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

Coffea liberica (Liberian coffee)

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

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

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

n

3.05

Congeneric weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

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

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

n

4.09

Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle

y=1, n=0

y

4.1

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

y=1, n=0

y

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

y

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

y=1, n=-1

n

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

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

n

8.02

Evidence that a persistent propagule bank is formed (>1 yr)

y=1, n=-1

n

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:

1

Notes

Source

1.01

No evidence

1.02

Liberian coffee plants were noted in all size classes in alien lowland forest along the Maunawili Falls trail. The slender-trunked trees were up to 20 ft tall. It can be distinguished from Coffea arabica (also naturalized in this area) by its larger leaves (6–14" long) usually widest above the middle and with the apex rounded or obtuse and briefly tapering (3–8" long, widest near the middle, apex acuminate in C. arabica); and corolla lobes (5–)6–11 (vs. 5–7).

http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/pdf/op68-03.pdf

1.03

No evidence

2.01

(1)Native to Liberia, West Africa. (2)This species is native of the tropical forests of the present Liberia and the Ivory Coast. (3)It is a plant that it requires of more high conditions of humidity and of temperature that the Arabica species and even that the Canephora. (4)Native to tropical Africa, Liberia and the Ivory Coast, and also grown in Guinea, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Zaire and the north of Angola.  

(1)http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/liberian_coffee.htm (2)http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=
http://www.portaldelcafe.com/portaldelcafe/modulos/articulos/subcategoria.asp%3Fpagina%3D1%26subcatnum%3D8&
prev=/search%3Fq%3DCoffea%2Bliberica%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DG (3)http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.portaldelcafe.com
/portaldelcafe/modulos/articulos/subcategoria.asp%3Fpagina%3D1%26subcatnum%3D8&
prev=/search%3Fq%3DCoffea%2Bliberica%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DG (4)http://www.juanvaldez.com/menu/history/trees.html

2.02

2.03

(1) most specimens 700-1500 m in Africa and S. America (2) It can be found in tropical lowland forests and is recommended for altitudes between 450-600 m.

(1)http://mobot.mobot.org/cgi-bin/search_vast (2)http://ecocrop.fao.org/

2.04

This species is native of the tropical forests of the present Liberia and the Ivory Coast.

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.portaldelcafe.com
/portaldelcafe/modulos/articulos/subcategoria.asp%3Fpagina%3D1%26subcatnum%3D8&
prev=/search%3Fq%3DCoffea%2Bliberica%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DG

2.05

(1)Widely introduced in S. America [for coffee bean] (2)grown in Malaysia

(1)http://mobot.mobot.org/cgi-bin/search_vast (2)http://www.juicenjavalounge.com/articles/jjcoffeeinformation.html

3.01

Liberian coffee plants were noted in all size classes in alien lowland forest along the Maunawili Falls trail. The slender-trunked trees were up to 20 ft tall. It can be distinguished from Coffea arabica (also naturalized in this area) by its larger leaves (6–14" long) usually widest above the middle and with the apex rounded or obtuse and briefly tapering (3–8" long, widest near the middle, apex acuminate in C. arabica); and corolla lobes (5–)6–11 (vs. 5–7).

http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/pdf/op68-03.pdf

3.02

No evidence

3.03

No evidence

3.04

No evidence

3.05

Coffea arabica has naturalized and can become locally abundant but no evidence of control efforts

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

4.01

No evidence

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

Don’t know

4.05

No evidence

4.06

This page lists 37 fungi species to be associated with C. liberica.
(2) Hypothenemus hampei is a specialist that infect coffee berries from several different species.
(3) AB: "A major disease of coffee is leaf rust (Hemileia vastatrix ). " [this specialist fungus infect Coffea and Gardenia species of Rubiaceae]

http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/all/FindRecOneFungusFrame.cfm
(2) Vijayalakshmi, C. K.; Vijayan, V. A.; Raju, T.; Rehman, A. (1999) Varietal preference of coffee berry borer Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari). Journal of Tropical Agriculture, 1999, Vol.37, No.1/2, pp.99-101, 4 ref.
(3) Naidu, R.; Sreenivasan, M. S.; Prakash, N. S. (1994) The universal beverage "coffee" is exported by fifty countries: 'our research must strengthen on the robusta types'. Indian Horticulture, 1994, Vol.39, No.3, pp.41-44

4.07

No evidence

4.08

Probably not - It is a plant of perennial leaf, high and robust bearing

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.portaldelcafe.com/
portaldelcafe/modulos/articulos/subcategoria.asp%3Fpagina%3D1%26subcatnum%3D8&
prev=/search%3Fq%3DCoffea%2Bliberica%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DG

4.09

(1)It is cultivated generally under shade trees. (2)Light shade

(1)http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.portaldelcafe.com
/portaldelcafe/modulos/articulos/subcategoria.asp%3Fpagina%3D1%26subcatnum%3D8&
prev=/search%3Fq%3DCoffea%2Bliberica%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DG (2)http://ecocrop.fao.org/

4.1

(1)"In Surinam, on heavey soils of marine clay"; "In Liberia, the cultivation of C. liberica is on soils which are either clayey or mixed with sand and gravel" (2)Soil: light, medium, heavy and low to medium fertility

(1)Ahmad, J.; Vishveshwara, S. (1980) Coffea liberica Bull ex Hiern: a review. Indian Coffee, 1980, Vol.44, No.2/3, pp.29-36, 40 ref. (2)http://ecocrop.fao.org/

4.11

Probably not - not a vine.

