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

Ficus elastica; Indian rubberplant

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

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

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

3.05

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

n=0

y

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

y

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

6.02

Produces viable seed.

y=1, n=-1

6.03

Hybridizes naturally

y=1, n=-1

n

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

y=1, n=-1

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

y=-1, n=0

y

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

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

n

8.03

Well controlled by herbicides

y=-1, n=1

y

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:

-5

Source

Notes

1.01

no evidence

1.02

(1) Swarbrick, J. T.; Hart, R. (2001) Environmental weeds of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) and their management. Plant Protection Quarterly, 2001, Vol.16, No.2, pp.54-57, 2 ref.
(2) Mawdsley, N. A.; Compton, S. G.; Whittaker, R. J. (1998) Population persistence, pollination mutualisms, and figs in fragmented tropical landscapes. Conservation Biology, 1998, Vol.12, No.6, pp.1416-1420, 40 ref. (3)Long and Lakela. A Flora of Tropical Florida. University of Miami Press, Miami. (4)Wunderlin, R. P. 1998, Guide to the vascular plants of Florida. Gainesville, University Press of Florida.

(1) AB: The environmental weeds of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) are mostly exotic tropical rain forest trees, shrubs and vines that persist in areas that have been rehabilitated after being mined for phosphate but which now form part of the Christmas Island National Park. Other environmental weeds occur within rain forests along rain forest margins and in other situations throughout the island. The major environmental weeds of Christmas Island are Adenanthera pavonina, Aleurites moluccana, Castilla elastica, Clausena excavata, Cordia curassavica, Delonix regia, Ficus elastica, Hevea brasiliensis, Mikania micrantha, Mucuna albertisii, Pithecellobium dulce, Pterocarpus indicus, Schefflera actinophylla, Spathodea campanulata and Tecoma stans . Minor environmental weeds of the island include Antigonon leptopus, Barringtonia asiatica, Ceiba pentandra, Imperata cylindrica, Leucaena leucocephala, Muntingia calabura, Nephrolepis biserrata, Nephrolepis multiflora, Pluchea indica, Psidium guajava, Ricinus communis,

1.03

no evidence

2.01

USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available: http://www.ars-grin.gov/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?70291 (04 June 2002)

Distributional range:
Native:
Asia-Tropical: Bhutan; India [n.e.]; Indonesia - Java; Malaysia [Malaya]; Myanmar; Nepal
Other: widely cult.

2.02

2.03

(1)http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/FICELAB.pdf (2)http://mobot.mobot.org/cgi-bin/search_vast

(1)USDA hardiness zones: 10B through 11 (2)All voucher specimens from < 1000 m elevation

2.04

USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available: http://www.ars-grin.gov/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?70291 (04 June 2002)

Distributional range:
Native:
Asia-Tropical: Bhutan; India [n.e.]; Indonesia - Java; Malaysia [Malaya]; Myanmar; Nepal
Other: widely cult.

2.05

USDA, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry (2001) Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER) webpage <http://www.hear.org/pier/phkar.htm>

<http://www.hear.org/pier3/fiela.htm>
Pacific islands: American Samoa (Tutuila (cult.)), Federated States of Micronesia (Chuuk (Weno (cult.)), Pohnpei (planted tree), Yap), Fiji (cult.), French Polynesia (cult.), Guam, Hawai‘i (cult.), Marshall Islands (Ailinglapalap, Jaluit, Kwajalein, Majuro—cultivated all locations), Niue (cult.), Palau (Koror).
Pacific rim: Indonesia (Java, native), Malaysia (Malaya)
Indian Ocean islands: Christmas Island
Elsewhere: US (Florida).

