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

Caesalpinia decapetala (Syn: Caesalpinia sepiaria Common: Mysore thorn, Mauritius thorn, wait-a-while, cat's claw)

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

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

y

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

y

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

y

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

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

y

4.09

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

y=1, n=0

n

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

y

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

y

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

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

y=-1, n=0

n

6.06

Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation

y=1, n=-1

n

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

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

y

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

n

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:

20

Source

Notes

1.01

No evidence

1.02

(1)'In Hawai‘i, "naturalized along roadsides, near abandoned house sites, and other disturbed areas, 0-250m.' (2)This spiny creeping shrub comes from tropical Asia, but it is now naturalized in many tropical regions and islands, often becoming a pest.

(1)http://www.hear.org/pier/cadec.htm (2)http://www.mediterraneangardensociety.org/plants/Caesalpinia.decapetala.html

1.03

No evidence

2.01

(1)This species grows naturally in tropical temperate regions from the Himalayas to Sri Lanka, and extends to China, Korea and Japan. ...and is very widely distributed in South and East Asia. (2)Native range: Tropical Asia.

(1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://www.hear.org/pier/cadec.htm

2.02

2.03

(1)Approximate limits north to south: 40°N to 0°. Altitude range: 0 - 1700 m (2)The plant is confined to dry to mesic lowland habitats (3)It is hardy to zone 8. [contradicts ref 2]

(1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://www.hear.org/pier/cadec.htm (3)http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Caesalpinia+decapetala&CAN=LATIND

2.04

(1)This species grows naturally in tropical temperate regions from the Himalayas to Sri Lanka, and extends to China, Korea and Japan. ...and is very widely distributed in South and East Asia. (2)Native range: Tropical Asia.

(1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://www.hear.org/pier/cadec.htm

2.05

Introduced to Fiji, French Polynesia, Hawaii, New Caledonia and Norfolk Island. Mauritius, Rodrigues and South Africa.

http://www.hear.org/pier/cadec.htm

3.01

(1)'In Hawai‘i, "naturalized along roadsides, near abandoned house sites, and other disturbed areas, 0-250m.' (2)This spiny creeping shrub comes from tropical Asia, but it is now naturalized in many tropical regions and islands, often becoming a pest.

(1)http://www.hear.org/pier/cadec.htm (2)http://www.mediterraneangardensociety.org/plants/Caesalpinia.decapetala.html

3.02

No evidence of garden weed

3.03

(1)Listed as a principal weed in the U.S. as Caesalpinia sepiaria.(2)In plantations the weed seriously hampers activities. In newly established plantations it retards growth of saplings to such an extent that the saplings often have to be killed together with the weed and the area has to be re-afforested. In established plantations the weed drastically increases exploitation costs.

(1)Holm et al. An electronic atlas of weeds and invasive plant species. 1997. Version 1. CD-ROM database. (2)http://www.ecoport.org/

3.04

(1)"Forms impenetrable brambles, climbs high up trees. Closes off pastures to animals, impedes passage in forests." (Motooka et al., 2002) [Motooka, P., L. Castro, D. Nelson, G. Nagai and L. Ching . 2002. Weeds of pastures and natural areas of Hawaii and their management, UHCTAHR, Honolulu] (2)C. decapetala is easy to propagate by direct seeding, but has been reported to tend towards weediness in some situations in Africa and Australia. (3)An aggressive weed on Raoul Id (Kermadec Is), even invading forest (4)decapetala is currently not on the Hawai'i state noxious weed list, but is a good candidate for listing. C. decapetala is declared a noxious weed in South Africa (PIER 1999). It is also listed as a weed by the following three sources: Greening Australia project, University of Hawai'i Botany Department, and Department of Land and Natural Resources. (5)Pest in New Zealand , Raoul Island (5)This deciduous, sprawling, noxious shrub, with numerous spines, forms impenetrable thickets. There are several infestations along the Honouliuli Trail

(1)http://www.hear.org/pier/cadec.htm (2)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (3)http://www.ildis.org/LegumeWeb/6.00/taxa/567.shtml (4)http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/reports/html/caesalpinia_decapetala.htm (5)http://www.protectnz.govt.nz/downloads/nppa/nppa_064.pdf (5)http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/cae_dec.htm

3.05

"a project to investigate the control of the 13 most aggressive species using chemical methods."; "These species are mostly woody but include some climbers, shrubs and grasses. They are Psidium guajava (guava), Cinchona succirubra (quinine), Lantana camara, Rubus niveus (blackberry), Eugenia jambos (lilly pilly), Cestrum auriculatum, Passiflora edulis, Pennisetum purpureum (elephant grass), Cedrela odorata (a timber tree), Cordia alliodora, Ochroma pyramidale (balsawood), Caesalpinia bonduc and Kalanchoe pinnata. "
[C. bondac is an aggressive species spreading in the natural habitat in Galapagos Islands, and was subjected to control efforts]

http://nb.au.com/nswweedsoc/Dec98/Galapagos.html

4.01

(1)C. decapetala is an adaptable scrambling, very prickly shrub… (2)This deciduous, sprawling, noxious shrub, with numerous spines, …

