Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)

Carpentaria acuminata

RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS: Low risk, score: -5

Australian/New Zealand Weed Risk Assessment adapted for Hawai‘i.
Information on Risk Assessments
Original risk assessment
  Carpentaria acuminata (Carpentaria palm) Family - Arecaceae Answer Score
1.01 Is the species highly domesticated? n 0
1.02 Has the species become naturalized where grown? n  
1.03 Does the species have weedy races? 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” 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) n 0
2.04 Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates y 1
2.05 Does the species have a history of repeated introductions outside its natural range?  y=-2 y  
3.01 Naturalized beyond native range         y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2), n= question 2.05 n -2
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
3.04 Environmental weed                                                     y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2) n 0
3.05 Congeneric weed                                                          y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2) n 0
4.01 Produces spines, thorns or burrs n 0
4.02 Allelopathic n 0
4.03 Parasitic n 0
4.04 Unpalatable to grazing animals    
4.05 Toxic to animals n 0
4.06 Host for recognized pests and pathogens n 0
4.07 Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans y 1
4.08 Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems n 0
4.09 Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle n 0
4.1 Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (or limestone conditions if not a volcanic island) y 1
4.11 Climbing or smothering growth habit n 0
4.12 Forms dense thickets n 0
5.01 Aquatic n 0
5.02 Grass n 0
5.03 Nitrogen fixing woody plant n 0
5.04 Geophyte (herbaceous with underground storage organs -- bulbs, corms, or tubers) n 0
6.01 Evidence of substantial reproductive failure in native habitat n 0
6.02 Produces viable seed. y 1
6.03 Hybridizes naturally n -1
6.04 Self-compatible or apomictic y 1
6.05 Requires specialist pollinators    
6.06 Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation n -1
6.07 Minimum generative time (years)                 1 year = 1, 2 or 3 years = 0, 4+ years = -1 5 -1
7.01 Propagules likely to be dispersed unintentionally (plants growing in heavily trafficked areas) n -1
7.02 Propagules dispersed intentionally by people y 1
7.03 Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant n -1
7.04 Propagules adapted to wind dispersal n -1
7.05 Propagules water dispersed n -1
7.06 Propagules bird dispersed y 1
7.07 Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally) n -1
7.08 Propagules survive passage through the gut y 1
8.01 Prolific seed production (>1000/m2) n -1
8.02 Evidence that a persistent propagule bank is formed (>1 yr) n -1
8.03 Well controlled by herbicides    
8.04 Tolerates, or benefits from, mutilation, cultivation, or fire n -1
8.05 Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents)    
  Total score:   -5

Supporting data:

  Notes Reference
1.01 No evidence  
1.02 No evidence of naturalzation.  
1.03 No evidence  
2.01 (1)Distribution: Northern Territory, Australia.   (2)Origin: Australia  (3)It is suitable for mild subtropical and tropical climates. (1)http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Carpentaria/acuminata.html  (2)http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Palm/Carpentaria_acuminata.html  (3)http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/pix/CarAcu.shtml
2.02    
2.03 (1)Habitat: Creek and river banks in lowland rainforest.   (2)USDA hardiness zones 10B to 11.  (3)Hardiness:
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1°C (30° F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7° C (35° F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5° C (40° F)		 (1)http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Carpentaria/acuminata.html  (2)http://hort.ufl.edu/trees/CARACUA.pdf#search=%22%22Carpentaria%20acuminata%22%22  (3)http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/62912/index.html
2.04 (1)Distribution: Northern Territory, Australia.   (2)Origin: Australia  (3)It is suitable for mild subtropical and tropical climates. (1)http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Carpentaria/acuminata.html  (2)http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Palm/Carpentaria_acuminata.html  (3)http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/pix/CarAcu.shtml
2.05 (1)This plant has been said to grow in the following regions: Naples, Florida, Pompano Beach, Florida. (2)Also survives in Southern California in excellent microclimates and along the coast. (1)http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/62912/index.html  (2)http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/62912/index.html
3.01 No evidence of naturalization.  
3.02 No evidence  
3.03 No evidence  
3.04 No evidence.  "Invasive potential - little if any potential at this time." http://hort.ufl.edu/trees/CARACUA.pdf#search=%22%22Carpentaria%20acuminata%22%22
3.05 Carpentaria acuminata (Arecaceae, subfamily Areceae, subtribe Ptychospermatineae) is the sole member of this genus of feather palms. Shapcott, A. The patterns of genetic diversity in Carpentaria acuminata (Arecaceae), and rainforest history in northern Australia
Molecular Ecology 7 (7) : 833-847 July, 1998
4.01 No evidence of such structures. Shapcott, A. The patterns of genetic diversity in Carpentaria acuminata (Arecaceae), and rainforest history in northern Australia