3.01

(1) Swarbrick, J. T.; Hart, R. (2001) Environmental weeds of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) and their management. Plant Protection Quarterly, 2001, Vol.16, No.2, pp.54-57, 2 ref.
(2) Mawdsley, N. A.; Compton, S. G.; Whittaker, R. J. (1998) Population persistence, pollination mutualisms, and figs in fragmented tropical landscapes. Conservation Biology, 1998, Vol.12, No.6, pp.1416-1420, 40 ref. (3)Long and Lakela. A Flora of Tropical Florida. University of Miami Press, Miami. (4)Wunderlin, R. P. 1998, Guide to the vascular plants of Florida. Gainesville, University Press of Florida.

(1) AB: The environmental weeds of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) are mostly exotic tropical rain forest trees, shrubs and vines that persist in areas that have been rehabilitated after being mined for phosphate but which now form part of the Christmas Island National Park. Other environmental weeds occur within rain forests along rain forest margins and in other situations throughout the island. The major environmental weeds of Christmas Island are Adenanthera pavonina, Aleurites moluccana, Castilla elastica, Clausena excavata, Cordia curassavica, Delonix regia, Ficus elastica, Hevea brasiliensis, Mikania micrantha, Mucuna albertisii, Pithecellobium dulce, Pterocarpus indicus, Schefflera actinophylla, Spathodea campanulata and Tecoma stans . Minor environmental weeds of the island include Antigonon leptopus, Barringtonia asiatica, Ceiba pentandra, Imperata cylindrica, Leucaena leucocephala, Muntingia calabura, Nephrolepis biserrata, Nephrolepis multiflora, Pluchea indica, Psidium guajava, Ricinus communis,

3.02

no evidence

3.03

no evidence

3.04

(1) Swarbrick, J. T.; Hart, R. (2001) Environmental weeds of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) and their management. Plant Protection Quarterly, 2001, Vol.16, No.2, pp.54-57, 2 ref.
(2) Mawdsley, N. A.; Compton, S. G.; Whittaker, R. J. (1998) Population persistence, pollination mutualisms, and figs in fragmented tropical landscapes. Conservation Biology, 1998, Vol.12, No.6, pp.1416-1420, 40 ref. (3)http://www.liscity.nsw.gov.au/print.asp?ArticleID=80 (4)http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/FICELAB.pdf (5)http://lee.fl.us/extensionservices/horticulturearchive/rubbertree.htm (6)http://www.erin.gov.au/parks/publications/pubs/cimp3.pdf [Christmas Island National Park
Management Plan] (7)http://www.erin.gov.au/parks/publications/pubs/cimp2.pdf [A Description of Christmas Island and the National Park]

(1) AB: The environmental weeds of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) are mostly exotic tropical rain forest trees, shrubs and vines that persist in areas that have been rehabilitated after being mined for phosphate but which now form part of the Christmas Island National Park. Other environmental weeds occur within rain forests along rain forest margins and in other situations throughout the island. The major environmental weeds of Christmas Island are Adenanthera pavonina, Aleurites moluccana, Castilla elastica, Clausena excavata, Cordia curassavica, Delonix regia, Ficus elastica, Hevea brasiliensis, Mikania micrantha, Mucuna albertisii, Pithecellobium dulce, Pterocarpus indicus, Schefflera actinophylla, Spathodea campanulata and Tecoma stans . Minor environmental weeds of the island include Antigonon leptopus, Barringtonia asiatica, Ceiba pentandra, Imperata cylindrica, Leucaena leucocephala, Muntingia calabura, Nephrolepis biserrata, Nephrolepis multiflora, Pluchea indica, Psidium guajava, Ricinus communis,

3.05

(1) Weeds in New Zealand (http://www.boprc.govt.nz/www/green/weedindx.htm) contact: norb@kcbbs.gen.nz
(2)Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. FLEPPC 1999 List of Florida's Most Invasive Species. Internet: http://www.fau.edu/envsci/99list.htm

(1) F. pumila and F. rubiginosa are prohibited from propagation, sale and distribution in New Zealand.
(2) F. microcarpa was listed in Category I—(Species that are invading and disrupting native plant communities in Florida. This definition does not rely on the economic severity or geographic range of the problem, but on the documented ecological damage caused. ) F. altissma was listed in Category II—Species that have shown a potential to disrupt native plant communities. These species may become ranked as Category I, but have not yet demonstrated disruption of natural Florida communities.

