Wollastonia biflora (L.) DC. Family - Asteraceae. Common Name(s) - Wedelia, marjej, markūbwebwe. Synonym(s) - Wedelia biflora (L.) DC., Melanthera biflora (L.) Wild

Answer

Score

1.01

Is the species highly domesticated? (If answer is 'no' then go to question 2.01)

y=-3, n=0

n

0

1.02

Has the species become naturalized where grown?

y= 1, n=-1

1.03

Does the species have weedy races?

y=1, n=-1

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

0

2.04

Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates

y=1, n=0

y

1

2.05

Does the species have a history of repeated introductions outside its natural range? y=-2

?=-1, n=0

n

0

3.01

Naturalized beyond native range y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2), n= question 2.05

n

0

3.02

Garden/amenity/disturbance weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

y

2

3.03

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

n=0

3.04

Environmental weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

0

3.05

Congeneric weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

0

4.01

Produces spines, thorns or burrs

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.02

Allelopathic

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.03

Parasitic

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.04

Unpalatable to grazing animals

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

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

0

4.08

Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.09

Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.10

Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (or limestone conditions if not a volcanic island)

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.11

Climbing or smothering growth habit

y=1, n=0

y

1

4.12

Forms dense thickets

y=1, n=0

n

0

5.01

Aquatic

y=5, n=0

n

0

5.02

Grass

y=1, n=0

n

0

5.03

Nitrogen fixing woody plant

y=1, n=0

n

0

5.04

Geophyte (herbaceous with underground storage organs -- bulbs, corms, or tubers)

y=1, n=0

n

0

6.01

Evidence of substantial reproductive failure in native habitat

y=1, n=0

n

0

6.02

Produces viable seed.

y=1, n=-1

y

1

6.03

Hybridizes naturally

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

y=1, n=-1

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

y=-1, n=0

n

0

6.06

Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation

y=1, n=-1

y

1

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

-1

7.02

Propagules dispersed intentionally by people

y=1, n=-1

y

1

7.03

Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

7.04

Propagules adapted to wind dispersal

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

7.05

Propagules water dispersed

y=1, n=-1

y

1

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

7.07

Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally)

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

7.08

Propagules survive passage through the gut

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

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

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

Notes

Reference

1.01

No evidence

1.02

1.03

2.01

(1)Distribution: Marjej is found from tropical Asia to Eastern Polynesia and Micronesia. It grows near the shore on high islands and in many places on atolls, especially along rocky shores where it can be the dominant species. (2)Indigenous. Tropical Asia to eastern Polynesia and Micronesia. (3)Common extensively semi-creeping shrub or coarse herb on rocks and volcanic material, mostly near seacoast. Indo-Pacific. (4)Distribution.-Melanthera biflora is a widespread coastal species (sometimes occurring inland in disturbed sites) occurring from eastern Africa to southeastern Asia, southern Japan south to eastern Australia, and most islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans (but not in the Hawaiian Islands).

(1)http://www.hawaii.edu/cpis/MI/plants/marjaj.html [Accessed 13 Mar 2008] (2)Vander Velde, N. 2003. The Vascular Plants of Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marchall Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin NO. 503: 1-141. (3)Fosberg, F.R., M. V. C. Falanruw, and Marie- Helene Sachet. 1975. Vascular Flora of the Northern Marianas Islands. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany 22, 45 pp. (4)Wagner, W. L. and H. Robinson. 2001. Lipochaeta and Melanthera (Asteraceae: Heliantheae Subtribe Ecliptinae): Establishing Their Natural Limits and a Synopsis. Brittonia 53(4): 539-561.

2.02

2.03

(1)Found in low elevation coastal strand of Indo-Pacific…"Common extensively semi-creeping shrub or coarse herb on rocks and volcanic material, mostly near seacoast."

(1)Fosberg, F.R., M. V. C. Falanruw, and Marie- Helene Sachet. 1975. Vascular Flora of the Northern Marianas Islands. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany 22, 45 pp.

2.04

(1)Distribution: Marjej is found from tropical Asia to Eastern Polynesia and Micronesia. It grows near the shore on high islands and in many places on atolls, especially along rocky shores where it can be the dominant species. (2)Indigenous. Tropical Asia to eastern Polynesia and Micronesia. (3)Common extensively semi-creeping shrub or coarse herb on rocks and volcanic material, mostly near seacoast. Indo-Pacific. (4)Distribution.-Melanthera biflora is a widespread coastal species (sometimes occurring inland in disturbed sites) occurring from eastern Africa to southeastern Asia, southern Japan south to eastern Australia, and most islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans (but not in the Hawaiian Islands).

