Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


Ficus lyrata


RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS: Low risk, score: -5


Australian/New Zealand Weed Risk Assessment adapted for Hawai‘i.

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 lyrata; fiddleleaf fig

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

n

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

n

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

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

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

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

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

6.03

Hybridizes naturally

y=1, n=-1

n

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

y=1, n=-1

n

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

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

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

y

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:

-5

Supporting data:

Source

Notes

1.01

no evidence

1.02

no evidence

1.03

no evidence

2.01

CAB International, (2000) Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

List of countries with natural populations
Africa: Benin, Cameroon, Coaste d'Ivoire, Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo

2.02

2.03

Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7.

Hardiness Range 10B to 11

2.04

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.216

native to tropical Africa

2.05

(1) Raalte, D. van (1983) Commercially available Ficus species. [FT: Das Handelssortiment Ficus.] Zierpflanzenbau, 1983, Vol.23, No.13, pp.584-586, 588-589
(2) USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
(3) Treder, J.; Matysiak, B.; Nowak, J. S.; Nowak, J. (1999) The effects of potting media and concentration of nutrient solution on growth and nutrient content of three Ficus species cultivated on ebb-and-flow benches. ED: Papadopoulos, A. P. Acta Horticulturae, 1999, No.481, pp.433-439, 12 ref.
(4) Arafa, A. S.; Mohamed, B. R.; Ibrahim, I. A.; El-Din, T. M. N. (1993) Callus induction and organ differentiation in the tissue culture of Ficus spp. Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Research, 1993, Vol.71, No.4, pp.987-996, 13 ref.
(5) Krafka, B. D. L.; Shumway, C. R.; Reed, D. W. (1990) Foliage stock. Texas Nurseryman, 1990, No.September, p.24...44
(6) Chase, A. R. (1988) Effect of fertilizer rate on growth

(1) Germany, (2)Puerto Rico, (3) Poland, (4) Egypt, (5) Texas, (6) Florida, (7) Hawaii

3.01

no evidence

3.02

no evidence

3.03

no evidence

3.04

no evidence

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

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.216

no description of these traits

4.02

no evidence

4.03

no evidence

4.04

no evidence

4.05

http://www.kavishi.freeserve.co.uk/poisonplants.htm

Causes upset stomach and skin irritation in dogs. [grown as a houseplant; severity of symptoms and frequency of occurrence unknown]

4.06

(1) Braasch, H. (1973) Fig cyst-nematode (Heterodera fici Kirjanova, 1954) in the German Democratic Republic. [FT: Das Ficus-Zystenalchen (Heterodera fici Kirjanova, 1954) in der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik. ] Nachrichtenblatt fur den Pflanzenschutzdienst in der DDR, 1973, Vol.27, No.12, pp.255-256
(2) Chase, A. R. Leaf and petiole rot of Ficus lyrata cv. Compacta caused by Pseudomonas cichorii. Plant Pathology, 1987, Vol.36, No.2, pp.219-221, 11 ref.

(1) Heterodera fici is recorded for the first time in East Germany. It was associated with leaf fall and yellowing of the leaves of Ficus elastica in a nursery. Lighter infestations were found on F. bengalensis and F. lyrata.
(2) Pseudomonas cichorii [a generalist]

4.07

no evidence

4.08

Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7. (2)http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/reports/html/ficus_lyrata.htm

Low flammability (2)Evergreen tree

4.09

(1)Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7. (2)http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Moraceae/Ficus_lyrata.html (3)http://www.chelseagardencenter.com/tropicalplants/fiddleleaffig.html (4)http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mag/2002/01/13/stories/2002011300550700.htm

(1)Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun (2)Sun to light shade (3) Can be grown in bright moderate light or full sun (43)can be grown in open and in partially shaded locations

4.1

Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-8.

Soil Condition Loamy, sandy, clay, acidic, neutral, alkaline, tolerates salt, drought tolerant, tolerates wetness

4.11

tree

4.12

no evidence

5.01

terrestrial

5.02

tree, Moraceae

5.03

no evidence

5.04

tree

6.01

no evidence

6.02

(1)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/cgi-bin/npgs/html/acchtml.pl?1179072 (14 November 2003) (2)http://www.plantoftheweek.org/week172.shtml

(1) one germplasm inventory storage record (2)Ficus lyrata are propagated by air layers. [outside native range, does not produce seed]

6.03

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

Pollinated only by species specific fig wasp; unlilkely to hybridize

6.04

http://www.plantoftheweek.org/week172.shtml

Ficus lyrata are propagated by air layers. [outside native range, does not produce seed]

6.05

Ficus species are pollinated by specialist fig wasps

6.06

no evidence

6.07

http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mag/2002/01/13/stories/2002011300550700.htm

It is a slow growing plant [miniumum for a slow growing large tree]

7.01

no evidence

7.02

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.216

"cultivated as a shade tree. In temperate climates it sometimes grown indoor as potted plant, at least when it is small."

7.03

no evidence

7.04

unlikely with such large fruit

7.05

no evidence

7.06

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

Dispersal: Plants are initially spread by humans who grow the plant for ornament. Other species of Ficus that do have wasps present are spread by fruit eating birds. Various birds observed by the authors foraging and roosting in other Ficus trees on Maui include mynah birds (Acridotheres tristis tristis), blue faced doves (Geopelia striata), lace necked doves (Streptopelia chinensis), Japanese white-eye (Zosterops japonicus), and house sparrows (Passer domesticus), though there are probably more. Other animals, such as bats, pigs, rodents, parrots, and monkeys may be capable of spreading fruit.

7.07

no evidence

7.08

assuming bird dispersal

8.01

Ficus synconium contain numberous minute fruits [typically hunderds of seeds per synconium, but does not form fruit without specialist pollinator]

8.02

no evidence

8.03

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

Chemical control: "Fig trees are particularly sensitive to triclopyr herbicides as a basal or cut-stump treatment. Trees found growing on concrete or rock structures should be treated with herbicide while young to avoid costly structural damage. Use extreme caution when applying herbicide to figs growing as epiphytes to ensure that the poison does not contact the host tree. When exotic figs germinate high in the branches of large trees in natural forest communities, it may be extraordinarily difficult to get close enough to the fig to treat it." (Hammer 1996).

8.04

http://hort.ufl.edu/trees/FICLYRA.pdf

requires pruning to develop strong structure

8.05

no evidence


Need more info? Have questions? Comments? Information to contribute? Contact PIER!


[ Return to PIER homepage ] [Risk assessment page]


This page updated 30 September 2005