4.01

USDA, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry (2001) Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER) webpage <http://www.hear.org/pier/phkar.htm>

<http://www.hear.org/pier3/fiela.htm> Description: "…A wide-spreading evergreen tree to 30 m tall which develops descending aerial roots to form a banyan. All parts contain copious white latex. Plants start from cutting as erect stems but soon develop several heavy spreading branches. Twigs are encircled by distinctive leaf scars and branches have thin smooth to finely rough gray-brown bark. The plants tend to branch at the base, and both trunks and branches develop slender dangling aerial roots, which quickly thicken to become strong downwardly branched supporting roots which m may coalesce and eventually hide the original trunk. Spreading surface roots may also be formed. The shiny, leathery, broadly oval leaves are initially enclosed in a long pink papery scale which leaves a circular scar as it falls. The leaves are 7-20 cm long, with smooth edges and blunt pointed tips and are paler below than above. In India, at least, pairs of oblong yellowish-green figs about 2 cm long develop among the leaves on the

4.02

no evidence

4.03

no evidence

4.04

Singh, K. A. (2001) Leaf morphology and leaf area of fodder trees of NEH region. Range Management and Agroforestry, 2001, Vol.22, No.1, pp.85-93, 14 ref.

AB: A total of 17 important fodder tree species (Artocarpus lakoocha [A. lakucha ], Bauhinia purpurea, B. variegata, Brassaiopsis hainla, Ficus auriculata, F. benghalensis, F. clavata [F. subincisa ], F. elastica, F. glaberrima, F. hirta, F. hispida, F. infectoria [F. virens ], F. nemoralis, F. semicordata, Grewia tilaefolia [G. tiliifolia ], Litsea polyantha [L. monopetala ] and Saurauia napaulensis ) commonly occurring in farmlands in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, India, were selected to study the variability in leaf morphological characters such as leaf length, maximum leaf perimeter and length : width ratio, and to develop the simplest form of linear or multiple regression equation for leaf area estimation.

4.05

Singh, K. A. (2001) Leaf morphology and leaf area of fodder trees of NEH region. Range Management and Agroforestry, 2001, Vol.22, No.1, pp.85-93, 14 ref.

AB: A total of 17 important fodder tree species (Artocarpus lakoocha [A. lakucha ], Bauhinia purpurea, B. variegata, Brassaiopsis hainla, Ficus auriculata, F. benghalensis, F. clavata [F. subincisa ], F. elastica, F. glaberrima, F. hirta, F. hispida, F. infectoria [F. virens ], F. nemoralis, F. semicordata, Grewia tilaefolia [G. tiliifolia ], Litsea polyantha [L. monopetala ] and Saurauia napaulensis ) commonly occurring in farmlands in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, India, were selected to study the variability in leaf morphological characters such as leaf length, maximum leaf perimeter and length : width ratio, and to develop the simplest form of linear or multiple regression equation for leaf area estimation.

4.06

Laviña, A.; Batlle, A. (1993) First report of tomato spotted wilt virus infection of Ficus species in Spain. Plant Disease, 1993, Vol.77, No.5, p.536
AB: Double-antibody sandwich ELISA was used to detect tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (TSWV) in F. elastica cultivars Decora and Variegata and F. stipulata [F. pumila ] cv. Repens in Spain. Symptoms of the disease are described. Frankliniella occidentalis, a vector of TSWV, was associated with the greenhouse plants.

