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

Asparagus setaceus ( Kunth ) Jessop; Asparagus plumosus Baker ; Protasparagus setaceus, common asparagus fern

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

y

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

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

y

3.05

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

n=0

y

4.01

Produces spines, thorns or burrs

y=1, n=0

y

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

y

4.07

Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans

y=1, n=0

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

y

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

y

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

n

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

n

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

y=-1, n=0

n

6.06

Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation

y=1, n=-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

y

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

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

y

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

n

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

y

8.05

Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents)

y=-1, n=1

Total score:

13

Notes

Source

1.01

no evidence

1.02

cultivated & naturalized elsewhere

USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program.
Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN)
[Online Database].
National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: http://www.ars-grin.gov/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Asparagus+setaceus (05 July 2004)

1.03

no evidence

2.01

Distributional range:
Native:
AFRICA
South Tropical Africa: Mozambique; Zimbabwe
Southern Africa: Botswana [s.]; Lesotho; South Africa - Cape Province, Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal; Swaziland
Other: cultivated & naturalized elsewhere

USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program.
Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN)
[Online Database].
National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: http://www.ars-grin.gov/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Asparagus+setaceus (05 July 2004)

2.02

2.03

(1)Hardiness Range 9B to 11; (2)Specimens in native range collected 300-2300 m elevation

(1)Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7. (2)http://mobot.mobot.org/cgi-bin/search_vast

2.04

Distributional range:
Native:
AFRICA
South Tropical Africa: Mozambique; Zimbabwe
Southern Africa: Botswana [s.]; Lesotho; South Africa - Cape Province, Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal; Swaziland
Other: cultivated & naturalized elsewhere

USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program.
Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN)
[Online Database].
National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: http://www.ars-grin.gov/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Asparagus+setaceus (05 July 2004)

2.05

"widely cultivated, often as a potted plant, for its feathery foliage"

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Ornamentals: A Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.73

3.01

"A. plumosus and A. densiflorus are weeds of coastal vegetation in NSW and Queensland, and are declared noxious for Lord Howe Island and parts of New South Wales."

http://www.weeds.org.au/docs/bcstrat.pdf

3.02

(1)has escaped cultivation and become a rather common weed in disturbed areas of south-central Florida. (2)Invasive and difficult to eradicate in frost-free regions. [comes from gardening website]

(1)http://www.floridata.com/ref/P/prot_set.cfm (2)http://davesgarden.com/pdb/go/2575/index.html

3.03

no evidence

3.04

(1)"A. plumosus and A. densiflorus are weeds of coastal vegetation in NSW and Queensland, and are declared noxious for Lord Howe Island and parts of New South Wales." (2)Is on the list of environmental weeds. (3)Has invaded coastal, littoral rainforest, rainforest, frontal dunes and sclerophyll forest and coastal heath. Asparagus densiflorus and Asparagus setaceus are classified as W3/4cp under the Noxious Weed Act of 1993. This classification states the weed must not be sold, propagated or knowingly distributed and the weed must be prevented from spreading to an adjoining property. [Australia]

http://www.weeds.org.au/docs/bcstrat.pdf (2)http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:dLmL0exZuHoJ:www.logan.qld.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/8ED297E1-2524-4C9E-8F08-FCC0C98D8CE0/0/LeslieHarrisonManagementOrderBooklet.pdf+Asparagus+plumosus+cattle&hl=en (3)

3.05

AB: "Asparagus asparagoides (L.), is a severe environmental weed in Australia"

Kleinjan, C. A.; Edwards, P. B. & Hoffmann, J. H. (2004) Impact of foliage feeding by Zygina sp. on tuber biomass and reproduction of Asparagus asparagoides (L.): relevance to biological control in Australia. Biological Control, 2004, Vol. 30, No. 1, pp. 36-41, 23 ref.

4.01

"The stems of this plant emerge directly from the ground and become woody and spiny"

Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7.

4.02

no evidence

4.03

no evidence

4.04

no evidence

4.05

no evidence

4.06

(1)Cercospora asparagi is a specialied pathogenic fungus causing Cercospora blight on asparagus (A. officinalis) (2)Cercospora Blight of Asparagus [significant pest of crops]

(1)Farr, D.F., Rossman, A.Y., Palm, M.E., & McCray, E.B. (n.d.) Fungal Databases, Systematic Botany & Mycology Laboratory, ARS, USDA. Retrieved July 6, 2004, from http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/ (2)http://www.ento.okstate.edu/ddd/diseases/cercospora.htm

4.07

(1)Asparagus Fern—(Asparagus setaceus plumosus) toxic-dermatitis. [listed as poisonous but could find no documented cases of poisoning and dermatitis cases were not documented] (2)HUMAN HAZARDS: NONE

(1)http://lancaster.unl.edu/factsheets/031.htm (20http://www.ornamentalworld.com/Guide2.asp?PLANTID=0030160-0000

4.08

no evidence [lacy leaf structure could be fllammable under dry conditions and climbing habit could help spread flames to taller plants]

4.09

(1)Exposure: Full shade to partial sun (2)It tolerates wide ranges of light; Partial shade is best. (3)Light requirements - 100 to 150 ft-c

(1)Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7. (2)http://www.floridata.com/ref/P/prot_set.cfm (3)http://www.savvygardener.com/Features/houseplant_care.html

4.1

(1) "Soil Condition Loamy, sandy, clay, acidic, neutral, slightly alkaline, tolerates salt well, somewhat drought tolerant, tolerates wetness; Plumosa Fern is tolerant of most well-drained soils"
(2) "The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils."

