L., Fabaceae |
Present on Pacific Islands? yes
Primarily a threat at high elevations? no
Risk assessment results:
Reject, score: 15 (Go to the risk assessment (Australia))
High risk, score: 20 (Go to the risk assessment (Pacific))
Reject, score: 18 (Go to the risk assessment (U.S.
(Florida)))
Common name(s): [more details]
Chinese: bian zhou mu |
English: Barbados flower-fence, Jerusalem thorn, Mexican paloverde, horse-bean, jelly bean tree, parkinsonia, retaima, sessaban |
French: arrête-boeuf, arrêtenègre |
Spanish: cina-cina, espanillo, espina de Jerusalem, espinillo, palo de rayo, palo verde, palo verde mejicano, parquinsonia |
Habit: tree
Description: "A branching spiny glabrous shrub or small tree of irregular habit, from 2 to 8 m high, often forming thickets and reproducing by seed. Stems slender, often drooping and of zig-zag form. Leaves shortly stalked, bipinnate, each consisting of 1 to 3 pairs of leaflets with a long flattened prominently ribbed central axis 20 to 40 cm long, 2 to 3 mm wide ending in a short spine and edged on both sides with numerous, oblong secondary leaflets 4 to 10 mm long which, shedding readily, leave a long thin photosynthesizing stalk, each leaf is subtended by a needle-sharp spine 5 to 15 mm long at the node. Flowers predominantly yellow, fragrant, 2 cm diameter, each on a long slender stalk and borne in groups of 8 to 12 in loose racemes arising from the leaf axils; corolla 5-petalled, bilaterally symmetrical, 4 petals 6 to 15 mm long becoming reflexed, 1 erect, either with orange spots or completely orange. Fruit a light brown, shortly stalked, sharp pointed pod 3 to 13 cm long, usually 3 to 6 cm, about 7 mm wide, bulging and constricted between the seeds. Seed: Olive green to brown, oblong, 9 to 10 mm long, 3 to 4 mm wide. Root: A shallow main axis and numerous surface laterals" (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992; pp. 461-463).
Habitat/ecology: "Jerusalem-thorn will grow on most types of soils, including sand dunes, clay soils, strongly alkaline, chalky, and mildly salty soils. It withstands a great deal of heat and can survive in areas that receive less than 30 cm of annual rainfall. It requires full or nearly full sunlight to survive and reproduce. In most environments, Jerusalem-thorn needs some kind of disturbance to become established" (Wildland shrubs of the United States and its territories). Tropics on a wide variety of soil types. Thrives in a wide range of climates. "Forms impenetrable thorny thickets that compete with and exclude native species. A very hardy plant that can withstand long dry spells." (Smith, 2002; p. 21).
In Hawaii, "introduced as an ornamental, now naturalized in low elevation, dry, disturbed sites" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 691). In New Caledonia, " localisé mais parfois assez commun dans la région de Boulouparis" (MacKee, 1994p. 75). In the Galápagos Islands, "occasional to common from sea level to about 60 m, in open flats just above high tide, in open scrub forest, among lava blocks, and on old lava flows" (Wiggins & Porter, 1971; p. 608). Native of the arid lowlands in the Galápagos Islands (McMullen, 1999; pp. 62-63). "In Chile this species grows in the following environmental conditions: Low altitude, interior valleys; coastal mountains, 500-2000 m; coastal areas, 0-500 m. Coastal fog/camanchaca: The plants obtain water mainly from condensation; extremely dry areas with very rare rainfall, the dry season lasts 8 - 12 months and in some years it is possible to have no rainfall at all, rainfall less than 100 mm/year; dry, arid areas, with long drought periods of 6-10 months, precipitations of 100 mm-300 mm. are concentrated in winter. Fully exposed to the sun, level areas or slopes facing north" (Chileflora).
Propagation: "Seeds are dispersed by water, and in mud on animals and vehicles. Seeds are eaten by birds and animals and then expelled. Cultivated around homesteads for shade. Seeds remain viable for many years" (Smith, 2002; p. 21). "It produces seeds prolifically of two types: light brown ones that germinate readily and dark brown ones that have a hard seed coat and remain dormant" (Weber, 2003; p. 301).
Native range: "Jerusalem-thorn is native to Texas, Arizona, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as the north of Uruguay" (Wildland shrubs of the United States and its territories).