"Spotted wilt, caused by tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (TSWV), has been increasing in importance as a problem in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and other important crops in the southern U. S. since 1985. The disease is common across the peanut growing areas of Georgia, Florida, and Alabama and has become THE most important problem for many peanut growers." <http://www.cpes.peachnet.edu/spotwilt/>

4.07

Gilleron, I.; Dissard, F. (1981) Poisoning by house and garden plants. [FT: Intoxications par les plantes d'appartement et de parc.] Notes de Toxicologie Veterinaire, 1981, Vol.4, No.1, pp.30-38, 6 ref.

AB: The toxicity, symptoms produced and treatment of poisoning by house plants in five families are briefly reviewed: Araceae (Dieffenbachia, Monstera deliciosa, Philodendron scandens, Arum italicum); Solanaceae (Solanum pseudocapsicum, S. sodomeun); Euphorbiaceae (Euphorbia pulchernina, E. marginata, Croton); Apocyanaceae (Allamanda cathartica); Moraceae (Ficus elastica). Also included are three garden plants: Poinciana (Leguminosae), Evonymus japonicus (Celastraceae) and Aucuba japonica maculata (Cornaceae).

4.08

unlikely -- leaves somewhat succulent

4.09

(1)Gilman EF, HW Beck, DG Watson, P. Fowler, DL Weigle & NR Morgan 1996. Southern Trees 2nd edition. University of Florida (2)http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/FICELAB.pdf (3)http://twyford.com/Plants/Fielro.htm (4)http://northeast-greenhouses.com/plants/ficuselastica.html

(1)"Light requirements: full sun, partial sum or partialshade" (2)tree grows in part shade/part sun;
tree grows in full sun (3)Light levels of 3000 - 6000 footcandles are recommended. In Florida, grow in full sun when possible. Will tolorate up to 50% shade. (4)good for interior living areas and will grow even under low light conditions.

4.1

Gilman EF, HW Beck, DG Watson, P. Fowler, DL Weigle & NR Morgan 1996. Southern Trees 2nd edition. University of Florida

"soil texture tolerance: clay, sand, loam."

4.11

tree

4.12

no evidence

5.01

terrestrial

5.02

tree; Moraceae

5.03

no evidence

5.04

tree

6.01

Mawdsley, N. A.; Compton, S. G.; Whittaker, R. J. (1998) Population persistence, pollination mutualisms, and figs in fragmented tropical landscapes. Conservation Biology, 1998, Vol.12, No.6, pp.1416-1420, 40 ref.

p.146: " F. elastica has surprisingly been decribed as ecologically extinct in its native Asia. Although the india rubber tree can be propagated vegetatively, the tree's tiny pollinator wasp, Pleistodontes claviger (Mayr) was considered extinct, apparently a consequences of the tree's retriction to limestone hills and it's fragmented population structure." [Failure is not due to predators or pathogens, so does not apply]

6.02

(1)Mawdsley, N. A.; Compton, S. G.; Whittaker, R. J. (1998) Population persistence, pollination mutualisms, and figs in fragmented tropical landscapes. Conservation Biology, 1998, Vol.12, No.6, pp.1416-1420, 40 ref. (2)http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/FICELAB.pdf

(1)p.146: " F. elastica has surprisingly been decribed as ecologically extinct in its native Asia. Although the india rubber tree can be propagated vegetatively, the tree's tiny pollinator wasp, Pleistodontes claviger (Mayr) was considered extinct, apparently a consequences of the tree's retriction to limestone hills and it's fragmented population structure." (2)Propagation is by layering or cuttings.