4.02 No evidence Molecular Ecology 7 (7) : 833-847 July, 1998
4.03 No evidence  
4.04 Don’t know.  
4.05 No evidence  
4.06 Pest - thrips. Diseases- no diseases are of major concern. [Probably not]. http://hort.ufl.edu/trees/CARACUA.pdf#search=%22%22Carpentaria%20acuminata%22%22
4.07 (1)The red fruit is planted in trays, defleshing is wise but not essential, as the flesh can burn sensitive skin. (2)The juice from the fruits of this palm can cause skin irritation. (3)The flesh of the seeds should not be handled with bare hands.  (4)The fruit of the Carpentaria Palm is an irritant and should be avoided. (1)http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Carpentaria/acuminata.html   (2)http://hort.ufl.edu/trees/CARACUA.pdf#search=%22%22Carpentaria%20acuminata%22%22  (3)http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Palm/Carpentaria_acuminata.html  (4)http://www.floridata.com/ref/C/carp_acu.cfm
4.08 Probably not - inhabits mesic to wet habitats.  
4.09 (1)Sun Requirements: Full sun  (2)Sun Exposure:Sun to Partial Shade  (3)Light: Carpentaria palm needs a bright, sunny location. (1)http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Palm/Carpentaria_acuminata.html  (2)http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/62912/index.html  (3)http://www.floridata.com/ref/C/carp_acu.cfm
4.1   http://www.floridata.com/ref/C/carp_acu.cfm
4.11 A tall palm.  
4.12 No evidense  
5.01   http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Carpentaria/acuminata.html
5.02    
5.03    
5.04    
6.01 ""While there is a peak in food production during the wet season (November - March) C. acuminata is reproductively active all year and thus its fruits provide an important resource for frugivores during the dry season when fruits are scarce in the rainforest (C. Bach and O. Price, personal communication). ... The red fleshy fruits of C. acuminata (~1 cm diameter, 2 cm in length) are known to be an important food item of frugivorous birds and flying foxes (Pteropus alecto) in the Northern Territory (C. Price and O. Palmer, personal communication)." Shapcott, A. The patterns of genetic diversity in Carpentaria acuminata (Arecaceae), and rainforest history in northern Australia
Molecular Ecology 7 (7) : 833-847 July, 1998
6.02 (1)They should germinate in 2 to 4 months at temperature above 80°F. First leaf is bifid.  (2)Soil tolerance - clay, loam, sand, slightly alkaline, acidic, occassionlly wet, well drained.   (1)http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Palm/Carpentaria_acuminata.html  (2)http://hort.ufl.edu/trees/CARACUA.pdf#search=%22%22Carpentaria%20acuminata%22%22
6.03 Carpentaria acuminata (Arecaceae, subfamily Areceae, subtribe Ptychospermatineae) is the sole member of this genus of feather palms. [Monospecific genus - also no evidence of intergeneric hybridization]. Shapcott, A. The patterns of genetic diversity in Carpentaria acuminata (Arecaceae), and rainforest history in northern Australia
Molecular Ecology 7 (7) : 833-847 July, 1998
6.04 " … The high homozygosity ezxhibited by C. acuminata, coupled with large amounts of fruit production, would apparently indicate that the species is selfcompatible. This may be an advantage for a species which commonly exists in small populations.Most seed falls directly beneath the adult and birds and flying foxes are known to deposit most seed under the parent tree. Therefore clumps of related individuals (family clusters) are likely to develop. Although interplant movements of pollinators may be common, most interplant pollination is probably between the flowers on individual trees, or between nearest neighbors (family clusters), thus increasing homozygosity, Such mechanisms have been observed in other species."  
6.05 ". It produces reproductive branches requentially throughout the year each containing approximately 2000 flowers. The pollination biology has not been studied in this species, however, flowers are known to be visitied by a range of organisms including bees, and other insects, flying foxes (Pteropus alecto) and nectarivorous birds. C. acuminata adults are usually found at densities such that one would expect interplant movements to be common." Shapcott, A. The patterns of genetic diversity in Carpentaria acuminata (Arecaceae), and rainforest history in northern Australia
Molecular Ecology 7 (7) : 833-847 July, 1998
6.06 No evidence of vegetative spread in the wild.  
6.07 They can use heavy fertilization and mulch for rapid growth. In good conditions, the carpentaria palm matures in 5 to 6 year. http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Palm/Carpentaria_acuminata.html
7.01 Probably not - no evidence that the propagules have any menas of attachment. No evidence of being grown in heavily trafficked areas.  
