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

Chamelaucium uncinatum (Geraldton wax)

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

1

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

n

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

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

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

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

7.05

Propagules water dispersed

y=1, n=-1

n

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y=1, n=-1

n

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

n

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:

-2.5

Source

Notes

1.01

No evidence

1.02

Putatively naturalized on sand dunes in Northern New Zealand

Sykes and Garnock-Jones. 1988. Flora of New Zealand Vol IV. Botany Divison, Christchurch NZ

1.03

No evidence

2.01

(1)Woodland and heath on sandy soils in Western Australia. (2)occurs naturally through the coastal regions from Perth (32°S) to Kalbarri (27°S) in Western Australia.

(1)http://farrer.csu.edu.au/ASGAP/c-uncin.html (2)http://www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/WNP/01-156.pdf

2.02

2.03

(1)Although native to a dry summer climate, Geraldton wax is reasonably hardy in more humid, temperate and sub-tropical areas but cannot be recommended in the humid tropics. The species is undoubtedly more adaptable to areas of dry summers. (2)USDA zones 9 - 11. (3)coastal locations and sandy soils (4)Low moisture (5)occurs naturally through the coastal regions from Perth (32°S) to Kalbarri (27°S) in Western Australia.

(1)http://farrer.csu.edu.au/ASGAP/c-uncin.html (2)http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Myrtaceae/Chamelaucium_uncinatum.html (3)http://home.vicnet.net.au/~carlyn/chamelaucium_uncinatum.htm (4)http://www.australiaplants.com/Chamelaucium_uncinatum.htm (5)http://www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/WNP/01-156.pdf

2.04

Native to western Australia.

O'Brien S.P. T1996. imetable of stigmatic receptivity and development and pollen tube growth in Chamelaucium uncinatum. Australian journal of Botany. 44(6): 649- 659

2.05

Introduced to (1)Israel. (2)South Africa (3)U.S.A.

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=http://
www.ilpolliceverde.it/web%25202/wax.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3D
Chamelaucium%2Buncinatum%26start%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DN (2) Carstens, E.; Dawood, Z.; Mansvelt, E. L.; Serfontein, S.; Malan, D. G. 1999. First report of crown gall, caused by Agrobacterium tumefaciens on Geraldton wax (Chamelaucium uncinatum ) in South Africa. Plant Disease. Vol.83, No.8, p.783, 2 ref.
(3)O'Brien S.P. T1996. imetable of stigmatic receptivity and development and pollen tube growth in Chamelaucium uncinatum. Australian journal of Botany. 44(6): 649- 659

3.01

Putatively naturalized on sand dunes in Northern New Zealand

Sykes and Garnock-Jones. 1988. Flora of New Zealand Vol IV. Botany Divison, Christchurch NZ

3.02

(1)possibly becoming weeding in Western Australia (native range). Nature or the problem not known(2)Certainly and without doubt this plant will never become an environmental problem, very few seeds germinate.

(1)http://farrer.riv.csu.edu.au/ASGAP/weeds1.html (2)http://www.redlandsnursery.com.au/infoplants/elitewaxqa.htm

3.03

No evidence

3.04

No evidence

3.05

No evidence

4.01

No evidence

http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Myrtaceae/Chamelaucium_uncinatum.html

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

Grazing by rabbits(Oryctolagus cuniculus) has had a minor impact on all populations.

http://www.erin.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/recovery/c-gingin/index.html

4.05

No evidence

4.06

(1)This site lists 9 species of fungi to be associated with C. uncinatum. Neither were found to be recognized pests. (2)Botrytis flower blight, caused by Botrytis cinerea

(1)http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/all/FindRecOneFungusFrame.cfm (2)http://www.saspp.org/new_disease/botrytisblight_2001.php

4.07

No evidence

4.08

No information regarding fire ecology

4.09

(1)sun or semi shade. (2)open sunny position.(3)full sun or partial shade (4)Sun (5)sun

(1)http://farrer.csu.edu.au/ASGAP/c-uncin.html (2)http://home.vicnet.net.au/~carlyn/chamelaucium_uncinatum.htm (3)http://www.australianplants.com/plants4.html (4)http://www.australiaplants.com/Chamelaucium_uncinatum.htm (5)http://www.toowoomba.qld.gov.au/Planning/Pdf/psp2.pdf

4.1

(1)It requires a very well drained position, preferably in sandy soil (2)coastal locations and sandy soils

(1)http://farrer.csu.edu.au/ASGAP/c-uncin.html (2)http://home.vicnet.net.au/~carlyn/chamelaucium_uncinatum.htm

4.11

Not a vine.