6.03

prevented by specificity of pollinator

6.04

1. Armstrong, W.P. 2001. Wayne's Word: 9 May 2001. http://waynesword.palomar.edu/wayne.htm (12 June 2001).

<http://waynesword.palomar.edu/pljun99b.htm> "Old World gynodioecious figs belong to the Subgenus Ficus. Other fig species of tropical and subtropical regions belong to different subgenera, including many ornamental figs such as the rustyleaf fig (F. rubiginosa), Moreton Bay fig (F. macrophylla), Indian laurel fig (F. microcarpa), benjamin fig (F. benjamina), sycomore fig (F. sycomorus), Indian rubber tree (F. elastica), the Bo tree (F. religiosa) and many other species. The latter species are monoecious, with male flowers, short-style female flowers and long-style female flowers all in the same syconium. " [syngonium is monoecious but may be self-incompatible or protandrous]

6.05

USDA, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry (2001) Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER) webpage <http://www.hear.org/pier/phkar.htm>

<http://www.hear.org/pier3/fiela.htm> Propagation: Requires a specific wasp for pollination. Where pollination occurs and fruits form, the seeds are spread by birds.

6.06

http://lee.fl.us/extensionservices/horticulturearchive/rubbertree.htm

Like most ficus trees, it produces aerial roots used for anchoring branches as it gains width. [this does not usually result in fragmentation]

6.07

R. Criley, UH Department of Horticulture, personal communication

7.01

no evidence

7.02

USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available: http://www.ars-grin.gov/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?70291 (04 June 2002)

"widely cultivated"

7.03

no evidence

7.04

no evidence

7.05

no evidence

7.06

(1) Mawdsley, N. A.; Compton, S. G.; Whittaker, R. J. (1998) Population persistence, pollination mutualisms, and figs in fragmented tropical landscapes. Conservation Biology, 1998, Vol.12, No.6, pp.1416-1420, 40 ref.
(2) USDA, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry (2001) Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER) webpage <http://www.hear.org/pier/phkar.htm>

(1)p.146: " F. elastica has surprisingly been decribed as ecologically extinct in its native Asia. Although the india rubber tree can be propagated vegetatively, the tree's tiny pollinator wasp, Pleistodontes claviger (Mayr) was considered extinct, apparently a consequences of the tree's retriction to limestone hills and it's fragmented population structure."
(2) <http://www.hear.org/pier3/fiela.htm> where produced"the seeds are spread by birds."

7.07

no evidence

7.08

if produced, then presumably yes

8.01

Mawdsley, N. A.; Compton, S. G.; Whittaker, R. J. (1998) Population persistence, pollination mutualisms, and figs in fragmented tropical landscapes. Conservation Biology, 1998, Vol.12, No.6, pp.1416-1420, 40 ref.

p.146: " F. elastica has surprisingly been decribed as ecologically extinct in its native Asia. Although the india rubber tree can be propagated vegetatively, the tree's tiny pollinator wasp, Pleistodontes claviger (Mayr) was considered extinct, apparently a consequences of the tree's retriction to limestone hills and it's fragmented population structure."

8.02

Mawdsley, N. A.; Compton, S. G.; Whittaker, R. J. (1998) Population persistence, pollination mutualisms, and figs in fragmented tropical landscapes. Conservation Biology, 1998, Vol.12, No.6, pp.1416-1420, 40 ref.

p.146: " F. elastica has surprisingly been decribed as ecologically extinct in its native Asia. Although the india rubber tree can be propagated vegetatively, the tree's tiny pollinator wasp, Pleistodontes claviger (Mayr) was considered extinct, apparently a consequences of the tree's retriction to limestone hills and it's fragmented population structure."

8.03

(1)http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_WG209 (2)Heungens, A.; Vissers, M.; Buysse (1991) Phytotoxicity trials on Ficus .[FT: Fytotoxiciteitsproeven Ficus .] Verbondsnieuws voor de Belgische Sierteelt, 1991, Vol.35, No.16, pp.972-975

(1) members of this genus are very sensitive to Garlon 4 (2)AB: Eight insecticides and acaricides were tested in Belgium for phytotoxicity to 3 cultivars of the ornamental woody plant Ficus . Damage was assessed on a 10-point scale, and the effects of treatment on growth were also assessed. " F. elastica 'Robusta' tolerated less well spraying with deltamethrin and methomyl, but propoxur and carbofuran caused the greatest damage."

8.04

8.05

no evidence