Presence:
Pacific | |||
Country/Terr./St. & Island group |
Location |
Cited status &
Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction? |
Reference &
Comments |
Chile (offshore islands)
Rapa Nui (Easter) Island |
Rapa Nui (Easter) Island (Isla de Pasqua) |
introduced
cultivated |
Meyer, Jean-Yves (2008) (pp. 40, 42)
"Lefeuvre et al., 2005. Nous n’avons pas vues lors de cette" (Meyer, 2008). |
Federated States of Micronesia
Pohnpei Islands |
Pohnpei Island | Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 95) | |
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands |
Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013) |
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands |
Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Cultivée |
French Polynesia
Society Islands |
Tahiti Island | Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 53) | |
Guam
Guam Island |
Guam Island |
introduced
|
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 101) |
Guam
Guam Island |
Guam Island |
Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1963) (voucher ID: BISH 155288)
Taxon name on voucher: Parkinsonia aculeata Linnaeus |
|
Guam
Guam Island |
Guam Island |
Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1963) (voucher ID: BISH 571584)
Taxon name on voucher: Parkinsonia aculeata Linnaeus |
|
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands |
Kauai Island |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 691) |
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands |
Maui Island |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 691) |
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands |
Oahu Island |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 691) |
New Caledonia
New Caledonia |
New Caledonia Islands | Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 95) | |
New Caledonia
New Caledonia Archipelago |
Île Grande Terre |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 75)
Vouchers cited: Pancher 6775 s.loc., MacKee 27475, Jinakoa in MacKee 43654 |
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands |
Solomon Islands |
introduced
cultivated |
Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 97) |
Pacific Rim | |||
Country/Terr./St. & Island group |
Location |
Cited status &
Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction? |
Reference &
Comments |
Australia
Australia (continental) |
New South Wales |
introduced
invasive |
Australian Biological Resources Study (2013)
"Recorded from sandy creek beds, stream banks, heavy soils around swamps, dams and bores and from rocky terrain. Often forms dense impenetrable thickets". |
Australia
Australia (continental) |
Northern Territory |
introduced
invasive |
Cronk, Q. C. B./Fuller, J. L. (2001) (p. 178) |
Australia
Australia (continental) |
Northern Territory |
introduced
invasive |
Australian Biological Resources Study (2013)
"A declared noxious weed in N.T. Recorded from sandy creek beds, stream banks, heavy soils around swamps, dams and bores and from rocky terrain. Often forms dense impenetrable thickets". |
Australia
Australia (continental) |
Queensland |
introduced
invasive |
Cronk, Q. C. B./Fuller, J. L. (2001) (p. 178) |
Australia
Australia (continental) |
Queensland |
introduced
invasive |
Australian Biological Resources Study (2013)
"Recorded from sandy creek beds, stream banks, heavy soils around swamps, dams and bores and from rocky terrain. Often forms dense impenetrable thickets". |
Cambodia
Cambodia |
Cambodia (Kingdom of) |
introduced
|
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013) |
Central America
Central America (Pacific rim) |
Costa Rica (Republic of) |
native
|
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013) |
Central America
Central America (Pacific rim) |
El Salvador (Republic of) |
introduced
|
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013) |
Central America
Central America (Pacific rim) |
Guatemala (Republic of) |
native
|
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013) |
Central America
Central America (Pacific rim) |
Panama (Republic of) |
native
|
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013) |
China
China |
China (People's Republic of) |
introduced
cultivated |
Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Hainan |
China
China |
Hong Kong |
introduced
cultivated |
Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 137)
Ornamental. |
Indonesia
Indonesia |
Indonesia (Republic of) |
introduced
|
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013) |
Mexico
Mexico |
Mexico (United Mexican States) |
native
|
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013) |
South America (Pacific rim)
South America (Pacific rim) |
Chile (Republic of) |
introduced
cultivated |
Belov, Michail (2013) |
South America (Pacific rim)
South America (Pacific rim) |
Colombia |
native
|
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013) |
South America (Pacific rim)
South America (Pacific rim) |
Ecuador (Republic of) (continental) |
introduced
|
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013) |
South America (Pacific rim)
South America (Pacific rim) |
Perú (Republic of) |
native
|
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013) |
Thailand
Thailand |
Thailand (Kingdom of) |
introduced
|
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013) |
Vietnam
Vietnam |
Vietnam (Socialist Republic of) |
introduced
|
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013) |
Indian Ocean | |||
Country/Terr./St. & Island group |
Location |
Cited status &
Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction? |
Reference &
Comments |
La Réunion (France)
La Réunion Island |
La Réunion Island |
introduced
|
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013) |
Mauritius
Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues) |
Mauritius Island |
introduced
|
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013) |
Comments: A "weed of national significance" in Australia.
Control:
Physical: "Mechanical removal by bulldozing, pulling with a tractor or grubbing gives effective control, especially where subsequent seedling growth can be controlled..." (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992; pp. 461-463).
Chemical: "Good control of mature trees also is possible with herbicides, basal bark or cut stump treatments usually giving better results than an overall spray. Apply a picloram + 2,4-D mixture or triclopyr in diesel oil, to the basal 75 cm of trunk, completely circling it and thoroughly drenching the bark. In cut stump treatments swab the whole of the butt with any of the herbicides mentioned as basal bark sprays, immediately after cutting. Allow the severed aerial growth to dry out and then burn. Alternatively, apply liquid or granular hexazinone concentrate to the soil surface close to the base of the stems. This material washed into the soil by subsequent rains slowly kills the shrubs." (op. cit.)
Biological: Rhinacloa callicrates Herring (Hemiptera: Miridae) introduced into Queensland, Australia; under evaluation (Julien, 1992; p. 52). "A biological control program for parkinsonia has been under way since 1983 in a joint study by the Queensland, Western Australian and Northern Territory governments. Three insects have been released so far into parkinsonia infestations. While all have established, impacts on the weed do not appear to be significant. One species, the seed feeding beetle Penthobruchus germaini, killed large proportions of seeds soon after it was first released in central Queensland. However, the beetle's eggs are now being attacked by a native wasp and it is no longer having an impact on parkinsonia. The CSIRO is currently conducting surveys in Central America to see if more potential biological control agents are available" (Australian Weed Management Guide).