(1)http://www.hawaii.edu/cpis/MI/plants/marjaj.html [Accessed 13 Mar 2008] (2)Vander Velde, N. 2003. The Vascular Plants of Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marchall Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin NO. 503: 1-141. (3)Fosberg, F.R., M. V. C. Falanruw, and Marie- Helene Sachet. 1975. Vascular Flora of the Northern Marianas Islands. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany 22, 45 pp. (4)Wagner, W. L. and H. Robinson. 2001. Lipochaeta and Melanthera (Asteraceae: Heliantheae Subtribe Ecliptinae): Establishing Their Natural Limits and a Synopsis. Brittonia 53(4): 539-561.

2.05

This plant is used medicinally throughout the Pacific, where it is native, but does not appear to have a history of introduction outside this region. (1)Wollastonia biflora is distributed from tropical Asia to eastern Polynesia, and occurs on most of the high islands of Polynesia as far east as Rapa, and in the Marianas and Carolines of Micronesia. (2)Introduced to Hawaii...First Collected: 1986, Locations: Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden (now National Tropical Botanical Garden) (Confirmed); Waimea Arboretum & Botanical Garden (Confirmed)

(1)Whistler, W. A. 1992. Flowers of the Pacific Island Seashore. University of Hawaii Press. Honolulu, HI. (2)http://www2.bishopmuseum.org/HBS/botany/cultivatedplants/?pg=search&str=Wollastonia&fld=&lngID=-1738542502 [Accessed 14 Mar 2008]

3.01

(1)http://www.hear.org/gcw/species/wollastonia_biflora/ [Accessed 14 Mar 2008]

3.02

Most references to Wollastonia's "weedy" habit are from within its native range. (1)It grows in littoral thickets on rocky shores, sometimes being the dominat species in these habitats, but also becoming weedy in coastal coconut plantations [No evidence of impacts or that this "native" plant is reducing yields of coconuts] (2)Weedy species in coastal strand on ocean and lagoon shores, in neglected coconut plantations, around taro pits and in ruderal sites. (3)Wollastonia biflora (Aster.; East Africa to eastern Polynesia): ‘its appearance along roadsides and near gardens often makes it appear adventive, although it is clearly indigenous’. It also occurs along coasts, on the edge of mangroves, in thickets and waste places. (4)Other invasive plant species, mostly of agricultural concern, reported to be present in Niue [List of "weeds" includes Wedelia biflora but without any mention of impacts. Plant may actually be native] (5)Listed as a common weed of Indonesia and "Present as a Weed" in Fiji and West Polynesia [No mention of impacts and plant is probably native to these areas]

(1)Whistler, W. A. 1992. Flowers of the Pacific Island Seashore. University of Hawaii Press. Honolulu, HI. (2)Vander Velde, N. 2003. The Vascular Plants of Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marchall Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin NO. 503: 1-141. (3)Heads, M. 2006. Seed plants of Fiji: an ecological analysis. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 89: 407–431. (4)J. C. Space and T. Flynn. 2000. Report to the Government of Niue on Invasive Plant Species of Environmental Concern. U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Pacific Southwest Research Station Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry Honolulu, Hawai'i, (5)Holm, L. G., Pancho, J. V., Herberger, J. P. and Plucknett, D. L. (1979). A Geographical Atlas of World Weeds. John Wiley and Sons NewYork, USA.

3.03

Unknown (1)Other invasive plant species, mostly of agricultural concern, reported to be present in Niue [List of "weeds" includes Wedelia biflora but without any mention of impacts. Plant may actually be native]

(1)J. C. Space and T. Flynn. 2000. Report to the Government of Niue on Invasive Plant Species of Environmental Concern. U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Pacific Southwest Research Station Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry Honolulu, Hawai'i

3.04

No evidence

3.05

(1)No other weedy or invasive Wollastonia spp.

(1)http://www.hear.org/gcw/scientificnames/scinamew.htm [Accessed 14 Mar 2008]

4.01

No evidence

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

(1)Achyranthes aspera and Wollastonia biflora are food for feral goats and horses.

(1)Rigamoto, R. R., A. P. Tyagi and R. Thaman. 2004. Ethnobotanical importance of the coastal plant species of Rotuma Island. South Pacific Journal of Natural Science 22: 23-27.