(1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2) http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/cw_smith/cae_dec.htm

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

used as a living fence to contain livestock (sharp prickles)

4.05

The plant is poisonous and has some limited medicinal uses. [I did not find any evidence of reported cases of poisoning.]

http://www.mediterraneangardensociety.org/plants/Caesalpinia.decapetala.html

4.06

Pests recorded
Insect pests: Monochaetia breviformis

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

4.07

The plant is poisonous and has some limited medicinal uses. [I did not find any evidence of reported cases of poisoning.]

http://www.mediterraneangardensociety.org/plants/Caesalpinia.decapetala.html

4.08

(1)Deciduous tree ...Fire tolerance in Hawai'i is unknown … (2)Evergreen shrub. [forms thickets in dry-mesic habitats]

(1)http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/cw_smith/cae_dec.htm (2)http://www.hear.org/pier/cadec.htm

4.09

(1)It needs full sun (2) It cannot grow in the shade.

(1)http://www.mediterraneangardensociety.org/plants/Caesalpinia.decapetala.html (2)http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Caesalpinia+decapetala

4.1

(1)Soil texture: light; medium; heavy (2) ...and will grow happily in dry, stony, poor soils. (3)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 and can grow in very alkaline soil.

(1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://www.mediterraneangardensociety.org/plants/Caesalpinia.decapetala.html (3)http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Caesalpinia+decapetala

4.11

Robust, thorny, evergreen shrub 2-4 m high or climber up to 10 m or higher

http://www.hear.org/pier/cadec.htm

4.12

C. decapetala forms dense thickets and hedges useful for pasture demarcation and boundaries…

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

5.01

Terrestrial

5.02

5.03

Ability to fix nitrogen.

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

5.04

6.01

The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.

http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Caesalpinia+decapetala

6.02

Seeds should sprout within 40 to 50 days after sowing.

http://www.mediterraneangardensociety.org/plants/Caesalpinia.decapetala.html

6.03

No evidence

6.04

No evidence

6.05

The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.

http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Caesalpinia+decapetala

6.06

C. decapetala is easy to propagate by direct seeding, but has been reported to tend towards weediness in some situations in Africa and Australia.

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

6.07

Don’t know

7.01

no evidence that the propagules have any means of attachment.

7.02

Descriptors: soil improvement; land reclamation; hedges; ornamental

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

7.03

seeds relatively large. (1)Medium sized seeds.

http://www.hear.org/pier/cadec.htm

7.04

7.05

(1)The seeds are carried down streams to form new infestations. (2)water dispersal of the seeds; It grows mainly along rivers

(1)http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/cw_smith/cae_dec.htm (2)http://www.ecoport.org/

7.06

'The medium-sized seeds may be dispersed by rodents and granivorous birds, but man is almost certainly the principal dispersal agent in Hawai‘i ...' [granivorous birds might eat (kill) seeds; no real evidence of bird dispersal]

http://www.hear.org/pier/cadec.htm

7.07

no evidence that the propagules have any means of attachment.

7.08

No evidence

8.01

Probably not - seeds relatively large. (1)Fruits: Brown, woody pods, flattened, unsegmented, smooth, sharply beaked at apex, ± 80 mm long (2)Medium sized seeds.

http://www.hear.org/pier/cadec.htm

8.02

Seeds should sprout within 40 to 50 days after sowing.

http://www.barbadine.com/pages/caesalp_deca_lien.htm

8.03

(1)Control: “Sensitive to foliar applications of glyphosate and triclopyr, and to soil applications of tebuthiuron. Adequate coverage of catsclaw foliage in dense infestations is difficult. Timely repeat applications (3-9 months) of triclopyr ester at 0.25 lb./acre allows gradual reductions and opening of the canopy and eventual control. This strategy not only stresses the catsclaw over a longer period but also controls newly germinated catsclaw seedlings. Accessible stems may be treated basal bark with triclopyr ester at 20% product in diesel or crop oil in very-low volume applications.” (2)Owing to the undesirability of applying chemicals near rivers, as well as the inaccessibility of the terrain, infestations along river banks are difficult to control.

(1)http://www.hear.org/pier/cadec.htm (2)http://www.ecoport.org/

8.04

(1)regenerates rapidly (2)f the plant is chopped down, it often stimulates growth unless the roots are also removed.

(1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.(2)http://www.ecoport.org/

8.05

...the potential for biological control has not been evaluated.

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/cw_smith/cae_dec.htm