7.02    
7.03 No evidence that this species  occurs or is cultivated in or around fields of crop plants.  
7.04 (1)" … Carpentaria acuminata and S. nervosum are common through moist rainforest, but P. bleeseri is rare, found in eight locations near Darwin. All have frugivore-dispersed seeds. …"  (2)"C
acuminata is eaten by frugivores with great potential for mobility among rainforest patches such as flying foxes, figbirds (Sphecotheres viridis), rose crowned fruit doves (Ptilinopus regina) and common koels (Eudynamys scolopacea) (O. Price and C. Palmer, personal communication). The most mobile bird species, Torres Strait pigeons (Ducula spilorrhoa) have interpatch movements occurring every few days and have been reported flying up to 15 km from sites where they were known to be feeding on C. acuminata (O. Price, personal communication). C. acuminata seeds are too large for ingestion by flying foxes (Pteropus alecto) but can be transported in cheak pouches at least 10 km (C. Palmer, personal communication). Rainforest interpatch movement by P. alecto occurs on a nightly basis during the wet season (C. Palmer, personal communication). The fact that C. acuminata seeds are dispersed can be seen by examples where C. acuminata seedlings are found in jungles with no evidence of adult plants. If such interpatch seed dispersal is common then the relatively little successful gene flow (Nm = 0.037) indicates that: (i) the relative proportion of migrant seeds vs. local seeds is small; and (ii) the relative survival rate of seeds is low. Whilst flying foxes are the more mobile of frugivores feeding on C. acuminata, their potential for dispersing C. acuminata fruit is reduced due to the inability to pass seed through the gut (thereby retaining it for longer periods)"		 (1)Shapcott, Alison. Conservation and genetics in the fragmented monsoon rainforest in the Northern Territory, Australia: A case study of three frugivore-dispersed species Australian Journal of Botany 48 (3) : 397-407 2000  (2)Shapcott, A. The patterns of genetic diversity in Carpentaria acuminata (Arecaceae), and rainforest history in northern Australia
Molecular Ecology 7 (7) : 833-847 July, 1998
7.05 (1)" … Carpentaria acuminata and S. nervosum are common through moist rainforest, but P. bleeseri is rare, found in eight locations near Darwin. All have frugivore-dispersed seeds. …"  (2)"C
acuminata is eaten by frugivores with great potential for mobility among rainforest patches such as flying foxes, figbirds (Sphecotheres viridis), rose crowned fruit doves (Ptilinopus regina) and common koels (Eudynamys scolopacea) (O. Price and C. Palmer, personal communication). The most mobile bird species, Torres Strait pigeons (Ducula spilorrhoa) have interpatch movements occurring every few days and have been reported flying up to 15 km from sites where they were known to be feeding on C. acuminata (O. Price, personal communication). C. acuminata seeds are too large for ingestion by flying foxes (Pteropus alecto) but can be transported in cheak pouches at least 10 km (C. Palmer, personal communication). Rainforest interpatch movement by P. alecto occurs on a nightly basis during the wet season (C. Palmer, personal communication). The fact that C. acuminata seeds are dispersed can be seen by examples where C. acuminata seedlings are found in jungles with no evidence of adult plants. If such interpatch seed dispersal is common then the relatively little successful gene flow (Nm = 0.037) indicates that: (i) the relative proportion of migrant seeds vs. local seeds is small; and (ii) the relative survival rate of seeds is low. Whilst flying foxes are the more mobile of frugivores feeding on C. acuminata, their potential for dispersing C. acuminata fruit is reduced due to the inability to pass seed through the gut (thereby retaining it for longer periods)"		 (1)Shapcott, Alison. Conservation and genetics in the fragmented monsoon rainforest in the Northern Territory, Australia: A case study of three frugivore-dispersed species Australian Journal of Botany 48 (3) : 397-407 2000  (2)Shapcott, A. The patterns of genetic diversity in Carpentaria acuminata (Arecaceae), and rainforest history in northern Australia
Molecular Ecology 7 (7) : 833-847 July, 1998
7.06 (1)" … Carpentaria acuminata and S. nervosum are common through moist rainforest, but P. bleeseri is rare, found in eight locations near Darwin. All have frugivore-dispersed seeds. …"  (2)"C
