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

Tephrosia purpurea (pila)

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

n

3.03

Agricultural/forestry/horticultural weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

y

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

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

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

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

1

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

7.07

Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally)

y=1, n=-1

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

y

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:

7

Source

Notes

1.01

No evidence

1.02

(1)Polynesian introduction - naturalized in Hawaii in coastal soils, open lava fields, dry slopes and ridges and in pastures. (2)Naturalized in Okinawa and the Ryukyu islands

(1) Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu. (2)Walker, E.H. 1976. Flora of Okinawa and the southern Ryukyu islands. Smithsonian Institution press.

1.03

No evidence

2.01

(1)Native from Africa to southern Asia and Malesia, tropical Australia and Tuamotus. (2)Distribution: Africa, Asia temp, Indian subcontinent, Malesia, Australia, widely cultivated in tropics.

(1)Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu. (2) Weirsena JH and Leon, B. World economic plants.CRC press. New York.

2.02

2.03

Occuring in Beach Forest -- a forest type which is most conmonly found on exposed coastlies

http://krabitour.hypermart.net/pichai/beach%20%20forest.html

2.04

(1)Native from Africa to southern Asia and Malesia, tropical Australia and Tuamotus. (2)Distribution: Africa, Asia temp, Indian subcontinent, Malesia, Australia, widely cultivated in tropics.

(1)Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu. (2) Weirsena JH and Leon, B. World economic plants.CRC press. New York.

2.05

Introduced to Hawaii, Okinawa, Southern Ryukyu islands and Philippines.

3.01

(1)Polynesian introduction - naturalized in Hawaii in coastal soils, open lava fields, dry slopes and ridges and in pastures. (2)Naturalized in Okinawa and the Ryukyu islands

(1) Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu. (2)Walker, E.H. 1976. Flora of Okinawa and the southern Ryukyu islands. Smithsonian Institution press.

3.02

No evidence

3.03

(1)Wild indigo is a companion for many cultivated plants. [considered beneficial] (2)The most frequent weeds that are difficult to control in the area were: Cyperus rotundus, Cassia tora, Euphorbia heterophylla, Mimosa pudica, Tephrosia purpurea, Imperata cylindrica and Tribulus terrestris . Farmers controlled weeds in two ways: 1 manual control using a hoe and a stick, and hand-weeding; and 2 chemical control.

(1)http://www.ileia.org/2/11-3/11-3-27.htm (2)Damme, V. van; Meylemans, B.; Damme, P. van 1994.Survey on weed management practices in upland crops in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. Mededelingen - Faculteit Landbouwkundige en Toegepaste Biologische Wetenschappen, Universiteit Gent, , Vol.59, No.3b, pp.1345-1350

3.04

No evidence

3.05

Tephrosia uniflora is a principal weed in Sudan.

Holm, L. et al. 1997. An electronic atlas of weeds and invasive species. CD-ROM database. Version 1.0

4.01

No evidence

Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

(1) 'It is reported as not eaten by stock.' (2)'Pila is not eaten by cattle or even goats.' (3)Readily consumed by stock. T. purpurea is also reported by Baumer (1975) as eagerly sought after by sheep in the dry season in the Kordofan province of the Rep. of Sudan. [contradictory references]

(1)Neal, M. 1965. In the gardens of Hawaii. Bishop Museum Press. (2)Salgado, M.L.M. 1972. Tephrosia purpurea for the control of Eupatorium and as a green manure on coconut estates. Ceylon coconut planters. 6(4): 160. (3)http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Gbase/DATA/Pf000405.HTM

4.05

(1) Hawaiians used it as fish poison. The leaves contain tephrosin which drugs fish but not mammals. (2) It is cytotoxic, pesticide and piscicide. (3) '…though in Australia the plant is believed to poison stalk. [Did not find any documented cases of poisoning].

(1) Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu. (2)http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1999/v4-196.html (3)Neal, M. 1965. In the gardens of Hawaii. Bishop Museum Press.

4.06

This site lists 23 fungi to be associated with T. purpurea.

