Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


Aspidistra elatior


RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS: Low risk, score: -1


Australian/New Zealand Weed Risk Assessment adapted for Hawai‘i.

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

Aspidistra elatior; cast iron plant

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

1

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

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

y

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

n

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

n

4.08

Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems

y=1, n=0

n

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

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

n

5.04

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

y=1, n=0

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

y

6.07

Minimum generative time (years) 1 year = 1, 2 or 3 years = 0, 4+ years = -1

See left

4

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

n

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

8.03

Well controlled by herbicides

y=-1, n=1

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:

-1

Supporting data:

Source

Notes

1.01

no evidence

1.02

no evidence

1.03

no evidence

2.01

(1) USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available: http://www.ars-grin.gov/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Aspidistra+elatior (29 June 2002)
(2) Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.160
(3) Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7.

(1) Native range: Asia: China
(2) "Hardiness Zone: Zone 7. Grows well in all areas of Florida. Foliage injured by prolonged exposure to below freezing temperatures and direct sunlight."
(3) Hardiness Range 7A to 11

2.02

2.03

(1) USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available: http://www.ars-grin.gov/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Aspidistra+elatior (29 June 2002)
(2) Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.160
(3) Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7. (4)http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/indoor/1999wi_aspidistra.html

(1) Native range: Asia: China
(2) "Hardiness Zone: Zone 7. Grows well in all areas of Florida. Foliage injured by prolonged exposure to below freezing temperatures and direct sunlight."
(3) Hardiness Range 7A to 11 (4)It can endure temperatures as low as 23 degrees Fahrenheit and -- with good air circulation -- as high as 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

2.04

(1) USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available: http://www.ars-grin.gov/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Aspidistra+elatior (29 June 2002)
(2) Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.160

(1) Native range: Asia: China
(2) Hardiness Zone: Zone 7. Grows well in all areas of Florida.

2.05

(1) Dingle, P.; Tapsell, P.; Hu, S. (2000) Reducing formaldehyde exposure in office environments using plants. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 2000, Vol.64, No.2, pp.302-308, 23 ref.
(2) Misra, R. L.; Mishra, S. D. (1998) Aspidistra elatior Hort. - a new host for root-knot nematode. Journal of Ornamental Horticulture (New Series), 1998, Vol.1, No.1, p.39, 1 ref.
(3) Stamps, R. H.; Beall, F. P.; Beall, B. W.; Carris, J. P.; Jackson, M. R.; Motley, S. M.; Smith, P. S.; Freeman, N. L. (1994) Effects of shade level and radiation freezes on survival and growth of ground cover plants. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society, 1994, Vol.107, pp.423-426, 7 ref.
(4) Dahab, A. M. A.; Badawy, E. M.; Sarhan, A. Z.; Mansour, H. A. (1987) Effect of growing media, NPK fertilization rate on growth of Aspidistra lurida Hort. Acta Horticulturae, 1987, No.205, pp.267-273, 5 ref.
(5) Kato, M. (1995) The aspidistra and the amphipod. Nature (London), 1995, Vol.377, No.6547, p.293, 7 r

(1) Australia (2) India (3) Florida, USA (4) Egypt (5) Japan

3.01

no evidence

3.02

no evidence

3.03

no evidence

3.04

no evidence

3.05

no evidence

4.01

Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.160

smooth perennial

4.02

no evidence

4.03

no evidence

4.04

http://williamson-tx.tamu.edu/AG/HomeHort/deerresistant.htm

deer resistant plant

4.05

no evidence

4.06

(1)Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.160 (2)http://www.farm-life.com/Aspidistra/aspidistra.htm

(1)"Problems: Occasionally attacked by a leaf-spotting disease, mites in loew humidity situtions, scales insects; generally pest-free." (2)Aspidistra elatior occasionally have problems with spider mites and scale.

4.07

http://envhort.ucdavis.edu/ce/king/PoisPlant/SAFE-COM.htm

a safe plant for children

4.08

glossy, lush leaves are unlikely to burn

4.09

Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.160

"Culture: Grows in partial to very dense shade."

4.1

(1)Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.160 (2)http://plantsdatabase.com/go/606.html

(1)" Culture: Tolerates a wide range of soils (except heavily compacted soils)." (2)The Cast Iron Plant is named for its tolerance for poor growing conditions

4.11

Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.160

rhizomatous perrennial

4.12

Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.160

rhizomatous perrennial

5.01

terrestrial

5.02

Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.160

rhizomatous perrennial; Liliaceae

5.03

Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.160

rhizomatous perrennial

5.04

Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.160

rhizomatous perrennial [don't know if rhizomes serve a significant storage function]

6.01

no evidence

6.02

http://gardenbed.com/A/406.cfm

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse

6.03

no evidence

6.04

no evidence

6.05

(1)Kato, M. (1995) The aspidistra and the amphipod. Nature (London), 1995, Vol.377, No.6547, p.293, 7 ref. (2)http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/acc_num/198500883.html

(1) Evidence for the pollination of Aspidistra elatior by the amphipod (Crustacean) Platochestia japonica in Japan is presented. (2)Slug pollinated.

6.06

(1)Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.160 (2)http://www.floridata.com/ref/A/aspi_ela.cfm

(1)rhizomatous perrennial; propagation: clump division (2)Plants spread in clumps, vigorously but at a moderate enough rate not to be troublesome.

6.07

http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/indoor/1999wi_aspidistra.html

The most discouraging aspect to aspidistras is their frustratingly slow rate of growth. They can take many years to achieve an appreciable size.I have a 20-year-old plant, bearing about 35 leaves, that has (ever-so-slowly) increased in size from a nursery-purchased, two-leafed division. [also, rarely flowers in cultivation]

7.01

no evidence

7.02

Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.160

an oramental

7.03

no evidence

7.04

no evidence

7.05

no evidence

7.06

Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.160

Fruit: berries, small, 1 seeded, inconspicuous [although the fruit is a berry, it is at ground level and difficult to see from a bird's view; birds are probably not attracted]

7.07

no evidence

7.08

no evidence

8.01

Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.160

Fruit: berries, small, 1 seeded, inconspicuous.

8.02

no evidence

8.03

no evidence

8.04

http://www.plantideas.com/in/in10.html

the roots may be cut into numerous pieces, each with a leaf attached, and potted separately. In two months, the new plants should be thriving lustily.

8.05

no evidence


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