Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


Bidens alba


RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS: High risk, score: 12


Australian/New Zealand Weed Risk Assessment adapted for Hawai‘i.
Information on Risk Assessments
Original risk assessment

Bidens alba (L.) DC. Family - Asteraceae. Common Names(s) - beggar's-tick, romerillo.

Answer

Score

1.01

Is the species highly domesticated?

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

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

y

3.01

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

y

2

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

3.05

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

n=0

y

2

4.01

Produces spines, thorns or burrs

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.02

Allelopathic

y=1, n=0

4.03

Parasitic

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.04

Unpalatable to grazing animals

y=1, n=-1

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

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

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

y

1

4.11

Climbing or smothering growth habit

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.12

Forms dense thickets

y=1, 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

y

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

n

-1

6.07

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

See left

1

1

7.01

Propagules likely to be dispersed unintentionally (plants growing in heavily trafficked areas)

y=1, n=-1

y

1

7.02

Propagules dispersed intentionally by people

y=1, n=-1

7.03

Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant

y=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

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y=1, n=-1

y

1

7.07

Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally)

y=1, n=-1

y

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

y

1

8.02

Evidence that a persistent propagule bank is formed (>1 yr)

y=1, n=-1

y

1

8.03

Well controlled by herbicides

y=-1, n=1

y

-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:

12

Supporting data:

Notes

Source

1.01

No evidence.

 

1.02

1.03

2.01

(1) Native to: United States - Florida; Mexico - Tamaulipas, Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz, Campeche, Chiapas, Tabasco, Yucatan; Guatemala, Honduras, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Donimica, Jamaica; Puerto Rico; T. Lucia; St. Vincent and Grenadines; French Guiana; Guyana; Venezuela; Peru - Cuzco, Huanuco, Lima, San Martin.

(1) http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?406917#syn [cited 2009 March 2].

2.02

(1) Native to: United States - Florida; Mexico - Tamaulipas, Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz, Campeche, Chiapas, Tabasco, Yucatan; Guatemala, Honduras, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Donimica, Jamaica; Puerto Rico; T. Lucia; St. Vincent and Grenadines; French Guiana; Guyana; Venezuela; Peru - Cuzco, Huanuco, Lima, San Martin.

(1) http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?406917#syn [cited 2009 March 2].

2.03

Unknown

2.04

(1) Native to: United States - Florida; Mexico - Tamaulipas, Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz, Campeche, Chiapas, Tabasco, Yucatan; Guatemala, Honduras, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Donimica, Jamaica; Puerto Rico; T. Lucia; St. Vincent and Grenadines; French Guiana; Guyana; Venezuela; Peru - Cuzco, Huanuco, Lima, San Martin.

(1) http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?406917#syn [cited 2009 March 2].

2.05

(1) Considered invasive in Kosrae Island, Pohnpei Island, Fatu Hiva Island, Merir Island. (2) Bidens alba is now widely naturalized throughout the tropics and subtropics everywhere in the world.

(1) http://www.hear.org/Pier/scientificnames/..%5Cspecies%5Cbidens_alba.htm (2) http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FW005 [cited 2009 March 3].

3.01

(1) Bidens alba is now widely naturalized throughout the tropics and subtropics everywhere in the world.

(1) http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FW005 [cited 2009 March 3].

3.02

(1) Common in disturbed areas throughout Florida. (2) Bidens alba is a weed in citrus groves in Florida. [economic criteria not clear for economic weed but qualifies as disturbance weed]

(1) http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/adap2/ascc_landgrant/dr_brooks/techrepno32.pdf [cited 2009 March 3]. (2) http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/HS/HS15000.pdf [cited 2009 March 2].

3.03

(1) Bidens alba is a weed in citrus groves in Florida.

(1) http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/HS/HS15000.pdf [cited 2009 March 2].

3.04

(1) Considered invasive in Kosrae Island, Pohnpei Island, Fatu Hiva Island, Merir Island.

(1) http://www.hear.org/Pier/scientificnames/..%5Cspecies%5Cbidens_alba.htm

3.05

(1) Bidens pilosa is a significant agricultural weed of many crop systems. (2) Bidens pilosa is a weed in 31 crops in 40 countries.

(1 )Weber, E. 2003. Invasive Plants of the World: A Reference Guide to Environmental Weeds. CABI Publishing, Oxford, UK. (2) Reddy, K. N. and M. Singh (1992). "Germination and Emergence of Hairy Beggarticks (Bidens pilosa)." Weed Science 40(2): 195-199.

