Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


Chamaecrista nictitans


RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS: Low risk, score: 0


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

Chamaecrista nictitans (Syn. of Cassia nictitans, Cassia diffusa) (wild sensitive plant, partridge pea, sensitive pea, Japanese tea senna)

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

n

3.02

Garden/amenity/disturbance weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

y

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

n

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

n

4.1

Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (or limestone conditions if not a volcanic island)

y=1, n=0

n

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

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

y

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

1

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

7.03

Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant

y=1, n=-1

y

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

y

8.03

Well controlled by herbicides

y=-1, n=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:

0

Supporting data:

Notes

Source

1.01

No evidence

1.02

widely 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?Chamaecrista+nictitans (13 January 2004)

1.03

No evidence

2.01

Origin - Native to U.S.

(1)http://www.missouriplants.com/Yellowalt/Cassia_nictitans_page.html (2)http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Cassia+nictitans

2.02

Native: (links to other web resources are provided for some distributions)
NORTHERN AMERICA
Central Mexico: Mexico - Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Queretaro, Veracruz
Northern Mexico: Mexico - Baja Norte, Baja Sur, Chihuahua, Durango, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas
North-Central U.S.A.: United States - Illinois, Kansas [e.], Missouri, Oklahoma [e.], Wisconsin
Northeastern U.S.A.: United States - Connecticut, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire [s.w.], New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont [s.e.]
South-Central U.S.A.: United States - New Mexico, Texas [e.]
Southeastern U.S.A.: United States - Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
Southwestern U.S.A.: United States - Arizona
SOUTHERN AMERICA
Caribbean: West Indies
Mesoamerica: Central America
South America [tropical & subtropical]
Other:  widely 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?Chamaecrista+nictitans (13 January 2004)

2.03

(1)Sea level to 300 m in Fiji (2)Vouchers ranging from near sea level to 2200 m (3)salt tolerant

(1)http://www.hear.org/pier/chnic.htm (2)http://mobot.mobot.org/cgi-bin/search_vast (3)http://www.fnps.org/chapters/eastvolusia/landscaping.htm

2.04

Native: (links to other web resources are provided for some distributions)
NORTHERN AMERICA
Central Mexico: Mexico - Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Queretaro, Veracruz
Northern Mexico: Mexico - Baja Norte, Baja Sur, Chihuahua, Durango, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas
North-Central U.S.A.: United States - Illinois, Kansas [e.], Missouri, Oklahoma [e.], Wisconsin
Northeastern U.S.A.: United States - Connecticut, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire [s.w.], New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont [s.e.]
South-Central U.S.A.: United States - New Mexico, Texas [e.]
Southeastern U.S.A.: United States - Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
Southwestern U.S.A.: United States - Arizona
SOUTHERN AMERICA
Caribbean: West Indies
Mesoamerica: Central America
South America [tropical & subtropical]
Other:  widely 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?Chamaecrista+nictitans (13 January 2004)

2.05

Introduced to several Pacific islands like Guam, Fiji, Tonga, Palau and Samoa.

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

3.01

No evidence

3.02

Habitat/ecology: Sea level to 300 m in Fiji, weedy along roadsides, disturbed areas, farm fields and coconut plantations. In Guam, "a rather uncommon roadside weed" (Stone, 1970). [disturbance weed; no evidence that it is an economic weed]

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

3.03

No evidence

3.04

No evidence

3.05

Cassia eremophila is listed as a principal weed in Australia. [Cassia eremophila is currently placed in genus Senna; no evidence of other Chamaecrista species being weedy]

Holm et al. 1997. An electronic atlas of weeds and invasive species. Version 1. CD-ROM database.

4.01

No evidence

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

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

(1)The fruits of C. nictitans can be glabrous or spreading hairy and are eaten by wildlife. (2)Leaves are important iguana fodder

(1)http://www.missouriplants.com/Yellowalt/Cassia_nictitans_page.html (2)http://www.iucn-isg.org/actionplan/ch2/grandcayman.php

4.05

'Two accessions of C. nictitans showed promise asa cut-and-carry forage. '

http://216.239.53.104/search?q=cache:MnW9vQB8RDQJ
:www.tropicalgrasslands.asn.au/lablab/TGS%2520NL%2520
Sept01no%2520pix.pdf+Cassia+nictitans+fodder&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

4.06

The following 3 fungi species were listed to be associated with Cassia nictitans. Cercospora pinnulaecola, Ravenelia cassiaecola, Ravenelia cassiaecola var. cassiaecola.
None of the above were found to be recognized pests.

http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/all/FindRecOneFungusFrame.cfm

4.07

Traditionally the roots of this species were used to make a tea that was believed to relieve fatigue.'

http://www.missouriplants.com/Yellowalt/Cassia_nictitans_page.html

4.08

Found in dry habitats but no evidence that it become abundant enough to be a fire hazard

4.09

Habitat/ecology: Sea level to 300 m in Fiji, weedy along roadsides, disturbed areas, farm fields and coconut plantations. In Guam, "a rather uncommon roadside weed" (Stone, 1970). [ Found only in locations with ample light exposure]

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

4.1

(1) found on sandy soils in disturbed places (2)Habitat: Dry, often sandy soil (3)Naturally limited to poor or very thin soils [suggests a poor competitor on deeper soils?]

