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

Cinchona pubescens (Quinine tree, red cinchona, Quinine bark) Syn: Cinchona succirubra

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

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

n

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

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

y

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

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

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

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

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

2

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

y

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

8.01

Prolific seed production (>1000/m2)

y=1, n=-1

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

y

8.05

Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents)

y=-1, n=1

Total score:

9

Source

Notes

1.01

No evidence

1.02

Naturalized in the Galapagos.

Macdonald I. A/W., 1988. The invasion of highlands in Galapagos by the Red Quinine tree Cinchona succirubra.'

1.03

No evidence

2.01

Origin: Costa Rica to Peru

http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Rubiaceae/Cinchona_pubescens.html

2.02

2.03

(1)USDA: 11-12 (2)Specimens typically 1000-3000 m elevation in native range (3)rainfall 1400-4000 mm, Best adapted to areas with a high relative humidity.

(1)http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Rubiaceae/Cinchona_pubescens.html (2)Tropicos (3)http://pppis.fao.org/

2.04

Origin: Costa Rica to Peru

http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Rubiaceae/Cinchona_pubescens.html

2.05

Introduced to French Polynesia (Tahiti), Galapagos Islands (Santa Cruz), Hawai‘i.

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

3.01

(1) 'However, these forests are a nightmare: they are made up of Quinine, a tree that is destroying the ancestral vegetation of the Galapagos islands.' (2)Very invasive in the Galapagos and Hawai‘i. (3)This widely cultivated tropical forest tree invades a variety of forest and non-forest habitats, spreading by wind-dispersed seeds and replacing and outshading native vegetation.

(1)http://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/invasive/Browse.html (2)http://www.hear.org/pier/cipub.htm (3)http://www.issg.org/database/species/search.asp?sts=sss&st=sss&fr=
1&sn=Cinchona+pubescens&rn=&hci=-1&ei=-1&x=16&y=14

3.02

No evidence

3.03

No evidence

3.04

(1) 'However, these forests are a nightmare: they are made up of Quinine, a tree that is destroying the ancestral vegetation of the Galapagos islands.' (2)Very invasive in the Galapagos and Hawai‘i. (3)This widely cultivated tropical forest tree invades a variety of forest and non-forest habitats, spreading by wind-dispersed seeds and replacing and outshading native vegetation. (4)the quinine tree threatens the very existence of the Miconia vegetation zone on Santa Cruz, which originally comprised an almost pure stand of the endemic species Miconia robinsoniana (Galápagos miconia). (5)Despite the persistence of native biota in MFR, aggressive weeds such as tropical ash (Fraxinus uhdei), strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum), and quinine (Cinchona pubescens) have invaded the forest and will likely displace much of the remaining native forest within decades. [Hawaii] (6)In Hawai'i, seedlings are capable of germinating in fairly dense understory vegetation in both disturbed alien forests as well as in r

(1)http://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/invasive/Browse.html (2)http://www.hear.org/pier/cipub.htm (3)http://www.issg.org/database/species/search.asp?sts=sss&st=sss&
fr=1&sn=Cinchona+pubescens&rn=&hci=-1&ei=-1&x=16&y=14 (4)http://csm.jmu.edu/biology/mcmullck/class/325islands.html (5)William P. Haines, Fern P. Duvall, Hank L. Oppenheimer, Tracy Erwin and Lloyd L. Loope. PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS OF MAKAWAO FOREST RESERVE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE INVENTORY AND MANAGEMENT. Abstract fromo The 2003 Hawaii Conservation Conference Honolulu, Hawaii (6)http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/reports/html/cinchona_pubescens.htm

3.05

No evidence

4.01

No evidence

Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii. University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

Not used as a fodder

http://pppis.fao.org/

4.05

No evidence

4.06

This site lists 24 fungi to be associated with C. pubescens. [no evidence that it is an important vector of an economic pathogen]

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

4.07

No evidence

4.08

Probably not. 'Needs moist soil and high humidity.'

http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Rubiaceae/Cinchona_pubescens.html

4.09

(1) Sun exposure - light shade.(2) "On Maui, C. pubescens is locally abundant in the Makawao Forest Reserve of East Maui in areas near original plantings and alien forestry plantations, along old roads, and in thick native mixed mesic to wet forests. "; "In Hawai'i, seedlings are capable of germinating in fairly dense understory vegetation in both disturbed alien forests as well as in relatively rich native moist to mesic forests." (3)tolerates Bright light to light shade

(2) http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/reports/html/cinchona_pubescens.htm (3)http://pppis.fao.org/

4.1

(1)Grows well on acid volcanic soils (2) soil light, medium, well drained, pH 4.5-6.5, Grows very poorly or not at all on soils that have been exposed to fire.

(1)http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=63&fr=1&sts= (2)http://pppis.fao.org/

4.11

Probably not - not a vine.

Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii. University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.

4.12

" This broad leaf tree with a dense canopy grows rapidly, about 1-2 m per year (GISP 2002), out-competes, shades out, and replaces desirable native vegetation."; "Seed production is prolific and this species easily invades adjacent areas made up of dense native under-story vegetation, such as uluhe fern (Dichanopteris linearis), and mixed wet to mesic native forest canopy vegetation, such as koa (Acacia koa). It also readily invades non-native forested areas, such as Eucalyptus spp., and can be observed along old bulldozed forestry roads. Trees are fairly conspicuous, especially when their broad leaves are turning red. Sweetly fragrant pink flowers born on panicles also allow this species to be readily identified. C. pubescens aggressively invades and out-competes other plants."

http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/reports/html/cinchona_pubescens.htm

5.01

http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Rubiaceae/Cinchona_pubescens.html

5.02

5.03

Rubiaceae

5.04

No evidence

6.01

Cinchona plants mature early and can produce seeds after only 1 -2 years.