acuminata is eaten by frugivores with great potential for mobility among rainforest patches such as flying foxes, figbirds (Sphecotheres viridis), rose crowned fruit doves (Ptilinopus regina) and common koels (Eudynamys scolopacea) (O. Price and C. Palmer, personal communication). The most mobile bird species, Torres Strait pigeons (Ducula spilorrhoa) have interpatch movements occurring every few days and have been reported flying up to 15 km from sites where they were known to be feeding on C. acuminata (O. Price, personal communication). C. acuminata seeds are too large for ingestion by flying foxes (Pteropus alecto) but can be transported in cheak pouches at least 10 km (C. Palmer, personal communication). Rainforest interpatch movement by P. alecto occurs on a nightly basis during the wet season (C. Palmer, personal communication). The fact that C. acuminata seeds are dispersed can be seen by examples where C. acuminata seedlings are found in jungles with no evidence of adult plants. If such interpatch seed dispersal is common then the relatively little successful gene flow (Nm = 0.037) indicates that: (i) the relative proportion of migrant seeds vs. local seeds is small; and (ii) the relative survival rate of seeds is low. Whilst flying foxes are the more mobile of frugivores feeding on C. acuminata, their potential for dispersing C. acuminata fruit is reduced due to the inability to pass seed through the gut (thereby retaining it for longer periods)"		 (1)Shapcott, Alison. Conservation and genetics in the fragmented monsoon rainforest in the Northern Territory, Australia: A case study of three frugivore-dispersed species Australian Journal of Botany 48 (3) : 397-407 2000  (2)Shapcott, A. The patterns of genetic diversity in Carpentaria acuminata (Arecaceae), and rainforest history in northern Australia
Molecular Ecology 7 (7) : 833-847 July, 1998
7.07 No evidence that the propagules have any means of attachment.  
7.08 (1)" … Carpentaria acuminata and S. nervosum are common through moist rainforest, but P. bleeseri is rare, found in eight locations near Darwin. All have frugivore-dispersed seeds. …"  (2)"C
acuminata is eaten by frugivores with great potential for mobility among rainforest patches such as flying foxes, figbirds (Sphecotheres viridis), rose crowned fruit doves (Ptilinopus regina) and common koels (Eudynamys scolopacea) (O. Price and C. Palmer, personal communication). The most mobile bird species, Torres Strait pigeons (Ducula spilorrhoa) have interpatch movements occurring every few days and have been reported flying up to 15 km from sites where they were known to be feeding on C. acuminata (O. Price, personal communication). C. acuminata seeds are too large for ingestion by flying foxes (Pteropus alecto) but can be transported in cheak pouches at least 10 km (C. Palmer, personal communication). Rainforest interpatch movement by P. alecto occurs on a nightly basis during the wet season (C. Palmer, personal communication). The fact that C. acuminata seeds are dispersed can be seen by examples where C. acuminata seedlings are found in jungles with no evidence of adult plants. If such interpatch seed dispersal is common then the relatively little successful gene flow (Nm = 0.037) indicates that: (i) the relative proportion of migrant seeds vs. local seeds is small; and (ii) the relative survival rate of seeds is low. Whilst flying foxes are the more mobile of frugivores feeding on C. acuminata, their potential for dispersing C. acuminata fruit is reduced due to the inability to pass seed through the gut (thereby retaining it for longer periods)"		 (1)Shapcott, Alison. Conservation and genetics in the fragmented monsoon rainforest in the Northern Territory, Australia: A case study of three frugivore-dispersed species Australian Journal of Botany 48 (3) : 397-407 2000  (2)Shapcott, A. The patterns of genetic diversity in Carpentaria acuminata (Arecaceae), and rainforest history in northern Australia
Molecular Ecology 7 (7) : 833-847 July, 1998
8.01 Probably not - seeds relatively large -  
8.02 Probably not - seeds relatively large - 3/4 inch in length. http://www.plantapalm.com/vpe/misc/the-carpentaria-palm.pdf#search=%22%22Carpentaria%20acuminata%22%20seed%20size%22
8.03 No evidence that the speceis is being controlled for.  
8.04 Probably not - "The rapid growth of carpentaria palms produces a soft trunk that requires several months to become woody. Severe damage can occur to the trunks if they are hit with lawnmowers or cord type weeders. The damaged trunks invite fungus diseases that can weaken or destroy the palm."  
8.05 Don’t know.  

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