/rgvshrub.htm

4.11

Probably not - not a vine.

4.12

No evidence

5.01

5.02

5.03

yes as it is an n-fixing legume.

http://fs.broward.cc.fl.us/~pgreen/necklacepod2.htm

5.04

6.01

Germination experiments found seeds to be viable even after a couple months of floating on seawater.

Dispersal ecology of the maritime plants in the Ryukyu islands of Japan. 188. Ecological research. #(2): 163-174.

6.02

Germination experiments found seeds to be viable even after a couple months of floating on seawater.

Dispersal ecology of the maritime plants in the Ryukyu islands of Japan. 188. Ecological research. #(2): 163-174.

6.03

No information on hybridization.

6.04

No information.

6.05

(1)hummingbirds (2) Hummingbirds, Warblers, Vireos (3)Attracts butterflies

(1)http://www.plantcreations.com/coastal.htm (2)http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP021(3)http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/SOPTOMA.PDF

6.06

Probably not. No evidence of spreading by vegetative means.

6.07

(1)Fast-growing (2)Growth Rate: Medium

(1)http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP107 (2)http://nativeplantproject.tripod.com/rgvshrub.htm

7.01

Probably not as the seeds do not have any means of attachment.

Dispersal ecology of the maritime plants in the Ryukyu islands of Japan. 188. Ecological research. #(2): 163-174.

7.02

Probably not - not known to be of ornamental value.

7.03

No information on seed size and color.

7.04

spherical pea seeds

7.05

Buoyancy tests revealed that the seeds can remain viable even after floating for 3 months on sea water. Also the species is known to be pantropical along the coasts. Disseminules on the drift line and seedlings on the high tide line, and young plants of woody species within the herbaceous coastal zone were all observed at sites along the coast. The Kuroshio Current carries the disseminules from islands where the species form part of the tropical coastal vegetation typical of the region.

Dispersal ecology of the maritime plants in the Ryukyu islands of Japan. 188. Ecological research. #(2): 163-174.

7.06

Many references to flowers attracting birds but no indication that pods attract birds

7.07

No evidence

7.08

No evidence of consumption

8.01

borderline [many pods per shrub, 5-10 seeds per pod, estimated from photographs]

8.02

hard-seeded legume

http://fs.broward.cc.fl.us/~pgreen/necklacepod2.htm

8.03

No evidence that the species is being controlled for.

8.04

Don't hedge it! Trim it naturally,

http://www.plantcreations.com/coastal.htm

8.05

Don’t know.