(1)http://www.noble.org/imagegallery/Forbhtml/SensitivePea.html (2)http://www.2bnthewild.com/plants/H369.htm (3)http://www.proyanomami.org.br/homoxi/vegetation.htm

4.11

Non climbing herb.

http://www.ildis.org/LegumeWeb/6.00/taxa/11807.shtml

4.12

"The plant is fairly small, only reaching 50cm tall" [no evidence of thickets; grows as scatterend plants - http://www.proyanomami.org.br/homoxi/vegetation.htm]

http://www.hawriverprogram.org/NCPlants/Cassia_nictitans_page.html

5.01

Terrestrial

5.02

Fabaceae

5.03

(1)In initial studies of nitrogen fixation by six legume species at Ichauway, we found that five species (Cassia nictitans, Crotalaria rotundifolia, Centrosema virginianum, Tephrosia virginiana, and Rhynchosia reniformis) fixed 30-90% of the nitrogen found in their leaves and stems. (2)An herb about 50 cm tall. [not really woody]

(1) http://www.jonesctr.org/research/llp_research/nitrogen_fixation_legumes.html (2)http://www.hawriverprogram.org/NCPlants/Cassia_nictitans_page.html

5.04

No evidence

6.01

The small yellow flowers are produced in the summer.

http://www.hawriverprogram.org/NCPlants/Cassia_nictitans_page.html

6.02

'Two accessions of C. nictitans showed promise asa cut-and-carry forage. They had good ability tore-establish from seed and good yield; onesurvived at Jianyang.'

http://216.239.53.104/search?q=cache:MnW9vQB8RDQJ
:www.tropicalgrasslands.asn.au/lablab/TGS%2520NL%2520
Sept01no%2520pix.pdf+Cassia+nictitans+fodder&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

6.03

No evidence

6.04

Experiments conducted in a greenhouse showed that plants were self-compatible and self-pollinating. About half of the unmanipulated flowers produced mature fruits, and self- and hand cross-pollinations resulted in similar levels of fruit production. However, fruits from hand pollinations contained more seeds than those from unmanipulated flowers.

TI: PATTERNS OF FRUIT AND SEED PRODUCTION IN A VERMONT POPULATION OF CASSIA-NICTITANS L. CAESALPINIACEAE.
AU: LEE-T-D {a}
SO: Bulletin-of-the-Torrey-Botanical-Club. 1989; 116 (1): 15-21.. PY: 1989

6.05

Experiments conducted in a greenhouse showed that plants were self-compatible and self-pollinating. About half of the unmanipulated flowers produced mature fruits, and self- and hand cross-pollinations resulted in similar levels of fruit production. However, fruits from hand pollinations contained more seeds than those from unmanipulated flowers.

TI: PATTERNS OF FRUIT AND SEED PRODUCTION IN A VERMONT POPULATION OF CASSIA-NICTITANS L. CAESALPINIACEAE.
AU: LEE-T-D {a}
SO: Bulletin-of-the-Torrey-Botanical-Club. 1989; 116 (1): 15-21.. PY: 1989

6.06

Propagation by seed

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

6.07

'This herbaceous annual is found in acida…' 'In Dec 1983 seeds collected in 1982 from the populaiton in Vernon, VT, and …were germinated …. Flowering began in late March 1984.'

Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 116(1): 15 - 21.

7.01

no evidence that the seeds have any means of attachment. 'fruit plano-compressed, very rarely winged along sutures, elastically dehiscent, the valves coiling, papery, leathery, or subligneous, the seed funicle deltately dilated, the seeds with a smooth or pitted testa, without areoles.'

7.02

(1) For use as cut-and-carry forage, 2 accessions of C. nictitans (ATF 2217, 2219) showed considerable promise. In the trials (which were not harvested during the growing season), they had good ability to re-establish from seed, high yield, and, in some cases, rapid nodulation; 2219 also had good winter survival at one of the sites.

(1) Hacker, J. B.; Wen ShiLin; Ying ZhaoYang; Pengelly, B. C. (2001) Selecting Chamaecrista spp. for soil stabilisation and forage in southern China. Tropical Grasslands, 2001, Vol. 35, No. 2, pp. 96-113, 10 ref.

7.03

common in grasslands - a likely contaminant of cut fodder / cut forage [hay]

7.04

pods open and release seeds by force/gravity. '… fruit plano-compressed, very rarely winged along sutures, elastically dehiscent, the valves coiling, papery, leathery, or subligneous, the seed funicle deltately dilated, the seeds with a smooth or pitted testa, without areoles.'

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

7.05

pods open and release seeds by force/gravity. '… fruit plano-compressed, very rarely winged along sutures, elastically dehiscent, the valves coiling, papery, leathery, or subligneous, the seed funicle deltately dilated, the seeds with a smooth or pitted testa, without areoles.'

7.06

The fruits of C. nictitans can be glabrous or spreading hairy and are eaten by wildlife. [Name implies perhaps it is eaten by birds but no direct evidence; name could relate to plant morphology]

7.07

no evidence of attacment ability

http://www.missouriplants.com/Yellowalt/Cassia_nictitans_page.html

7.08

The fruits of C. nictitans can be glabrous or spreading hairy and are eaten by wildlife. [presumably Ingested, possibly when still green, but no evidence of survival]

http://www.missouriplants.com/Yellowalt/Cassia_nictitans_page.html

8.01

seeds 5 to 10 per pod [unlikely]

http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/~sangita/1ROSID.htm

8.02

hard-seeded legume [long-lived seeds]

8.03

No evidence that the species is being controlled for.

8.04

Don’t know

8.05

Don’t know


Need more info? Have questions? Comments? Information to contribute? Contact PIER!


[ Return to PIER homepage ] [Risk assessment page]


This page new 10 February 2005