4.01

(1) No spines, thorns or burrs. The achene has a pappus of 2 awns 1-2mm long.

(1) Wagner W.L., H. D. R., Sohmer S.H. (1999). Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii. Honolulu Bishop Museum Press.

4.02

Unknown

4.03

(1) Not parasitic.

(1) Wagner W.L., H. D. R., Sohmer S.H. (1999). Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii. Honolulu Bishop Museum Press.

4.04

Unknown

4.05

(1) No evidence in PubMed.

(1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez [cited 2009 March 3]. (2) http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search [cited 2009 March 3].

4.06

No evidence. (1) Uromyces bidenticola is a pathogen of Bidens alba in Samoa.

(1) http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/adap2/ascc_landgrant/dr_brooks/techrepno32.pdf [cited 2009 March 3].

4.07

(1) The leafy branch of Bidens alba is used in Trinidad and Tobago for hypertension and diabetes. (2) No evidence in PubMed.

(1) Lans C.A. 2006 Ethnomedicines used in Trinidad and Tobago for urinary problems and diabetes mellitus. Journal of Ethnobiol Ethnomed.2: 45. Published online 2006 October 13. doi: 10.1186/1746-4269-2-45. (2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez [cited March 3].

4.08

Unknown

4.09

(1) Full sun. (2) Full sun.

(1) http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54527/ [cited 2009 March 2]. (2) http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FW005 [cited 2009 March 3].

4.10

(1) Bidens alba grows best in rich loose soil with lots of organic mater, but grows well on sand and limerock too.

(1) http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FW005 [cited 2009 March 3].

4.11

(1) Herb to sub-arbust 0.4-1.2 m tall, green or vine colored, erect or dorsal decumbent, square, stems; radiate flower heads, white, reflexed and sterile, ray-florets 6-16 mm long; yellow, tubular disc-florets, 5.5 mm long; cypselas dark brown, costate, 10 mm long, chiefly with two awns

(1) Grombone-Guaratini, M., V. Solferini, et al. (2004). "Reproductive biology in species of Bidens L.(Asteraceae)." Scientia Agricola 61: 185-189.

4.12

Unknown

5.01

(1) Herb to sub-arbust 0.4-1.2 m tall, green or vine colored, erect or dorsal decumbent, square, stems; radiate flower heads, white, reflexed and sterile, ray-florets 6-16 mm long; yellow, tubular disc-florets, 5.5 mm long; cypselas dark brown, costate, 10 mm long, chiefly with two awns

(1) Grombone-Guaratini, M., V. Solferini, et al. (2004). "Reproductive biology in species of Bidens L.(Asteraceae)." Scientia Agricola 61: 185-189.

5.02

(1) Asteraceae.

(1) Grombone-Guaratini, M., V. Solferini, et al. (2004). "Reproductive biology in species of Bidens L.(Asteraceae)." Scientia Agricola 61: 185-189.

5.03

(1) Herb to sub-arbust 0.4-1.2 m tall, green or vine colored, erect or dorsal decumbent, square, stems; radiate flower heads, white, reflexed and sterile, ray-florets 6-16 mm long; yellow, tubular disc-florets, 5.5 mm long; cypselas dark brown, costate, 10 mm long, chiefly with two awns

(1) Grombone-Guaratini, M., V. Solferini, et al. (2004). "Reproductive biology in species of Bidens L.(Asteraceae)." Scientia Agricola 61: 185-189.

5.04

(1) Herb to sub-arbust 0.4-1.2 m tall, green or vine colored, erect or dorsal decumbent, square, stems; radiate flower heads, white, reflexed and sterile, ray-florets 6-16 mm long; yellow, tubular disc-florets, 5.5 mm long; cypselas dark brown, costate, 10 mm long, chiefly with two awns

(1) Grombone-Guaratini, M., V. Solferini, et al. (2004). "Reproductive biology in species of Bidens L.(Asteraceae)." Scientia Agricola 61: 185-189.

6.01

No evidence.

 

6.02

(1) Propagate from seed.

(1) http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54527/ [cited 2009 March 2].

6.03

(1) Bidens pilosa and Bidens alba can hybridize.