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

4.07

seeds eaten

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/FamineFoods/ff_families/fabaceae.html

4.08

Possible, if it were to grown in dense patches -- a dryland shrub

4.09

Open places, Sandy grassland by sea shore

http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/mss/volume10/Fabaceae-MO-various_edited.htm

4.1

(1) 'T. purpurea is found to exist in different edaphic conditions ranging from cultivated fields and gravely belt to sand dunes.' (2)Grows on sandy soils. (3)sand dunes (4)Coal waste sites

(1)Mishra, R.K. and Sen, D.N. 1986. Polymorphism in populations of Tephrosia purpurea in Indian desert ecosystem. Flora. 178(3): 183-190. (2)http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Gbase/DATA/Pf000405.HTM (3) Saxena, S. K.1977. Desertification due to ecological changes in the vegetation of Indian desert. Annals of Arid Zone16:367-373 (4)Ganesan, V.; Ragupathy, S.; Parthipan, B.; Rani, D. B. R.; Mahadevan, A. 1991. Distribution of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in coal, lignite, and calcite mine spoils of India. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 12:131-136

4.11

Probably not - not a vine.

Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.

4.12

No evidence

5.01

5.02

5.03

forms nodules

Sobhag, S.; Mali, S. 1997 Influence of rhizosphere mycopopulation on root nodulation in Tephrosia purpurea growing in semi arid regions. In Reddy, S. M.; Srivastava, H. P.; Purohit, D. K.; Ram Reddy, Microbial biotechnology. "Professor K. S. Bilgrami Commemoration Volume"., , pp.97-100.

5.04

6.01

The study conducts germination tests with T. purpurea - the seeds were collected from local plants and showed hard seed coat dormancy.

Mishra, R.K. and Sen, D.N. 1986. Polymorphism in populations of Tephrosia purpurea in Indian desert ecosystem. Flora. 178(3): 183-190.

6.02

The study conducts germination tests with T. purpurea - the seeds were collected from local plants and showed hard seed coat dormancy.

Mishra, R.K. and Sen, D.N. 1986. Polymorphism in populations of Tephrosia purpurea in Indian desert ecosystem. Flora. 178(3): 183-190.

6.03

No information.

6.04

No information

6.05

typical mauve pea flower (bees)

6.06

Probably not - propagates by seed, no evidence of spread by vegetative means.

6.07

can be grown as an annual

http://www.ileia.org/2/11-3/11-3-27.htm

7.01

Probably not -seeds do not have any means of attachment.

Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.

7.02

rehabilitation of degraded lands, companion plant for crops.

7.03

Probably not seeds relatively large 2.5 -5 mm long and 1.8 - 3 mm wide.

7.04

'The pods which carry 5 - 6 seeds are flat and mature in the dry season. The pods bust during dry weather and the seeds are self sown by a mechanism by which the pod cases curl and expose the seeds which drop and spread by wind and also perhaps by birds.' [large seeds, no adaptation to wind -- gravity + mechanical]

Salgado, M.L.M. 1972. Tephrosia purpurea for the control of Eupatorium and as a green manure on coconut estates. Ceylon coconut planters. 6(4): 160.

7.05

dryland species

7.06

'The pods which carry 5 - 6 seeds are flat and mature in the dry season. The pods bust during dry weather and the seeds are self sown by a mechanism by which the pod cases curl and expose the seeds which drop and spread by wind and also perhaps by birds.' [would groundup by birds if eaten]

Salgado, M.L.M. 1972. Tephrosia purpurea for the control of Eupatorium and as a green manure on coconut estates. Ceylon coconut planters. 6(4): 160.

7.07

Not sure if birds disperse the seeds after passing it through their gut.

7.08

No concrete evidence of being eaten, but possibly eaten by birds.

8.01

(1)Pods linear, 20 - 25 mm long and 3 - 5 mm broad. Seeds 2 to 9, pale brown to black, 2.5 - 5 mm long and 1,8 - 3 mm wide. (2)Seeds 6 per pod.

(1)Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu. (2)http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/mss/volume10/Fabaceae-MO-various_edited.htm

8.02

'The seed coat is hard and thick and shed seeds remain viable in the soil for a long time and germinate particularly after heavy showers when the ground get soaked.'

Salgado, M.L.M. 1972. Tephrosia purpurea for the control of Eupatorium and as a green manure on coconut estates. Ceylon coconut planters. 6(4): 160.

8.03

2, 4-D in cereals at 1 kg/ha kills the annual legumes.For perennials, a mixture of 2, 4-D and 2, 4, 5-T at 1-2 l/ha before flowering.

http://www.krishiworld.com/html/weed_control3.html

8.04

Unlikely (probably killed by fire)

8.05

Don’t know.