4.12

No evidence

5.01

No evidence

http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/liberian_coffee.htm

5.02

Small tree, usually reaching just 10-20ft in height.

5.03

Rubiaceae

5.04

No evidence

6.01

It is a plant of perennial leaf, high and robust bearing

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.portaldelcafe.com/
portaldelcafe/modulos/articulos/subcategoria.asp%3Fpagina%3D1%26subcatnum%3D8&
prev=/search%3Fq%3DCoffea%2Bliberica%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DG

6.02

Planting materials were obtained from seed produced through open-pollination of flowers and rooted stem cuttings of the two Coffea species (C. abeokutae and C. liberica).

http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/pgrnewsletter/article.asp?id_article=6&id_issue=122

6.03

(1)Coffea canephorastarted in 1975 with a program to hybridize this species with various species of the genus Coffea, in particularly with C. liberica. F1 descendants of C. canephorax C. liberica showed certain fertility problems.
(2) 'The sucrose content of coffee bean is an important component of the coffee flavour: the higher the sucrose content in green beans, the more intense coffee cup flavour. Beans of the anciently cultivated cultivar Coffea liberica 'dewevrei' have low levels of sucrose compared with beans of the wild species Coffea pseudozanguebariae. In the present study, the inheritance of the sucrose accumulation in the interspecific cross C. pseudozanguebariae X C. liberica 'dewevrei' was examined.'
(3) AB: "Introgressions of C. canephora and C. liberica were identified in derivatives from natural interspecific hybrids (i.e. Timor Hybrid and S.26). "

(1)http://216.239.53.104/search?q=cache:d0Pu-ZTZbMMJ:www.asic-cafe.org/pdf/abstract/14_045.pdf+Coffea+liberica&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
(2) Ky-C-L {a}; Doulbeau-S {a}; Guyot-B; Akaffou-S; Charrier-A; Hamon-S {a}; Louarn-J; Noirot-M. Inheritance of coffee bean sucrose content in the interspecific cross Coffea pseudozanguebariae X Coffea liberica 'dewevrei'. Plant-Breeding. April, 2000; 119 (2): 165-168..
(3) Anthony, F.; Combes, M. C.; Herrera, J. C.; Prakash, N. S.; Bertrand, B.; Lashermes, P. (2001) Genetic diversity and introgression analyses in coffee (Coffea arabica L.) using molecular markers. 19ème Colloque Scientifique International sur le Café, Trieste, Italy, 14-18 mai 2001, 2001, pp.1-9, 29 ref.

6.04

Ahmad, J.; Vishveshwara, S. (1980) Coffea liberica Bull ex Hiern: a review. Indian Coffee, 1980, Vol.44, No.2/3, pp.29-36, 40 ref.

p.30 "liberica is self-sterile like canephora"

6.05

Probably not - In general Rubiaceae species are insect pollinated.

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

6.06

No evidence

6.07

(1)p.30 "The bean takes about 50 daysto germinate and comes to bearing in 4-5 years" (2)Begin to bear after 4-5 years.

(1)Ahmad, J.; Vishveshwara, S. (1980) Coffea liberica Bull ex Hiern: a review. Indian Coffee, 1980, Vol.44, No.2/3, pp.29-36, 40 ref. (2)http://ecocrop.fao.org/

7.01

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

7.02

Probably yes- 'The libérica coffee represents 1% of the world-wide commerce of the coffee.'

7.03

Probably not - the following suggests relatively large size of propagules. '...has very large leaves and berries double the size of the Arabicas.'

http://www.juanvaldez.com/menu/history/trees.html

7.04

Probably not - no evidence that the propagules have any adaptation for wind dispersal such as wings or pappus.

7.05

No evidence that the species inhabits riverine or coastal areas.

7.06

'...has very large leaves and berries double the size of the Arabicas.'

http://www.juanvaldez.com/menu/history/trees.html

7.07

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

7.08

Bird dispersal

8.01

Probably not - following suggest relatively large seed size. '...has very large leaves and berries double the size of the Arabicas.'
(2) p.31 yield range from 200-1000 kg/ha, p. 34 100 beans weight 21.9-26.2 gram [83-416 beans per square meter]

(1) http://www.juanvaldez.com/menu/history/trees.html (2) Ahmad, J.; Vishveshwara, S. (1980) Coffea liberica Bull ex Hiern: a review. Indian Coffee, 1980, Vol.44, No.2/3, pp.29-36, 40 ref.

8.02

AB: "Seeds of liberica coffee were very much more sensitive to desiccation, with only 6% surviving desiccation to 13.5% moisture content, and no seeds surviving as few as 6 months' storage in any of the 15 environments tested. It is concluded that liberica coffee shows recalcitrant seed storage behaviour "

Hong, T. D.; Ellis, R. H. (1995) Interspecific variation in seed storage behaviour within two genera - Coffea and Citrus . Seed Science and Technology, 1995, Vol.23, No.1, pp.165-181, 61 ref.

8.03

No evidence that the species is being controlled for.

8.04

No evidence

8.05

Don’t know