MacdonalD I. A/W., 1988. The invasion of highlands in Galapagos by the Red Quinine tree Cinchona succirubra.'

6.02

(1) 'Seeds of C. succirubra [pubescens ] collected several years ago from an ancient plantation in Reunion Island were germinated, and callus (4 strains) and suspension (1 strain) cultures were established from stem and leaf explants. ' (2)Seeds have the capacity of germinating under a wide range of conditions. (2) Physical control: C. pubescens will produce root suckers and resprout from damaged stems (GISP 2002). Control information from the Galapagos (GISP 2002) reports that manual methods include felling and pulling out or grubbing out of stumps and saplings have mixed success. Removal of saplings is reported as effective, but adult trees can resprout from cut stumps. De-barking is ineffective, even if bark is removed from up to 1 m of stem. The bark will re-grow and repair the wound, and the tree will survive. 

(1) Sejourne, M.; Resplandy, G.; Viel, C.; Chénieux, J. C.; Rideau, M. 1986. Bioproduction of quinoline alkaloids by Cinchona succirubra strains cultured in vitro. Fitoterapia, 1986, Vol.57, No.2, pp.121-123, 13 ref. (2)MacdonalD I. A/W., 1988. The invasion of highlands in Galapagos by the Red Quinine tree Cinchona succirubra.'
(2) http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/reports/html/cinchona_pubescens.htm

6.03

no evidence

6.04

no evidence

6.05

Pollination: C. pubescens is possibly insect pollinated as flowers are sweetly fragrant and tube shaped, though this is just speculative.

http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/reports/html/cinchona_pubescens.htm

6.06

'It is believed that the cinchona can resprout from roots.' - But no evidence of spread in the wild through vegetative means.

6.07

(1)Cinchona plants mature early and can produce seeds after only 1 -2 years. (2)Fast-growing perennial. Starts flowering after 2-3 years

(1)MacdonalD I. A/W., 1988. The invasion of highlands in Galapagos by the Red Quinine tree Cinchona succirubra.' (2)http://pppis.fao.org/

7.01

Probably not - propagules do not have any means of attachment.

7.02

Global distribution: In the Pacific, C. pubescens is known from Tahiti, Galapagos, and Hawai'i (PIER 2002). Apparently, C. pubescens was introduced to Palau by the Japanese but is not present now (Fosberg et al. 1993). In Santa Cruz, Galapagos, C. pubescens was introduced in 1946 by a private farmer, as a cash crop (GISP 2002). The crop was not economically viable and production never commenced there. It has now spread from initial plantings and invades several types of humid highland forest habitats, including: moist tropical montane cloud forest, moist tropical montane fern-sedge pampa, moist upland pastures, moist upland mixed agriculture, fragmented tropical forests with crops, field crops, moist tropical montane rainforest (Scalesia dominated), and moist tropical montane scrub (Miconia dominated) (GISP 2002). C. pubescens locations for Africa listed by the Missouri Botanical Garden specimen database (2002) include Tanzania, 1,100 m (3,609 ft), 5.03S, 38.23E.

http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/reports/html/cinchona_pubescens.htm

7.03

Probably not - seeds relatively large. Capsules 1-2 cm long with seeds about 2 mm ong with a broad ciliate wing.

Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.

7.04

Wind dispersed seeds.

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

7.05

Wind dispersed seeds.

7.06

Wind dispersed seeds.

7.07

Wind dispersed seeds.

7.08

No evidence of consumption

8.01

(1)Capsules 1-2 cm long with seeds about 2 mmlong with a broad ciliate wing. [Probably not - seeds relatively large.] (2)Produces enormous quantities of small seeds. [no numbers given]

(1)Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.(2)http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=63&fr=1&sts=

8.02

'Seeds of C. succirubra [pubescens ] collected several years ago from an ancient plantation in Reunion Island were germinated, and callus (4 strains) and suspension (1 strain) cultures were established from stem and leaf explants. '

Sejourne, M.; Resplandy, G.; Viel, C.; Chénieux, J. C.; Rideau, M. 1986. Bioproduction of quinoline alkaloids by Cinchona succirubra strains cultured in vitro. Fitoterapia, 1986, Vol.57, No.2, pp.121-123, 13 ref.

8.03

Chemical control: Management information from the Galapagos (GISP 2002) reports that this species is resistant to many herbicides, so chemical control requires the use of moderately toxic formulations such as tripclopyr, picloram, 2, 4-D or Tordon. Application methods include cut stump, basal bark and hack and squirt. Control trials in Hawai'i have not been done yet, but the methods mentioned above should be effective.

http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/reports/html/cinchona_pubescens.htm

8.04

The generative ability is high as it can coppice from cut stumps and re-establish itself by re -rooting after being removed. It is believed that the cinchona can resprout from roots.'

Macdonald I. A/W., 1988. The invasion of highlands in Galapagos by the Red Quinine tree Cinchona succirubra.'

8.05

Don’t know.