4.12

No evidence

5.01

C. uncinatum is usually a medium to large shrub, typically 2-3 meters high in cultivation and of fairly open habit.

http://farrer.csu.edu.au/ASGAP/c-uncin.html

5.02

5.03

5.04

6.01

'At commercial plantations where this work was performed thousands of seedlings have been observed to germinate after ground disturbance.'

O'Brien S.P. 1996. Timetable of stigmatic receptivity and development and pollen tube growth in Chamelaucium uncinatum. Australian journal of Botany. 44(6): 649- 659

6.02

'At commercial plantations where this work was performed thousands of seedlings have been observed to germinate after ground disturbance.'

O'Brien S.P. T1996. imetable of stigmatic receptivity and development and pollen tube growth in Chamelaucium uncinatum. Australian journal of Botany. 44(6): 649- 659

6.03

C. uncinatum has also been used in hybridization work, usually with C.megalopetalum, a similar species with larger flowers.
(2)Recently a hybrid of Verticordia x Chamelaucium has been uncovered. No evidence of natural hybridization.

(2)http://farrer.csu.edu.au/ASGAP/c-uncin.html (2)http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=http://
www.ilpolliceverde.it/web%25202/wax.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3D
Chamelaucium%2Buncinatum%26start%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DN

6.04

'The similarity in germination and growth of self and cross pollen in C. uncinatum indicates self compatibility. …It is likely that these seedlings result from self pollinations further indicating that the species is self compatible.'

O'Brien S.P. T1996. imetable of stigmatic receptivity and development and pollen tube growth in Chamelaucium uncinatum. Australian journal of Botany. 44(6): 649- 659

6.05

(1) 'The only reference to potential pollinators of C. uncinatum in the Australian literature is very general and implies bees, flies and beetles. The structure of the flower and nectar pollen reward suggests this species is most likely insect pollinated as other similar myrtaceaous species are insect pollinated.' (2)Visited by honeybees

(1)O'Brien S.P. 1996. Timetable of stigmatic receptivity and development and pollen tube growth in Chamelaucium uncinatum. Australian journal of Botany. 44(6): 649- 659 (2)http://www.rirdc.gov.au/comp98/hb5.htm

6.06

No evidence of vegetative reproduction in the wild.

6.07

The plants then take up to five years before flowers and seeds are produced. (Chamelaucium sp.)

http://www.erin.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/recovery/c-gingin/index.html

7.01

Probably not - no evidence of the propagules having any means of attachment.

7.02

Probably yes - it valued as an ornamental plant for its cut flowers.

O'Brien S.P. T1996. imetable of stigmatic receptivity and development and pollen tube growth in Chamelaucium uncinatum. Australian journal of Botany. 44(6): 649- 659

7.03

No evidence

7.04

probably gravity dispersed but not detailed description of seed structure

7.05

dry habitats only

7.06

no field observation of the natural seed dispersal mechanisms, however, germination of seedlings in new areas has been achieved through movement of sand from underneath mature plants

http://www.erin.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/recovery/c-gingin/index.html

7.07

no field observation of the natural seed dispersal mechanisms, however, germination of seedlings in new areas has been achieved through movement of sand from underneath mature plants

http://www.erin.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/recovery/c-gingin/index.html

7.08

not consumed

8.01

(1)Seed is usually of poor quality. Propagation is usually done by cuttings. (2)usually six seeds per fruit, one seed per cell

(1)http://www.australiaplants.com/Chamelaucium_uncinatum.htm (2)http://www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/WNP/01-156.pdf

8.02

No information on seed bank.

8.03

No evidence that the species is being controlled for.

8.04

(1)The plants respond well to pruning back by about one third annually. (2)tends to produce suckers after fire

(1)http://farrer.csu.edu.au/ASGAP/c-uncin.html (2)http://www.erin.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/recovery/c-gingin/index.html

8.05

root rot problem due to phytopthora cinnamonii (present in Hawaii)

http://www.redlandsnursery.com.au/infoplants/elitewaxqa.htm