(1) Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7.
(2) http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Asparagus+setaceus&CAN=COMIND

4.11

"Woody climber to ca 5 m. "

http://www.hear.org/pier/species/asparagus_setaceus.htm

4.12

no evidence

5.01

HABITATS : Locally common. Bush edges, moderate to high light intensity areas. Farm hedges, gardens and roadsides.

http://www.ebop.govt.nz/weeds/weed20.asp

5.02

woody climber; Liliaceae

5.03

no evidence

5.04

Woody climber

http://www.hear.org/pier/species/asparagus_setaceus.htm

6.01

Naturalizes in dry to moist forest.

http://www.hear.org/pier/species/asparagus_setaceus.htm

6.02

Propagation: division; seeds

Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7.

6.03

no evidence

6.04

(1) "Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required."
(2) This site indicate A. plumosus is a hermaphrodite species (3)Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.(4)The flowers are dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). The plant not is self-fertile.

(1) http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Asparagus+setaceus&CAN=COMIND
(2) http://www.ige.tohoku.ac.jp/kinouseigyo_e/researchaspa.htm (3)http://www.gardenbed.com/source/8/785_cul.asp (4)http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Asparagus+setaceus

6.05

(1) Flowers single or paired, terminal on ultimate branches, ±pendent, 5-7 mm diam., greenish white; pedicels 1-2.5 mm long, articulated at base or just above. Sepals and petals 3-4 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide. Stamens 2.5-3.5 mm long; filaments 2-3 mm long; anthers 0.5 mm long,yellow. Ovary globose, 2 mm diam.; style 0.5-1 mm long, trifid. [morphology of the flower doesn't show adaptation to specialized pollinator]
(2) a congeneric species A. asparagoides is pollinated by bees and self-compatible

(1) http://www.hear.org/pier/species/asparagus_setaceus.htm
(2)http://www.weeds.org.au/docs/bcstrat.pdf

6.06

(1)"Older plants spread by means of long, slender rhizomes." (2)Asparagus has rhizomes, and Protasparagus does not [implies that it does not have rhizomes since it was placed in the latter genus] (3)The best means of propagation for the asparagus fern is from seeds or by division of the root mass in the spring. [no mention of rhizomes]

(1)http://www.hear.org/pier/species/asparagus_setaceus.htm (2)http://www.floridata.com/ref/P/prot_set.cfm (3)http://www.washjeff.edu/greenhouse/Asetaceus/

6.07

GROWTH RATE: MEDIUM

http://www.ornamentalworld.com/Guide2.asp?PLANTID=0030160-0000

7.01

HABITATS : Locally common. Bush edges, moderate to high light intensity areas. Farm hedges, gardens and roadsides.
DISPERSAL ROUTES, VECTORS, INFESTATION SOURCES : Garden waste. Seed dispersed by birds.

http://www.ebop.govt.nz/weeds/weed20.asp

7.02

"widely cultivated, often as apotted plant, for its feathery foliage"

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Ornamentals: A Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.73

7.03

no evidence

7.04

"Fruits spread by birds."

http://www.hear.org/pier/species/asparagus_setaceus.htm

7.05

no evidence

7.06

"Fruits spread by birds."

http://www.hear.org/pier/species/asparagus_setaceus.htm

7.07

no evidence

7.08

bird-dispersed

8.01

"Berry 4-5 mm diam., black. Seed 1, 2.5-3.5 mm diam." [relatively large berry with only one seed]

http://www.hear.org/pier/species/asparagus_setaceus.htm

8.02

AB: "Emergence parameters for the most popular Asparagus species for cut foliage (Asparagus densiflorus cv. Sprengeri, A. setaceus cv. Nanus, A. virgatus and A. officinalis) were determined under saranhouse conditions in Venezuela. Germination was hypogeal and chryptocotylar in all species. Total emergence was 44, 83, 60 and 88%, in the respective species. Emergence initiation (TI) occurred after 21, 18, 21 and 7 days, respectively, while 50% emergence (T50) was reached after 28, 21, 35 and 11 days, respectively. The time elapsed between the occurrence of 10% and 90% emergence (T10-90) was 13, 6, 20 and 12 days, respectively."
[high germination rate without scarification or sign of dormancy]

Maciel, N.; Mogollón, N.; Mendoza, A. (1999) Germination and emergence of four cut foliage Asparagus species. (Foreign Title: Germinación y emergencia de cuatro espárragos (Asparagus spp.) usados como follaje de corte.) Revista de la Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad del Zulia, 1999, Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 160-166, 11 ref.

8.03

"Chemical Control:
Spray with Glyphosate + Penetrant. Rate - Handgun 1 litre Glyphosate + 200 mls Penetrant/100 litres water. Knapsack 100 mls Glyphosate + 20 mls Penetrant/10 litres water. "

http://www.ebop.govt.nz/weeds/weed20.asp

8.04

The foliage of Plumosa Fern is killed by frost, but the plant will recover quickly in the southern portion of hardiness zone 8. [ability to regrow from root]

Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7.

8.05

no evidence