4.05

No evidence for Wollastonia toxicity, but plant compounds suggest that it could be toxic to animals. (1)Dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP) is produced in high concentrations in many marine algae, but in higher plants only in a few salt marsh grasses of the genus Spartina, in sugar canes (Saccharum spp.), and in the Pacific strand plant Wollastonia biflora (L.) DC...The fact that the ability to produce DMSP in high concentrations is found in species that have no taxonomic or ecological relationship suggests that the compound evolved independently and serves different functions in different plants. This is supported by observations that DMSP in W. biflora behaves differently from that in Spartina species. While DMSP concentrations in W. biflora have been found to increase with increasing salinity, suggesting a role in osmotic control, such a relationship has not been found for DMSP in Spartina species...One function of DMSP may simply be as a precursor for its degradation products DMS and acrylate....DMS is a gaswith a strong smell and both compounds are relatively toxic, and so may act as herbivore deterrents...In fact, Van Alstyne et al. (2003), observing that DMSP levels in algae were not very responsive to changes in salinity, argued that the herbivore deterrent function of DMSP was more important than that of osmoregulation. The effect may be directly due to the taste and smell of the compound itself. The accumulation of substantial amounts of DMSP on the leaf surface (Pakulski and Kiene, 1992) may also contribute to this direct effect.

(1)Otte, M. L., G. Wilson, J. T. Morris and B. M. Moran. 2004. Dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP) and related compounds in higher plants. Journal of Experimental Botany 55(404): 1919–1925.

4.06

Unknown

4.07

Unlikely, as plant parts are taken internally for medicine (1)Tongans warm the leaves from which they squeeze out the juice and apply to cuts and wounds to prevent tetanus. In Samoa, an infusion of the stem bark or leaves is ingested to treat gonorrhoea and urinary tract infections. (2)Peculiar to Melanesia, and particularly New Caledonia, is the consumption of the young shoots, bark, and sapwood of Hibiscus liliaceus and the fruit and leaves of Wollastonia biflora

(1)http://whqlibdoc.who.int/wpro/1994-99/9290611189.pdf [Accessed 14 Mar 2008] (2)Thaman, R. R. 1992. BATIRI KEI BARAVI: THE ETHNOBOTANY OF PACIFIC ISLAND COASTAL PLANTS. ATOLL RESEARCH BULLETIN NO. 361, 62 pp.

4.08

Growth habit makes fire unlikely.

4.09

Unlikely, due to its occurrence in coastal & littoral habitats. (1)It grows in littoral thickets on rocky shores

(1)Whistler, W. A. 1992. Flowers of the Pacific Island Seashore. University of Hawaii Press. Honolulu, HI.

4.10

(1)Strand vegetation: The species composition of the strand vegetation, like that of the adjacent coastal forest, is determined largely by the substrate. Seaward of the Excoecaria-Tournefortia coastal forest, and elsewhere on other bare, raised limestone benches, the vegetation consists of a shrubby layer dominated by Bikkia tetrandra, Scaevola sericea, Clerodendrum inerme, and Wollastonia biflora (2)Common extensively semi-creeping shrub or coarse herb on rocks and volcanic material, mostly near seacoast.

(1)Drake, D.R., W. A. Whistler, T. J. Motley, and C. T. Imada. 1996. Rain forest vegetation of 'Eua Island, Kingdom of Tonga. New Zealand Journal of Botany 34: 65-77. (2)Fosberg, F.R., M. V. C. Falanruw, and Marie- Helene Sachet. 1975. Vascular Flora of the Northern Marianas Islands. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany 22, 45 pp.

4.11

(1)Large, erect to sprawling herb or subshrub up to 1.5 m in height, slightly woody at base, with angled, pubescent stems. (2)Strand Vegetation on Rocky Coasts of High Islands:...In the Northern Marianas the vegetation on rocks exposed to salt spray is largely a thick Scaevola taccada scrub mixed with Wollastonia biflora, a subshrub or herbaceous creeper and mat-forming plant...Tree Gardens, Plantations, and Open Areas...In the Carolines, Piper Spp. are found in the undergrowth, except in the most shaded parts of this forest. Controlling this undergrowth, particularly where it is made up of Wollastonia and Premna, is one of the major problems of the indigenous agriculturist...Coconut Plantations:...If the plantations are neglected, thickets of Premna, Wollastonia, and other aggressive, weedy species fill the spaces between the trees...Western Polynesia...Coastal Savanna...On flat limestone terraces on very exposed east and south coasts, there is a prostrate scrub of Pemphis and several halophytic herbs, fringing a narrow zone of savanna of such grasses as Sporobolus virginicus, Thuarea involuta, and Ischaemum murinum, with prostrate or vinelike Wollastonia biflora...

(1)Whistler, W. A. 1992. Flowers of the Pacific Island Seashore. University of Hawaii Press. Honolulu, HI. (2)Mueller-Dombois, D. and F. R. Fosberg. 1998. Vegetation of the Tropical Pacific Islands. Springer-Verlag, New York.

