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

Coccinia grandis

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

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

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

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

y

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

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

4.11

Climbing or smothering growth habit

y=1, n=0

y

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

y

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

y

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

y

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

n

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y=1, n=-1

y

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

y

8.01

Prolific seed production (>1000/m2)

y=1, n=-1

y

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

n

Total score:

21

Source

Notes

1.01

Did not find any evidence on the species being a cultivar.

1.02

'…in Hawaii naturalized and rapidly spreading in disturbed sites…'

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

1.03

Did not find any evidence that the species has weedy sub species, varieties or cultivars.

2.01

'Coccinea grandis (L.) Voigt is native from tropical Africa to Australia and was … .'

Whistler, W. A. 1995. Wayside plants of the islands. Everbest printing company. Hong Kong.

2.02

Its native to tropical Africa, Australia and Asia.

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

2.03

No information.

2.04

'Native to Africa, Asia and Australia; in Hawaii naturalized …'

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

2.05

It has been introduced to Hawaii and other pacific countries like Tonga, Guam and Fiji.

Whistler, W. A. 1995. Wayside plants of the islands. Everbest printing company. Hong Kong.

3.01

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

3.02

3.03

(1)Ivy gourd is a noxious weed that forms a dense canopy over trees and low vegetation. Covering fences, utility lines, and cultivated fields (2)The wild varieties of perennial cucumber will easily become weedy, smothering and killing trees and plants. [Hawai]

(1)http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/press/1999/04/ivygourd.txt (2)http://agrss.sherman.hawaii.edu/onfarm/veg/veg00006.html

3.04

(1) '… a total of 24 arthropod and 2 fungal species were released or re-released (augmentation) by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture for the control of 4 weeds (Clidemia hirta, Coccinia grandis, ...) (2) Introduced ornamental plants that are considered weeds on Guam include Antigonon leptopus Hooker & Arnott, Spathodea campanulata Beauv., Coccinia grandia, Bauhinia monandra Kurz., (3)Plant Species Designated as Noxious Weeds for Eradication or Control Purposes by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture

Culliney. T. W. & Nagamine W. T. 2000. Proceedings-of-the-Hawaiian-Entomological-Society. [print] 34: 121-133. (3)http://www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/adminrules/AR-67.pdf

3.05

Did not find any evidence on congeners being weedy.

4.01

The species does not have spines, thorns or burrs.

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

4.02

Did not find any evidence on the allelopathic potential of this species.

4.03

Did not find any evidence on the species being a parasite.

4.04

Probably palatable since the fruits and leaves are eaten by humans

4.05

Did not find any reference regarding palatability to cattle. Probably palatable since the fruits and leaves are eaten by humans and tuber extracts are used as a medicine to cure diabetes.

4.06

melon fly, Scarlet gourd may act as a reservoir of ring spot virus that infects both other cucurbits and papaya.

http://www.crees.org/plantprotection/scarletgourd.htm

4.07

The fruit is used as vegetable and also has medicinal properties for the cure of diabetes.

Oommachan, M. 1977. The flora of Bhopal. Vishal printers. New Delhi.

4.08

Probably not since it seems to be a species of the wet tropics - but did not find any direct evidence regarding fire ecology. Dead vines in trees can potentially be a fire hazard.

4.09

No information.

4.1

It appears to prefer sandy soil

http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/agency/offices/Derby/rubb.htm

4.11

'… where it climbs over low vegetation and even into tall trees, often covering them.'

Whistler, W. A. 1995. Wayside plants of the islands. Everbest printing company. Hong Kong.

4.12

Whitson, T. D.1992. Weeds of the west. University of Wyoming. Wyoming.

5.01

5.02

5.03

5.04

It’s a vine with tuberous roots.

Oommachan, M. 1977. The flora of Bhopal. Vishal printers. New Delhi.

6.01

Did not find any evidence regarding the reproductive failure in the native habitat.

6.02

Did not find any evidence on the non-viability of seeds.

6.03

Don’t know.

6.04

(1) Flowers are dioecious. (2) 'All these species are facultative apomicts.'

(1) Oommachan, M. 1977. The flora of Bhopal. Vishal printers. New Delhi. (2) Bates, D. M. Robinson R. W. & C. Jefferey. 1990. Biology and utilization of the curcurbitaceae. Cornell university press.

6.05

Did not find any direct reference. Cucurbatids do not generally have specialized pollinators. Many are apomicts

6.06

Propagates through seed, fragments, and tuberous root.

Tadulingam, C. Venkatanarayana, G. Anstead, R. D. 1932. A handbook of south indian weeds. Government press. Madras. India.

6.07

R. Criley, UH Department of Horticulture, personal communication

7.01

The seeds do not have any mechanism by which they can attach to people and hence unlikely to be dispersed unintentionally by people, but vines disposed of as yard waste may become established.

7.02

The fruit is used as a vegetable by Asians and hence it is likely to be dispersed intentionally by people.

Oommachan, M. 1977. The flora of Bhopal. Vishal printers. New Delhi.

7.03

7.04

7.05

7.06

'The seeds are largely dispersed by birds that eat the fruits.'

Tadulingam, C. Venkatanarayana, G. Anstead, R. D. 1932. A handbook of south indian weeds. Government press. Madras. India.

7.07

The seeds of this species does not have any mechanism by which it can attach to the animals and hence less likely to be dispersed externally by animals. BUT the seeds may be dispersed by attachment to the beak of the birds that eat the fruits. (The seeds are embedded in the fleshy fruit).

7.08

Bird-adapted fruit.

8.01

'C. grandis is a hardy, rapid-growing, weedy vine that produces abundant fruit, which is an excellent melon fly host.'

UCHIDA-G-K; VARGAS-R-I; BEARDSLEY-J-W; LIQUIDO-N-J. 1991. PROCEEDINGS OF THE HAWAIIAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 30(0): 37-52. 1990 (1991)

8.02

Don’t know.

8.03

'Because of this close association with other plants, chemical control is difficult.' They have found only one somewhat expensive herbicide,
Gallon (ester), a contact herbicide which may have to be applied liberally to the stems and leaves. Another contact herbicide, glycophophospate (Roundup), has only been successful for small young plants.

Whitson, T. D.1992. Weeds of the west. University of Wyoming. Wyoming. http://www.crees.org/plantprotection/scarletgourd.htm

8.04

No information regarding fire ecology. Geophyte-- easily grows back from tuberous root.

8.05

The species is still a pest in spite of biocontrol releases: (1) '… a total of 24 arthropod and 2 fungal species were released or re-released (augmentation) by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture for the control of 4 weeds (Clidemia hirta, Coccinia grandis, ...) (2) Mellittia oedipus (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) was introduced to Hawaii in 1996 for the control of C. grandis.

(1) Culliney. T. W. & Nagamine W. T. 2000. Proceedings-of-the-Hawaiian-Entomological-Society. [print] 34: 121-133. (2) Julien, M. H. & Griffiths, M. W. 1998. Biological control of weeds. CABI publishing.