(1) Ganders, F. R., M. Berbee, et al. (2000). "ITS Base Sequence Phylogeny in Bidens (Asteraceae): Evidence for the Continental Relatives of Hawaiian and Marquesan Bidens." Systematic Botany 25(1): 122-133.

6.04

(1) Self-compatible in Brazil. (2) Bidens alba is self-incompatible in North America.

(1) Ballard, R. (1986). "Bidens pilosa Complex (Asteraceae) in North and Central America." American Journal of Botany 73(10): 1452-1465. (2) Grombone-Guaratini, M., V. Solferini, et al. (2004). "Reproductive biology in species of Bidens L.(Asteraceae)." Scientia Agricola 61: 185-189.

6.05

(1) Pollinated by several insect groups, including Coleoptera, Diptera, and Hymenoptera.

(1) Ballard, R. (1986). "Bidens pilosa Complex (Asteraceae) in North and Central America." American Journal of Botany 73(10): 1452-1465.

6.06

(1) Propagate from seed.

(1) http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54527/ [cited 2009 March 2].

6.07

(1) Bidens alba var. radiata plants growing in maize fields in Thailand flowered 30 days after germination.

(1) http://www.baphiq.gov.tw/public/Attachment/691512344971.pdf [cited 2009 March 3].

7.01

(1) The Bidens genus has dispersal adaptations that allow the seed dispersed by humans, animals, wind, and water.

(1) Mitich, L. W. (1994). "Beggarticks." Weed Technology 8(1): 172-175.

7.02

Unknown (1) B. alba var. radiata was introduced into Thailand by a beekeeper. It took only 3-4 years to be widely distributed throughout the norhtern region of Thailand and now is increasing in other regions of Thailand.

(1) http://www.baphiq.gov.tw/public/Attachment/691512344971.pdf [cited 2009 March 3].

7.03

Unknown

7.04

(1)The achene has a pappus of 2 awns 1-2mm long.

(1) Wagner W.L., H. D. R., Sohmer S.H. (1999). Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii. Honolulu Bishop Museum Press.

7.05

(1)The Bidens genus has dispersal adaptations that allow the seed dispersed by humans, animals, wind, and water. [unknown if B. alba seeds are buoyant]

(1) Mitich, L. W. (1994). "Beggarticks." Weed Technology 8(1): 172-175.

7.06

(1)The Bidens genus has dispersal adaptations that allow the seed dispersed by humans, animals, wind, and water.

(1) Mitich, L. W. (1994). "Beggarticks." Weed Technology 8(1): 172-175.

7.07

(1)The Bidens genus has dispersal adaptations that allow the seed dispersed by humans, animals, wind, and water.

(1) Mitich, L. W. (1994). "Beggarticks." Weed Technology 8(1): 172-175.

7.08

Seeds not consumed by animals

 

8.01

(1) A plant produces an average of 1,205 seeds. (2) In this study among the newly emerging Bidens alba var. radiata, 81% produced seeds only after 35-40 days and completed the full cycle within 57-70 days. In Thailand, the climatic conditions enable B. alba var. radiata to go through 5-6 cycles per year with the original plant still producing.

(1) http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FW005 [cited 2009 March 3].

8.02

(1) Seeds of Bidens alba var. radiata may have viability up to 6 years. (2)A single plant is capable of producing 3,000-6,000 seeds, which maintain viability for at least 3-5 years and germinate readily.

(1) http://www.baphiq.gov.tw/public/Attachment/691512344971.pdf [cited 2009 March 3]. (2)http://www.floridata.com/ref/B/bide_alb.cfm

8.03

(1) "Hairy beggar's-tick is easily controlled by most broadleaf herbicides: 2,4-D, dicamba, triclopyr, etc. However, this weed is a prolific seed producer and the seed germinate readily in May and throughout the summer. A herbicide that does not possess soil activity will quickly control the plants present, but reestablishment from seed can occur rapidly. Aminopyralid has been shown to effectively control this species with preemergence and postemergence activity. Applied at 7 oz/A, Milestone (2 lb/gal aminopyralid) provides residual control for approximately 4 months after application."

(1) http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FW005 [cited 2009 March 3].

8.04

Unknown (1) In this study in the Florida Everglades, fire increased the emergence of B. alba, which was not observed in the non-burned sites.

(1) Miao, S. and C. Zou (2008). "Seasonal variation in seed bank composition and its interaction with nutrient enrichment in the Everglades wetlands." Aquatic Botany.

8.05

Unknown


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