4.12

Not thicket-forming. (1)An open mosaic of low shrubs, herbs, vines and grasses is widely distributed on sandy substrates in the interiors of smaller (and lower) sand cays, including the discrete sand cays of some low wooded islands...Usually there are no single dominants...The ground cover between these taller shrubs is very varied and often of low density. It includes the herbs Boerhavia repens, Tribulus cistoides, Euphorbia eremophila, Euphorbia chamissonis, Wollastonia biflora…

(1)Stoddart, D. R. and F. R. Fosberg. 1991. Phytogeography and Vegetation of the Reef Island of the Northern Great Barrier Reef. Atoll Research Bulletin 349: 1-19.

5.01

Terrestrial

5.02

Asteraceae

5.03

Asteraceae

5.04

No evidence

6.01

No evidence

6.02

(1)achenes 2.5-4 mm long, those of the ray flowers 3-angled, depressed in the center of the top, those of the disk cuneoid, 4- angled. (2)The mature seeds or fruits of the dominant and/or the characteristic species of the herb, scrub, and forest zones were collected from the study area in their fruiting seasons in 1985. These species were:...Wedelia biflora DC. (Compositae) in the herb zone;

(1)F. R. Fosberg and Marie-Helener Sachet. 1980. Flora of Micronesia, 4: Caprifoliaceae-Compositae. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany 46, 71 pp. (2)Nakanishi, H. 1988. Dispersal Ecology of the Maritime Plants in the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Ecol. Res. 3: 163-173.

6.03

No evidence of natural hybridization. (1)The many attempts to produce hybrids between Wedelia trilobata and W. biflora were unsuccessful

(1)Rabakonandrianina, E. and G. D. Carr. 1981. Intergeneric hybridization, induced polyploidy, and the origin of the Hawaiian endemic Lipochaeta from Wedelia (Compositae). American Journal of Botany 68(2): 206-215.

6.04

Unknown

6.05

Probably not. Flower structure not specialized (1)Flowers in composite heads 8-15 mm wide, arranged in loose terminal panicles. [it is a common daisy flower morphology visited by bees]

(1)Whistler, W. A. 1992. Flowers of the Pacific Island Seashore. University of Hawaii Press. Honolulu, HI.

6.06

(1)"spreading branches sometimes rooting at the nodes"

(1)http://www.aluka.org/action/showMetadata?doi=10.5555/AL.AP.FLORA.FTEA006587&pgs [accessed 5/12/08]

6.07

Unknown, but probably less than 4 years

7.01

No evidence, and no mechanisms for attachment

7.02

Plant used medicinally (1)The plant is commonly used for native medicines in western Polynesia

(1)Whistler, W. A. 1992. Flowers of the Pacific Island Seashore. University of Hawaii Press. Honolulu, HI.

7.03

No evidence

7.04

(1)Fruit an obconical achene 2.5-4 mm long [water dispersed]

(1)Whistler, W. A. 1992. Flowers of the Pacific Island Seashore. University of Hawaii Press. Honolulu, HI.

7.05

(1)The species dispersed by fruits are Wedelia biflora, Messerschmidia argentea, Scaevola frutescens, Calophyllum inophyllum, Hernandia sonora, Pongamia pinnata, Guettarda speciosa, Terminalia catappa. Floating in sea water, the exocarps of most of these species are eroded and mesocarps exposed...Buoyancy in the first four species is due to a corky mesocarp, and in the last two species a fibrous mesocarp...In the first group, germination was reduced by immersion in sea water...In the second group, germination was increased; this included Canavalia maritima, Ipomoea pes-caprae, Wedelia biflora...

(1)Nakanishi, H. 1988. Dispersal Ecology of the Maritime Plants in the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Ecol. Res. 3: 163-173.

7.06

(1)The species dispersed by fruits are Wedelia biflora, Messerschmidia argentea, Scaevola frutescens, Calophyllum inophyllum, Hernandia sonora, Pongamia pinnata, Guettarda speciosa, Terminalia catappa. Floating in sea water, the exocarps of most of these species are eroded and mesocarps exposed...Buoyancy in the first four species is due to a corky mesocarp, and in the last two species a fibrous mesocarp...In the first group, germination was reduced by immersion in sea water...In the second group, germination was increased; this included Canavalia maritima, Ipomoea pes-caprae, Wedelia biflora...

(1)Nakanishi, H. 1988. Dispersal Ecology of the Maritime Plants in the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Ecol. Res. 3: 163-173.

7.07

No mechanism for external attachment

7.08

Unlikely, as achenes are adapted for water dispersal.

8.01

Unknown

8.02

Unknown

8.03

Unknown

8.04

Unknown

8.05

Unknown