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

Heliconia stricta Huber; small lobster claw

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

y

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

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

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

y=-1, n=0

y

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

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

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

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:

6

Notes

Source

1.01

there are likely 200-250 named varieties. (1)Heliconia stricta Huber cv. Tagami (2)Heliconia stricta Huber cv. Cooper's Sharonii (3)Heliconia stricta cv.'Dwarf Jamaican' (4)Heliconia stricta FIREBIRD (5)This site lists additional varieties.

http://mgonline.com/heliconia.html (1)http://www.agrotropical.andes.com/heliconia_erec_stricta_tagami.htm (2)http://www.agrotropical.andes.com/heliconia_erec_stricta_sharonii.htm (3)http://heliconiaparadise.com/Heliconia_stricta_cv.Dwarf_Jamaican.htm (4)http://www.banana-tree.com/Products/Heliconia%20stricta%20FIREBIRD.htm (5)http://www.divineimages.com/page/-HELICONIA-STRICTA-VALENTINE-RHIZOME-pname2024-43553.cfm

1.02

No evidence

1.03

No evidence

2.01

(1)Native to Northern South America and the West Indies. (2)Native: SOUTHERN AMERICA Northern South America: Guyana; Suriname; Venezuela [w.] Brazil: Brazil Western South America: Bolivia; Colombia; Ecuador; Peru

(1)http://mgonline.com/heliconia.html (2)http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Heliconia+stricta

2.02

2.03

(1)USDA hardiness zones: 10B through 11 (2)Most specimens in native range < 1000 m, primary and secondary forest (3)Climate: warm and humid

(1)http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:4Fm2nwgyPbEJ:hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/HELSPPA.PDF+Heliconia+stricta+Florida&hl=en (2)http://mobot.mobot.org/cgi-bin/search_vast (3)http://xfrog.safe-ssl.net/PDF/Flowers1_XfrogPlants_EN.PDF

2.04

(1)Native to Northern South America and the West Indies. (2)Native: SOUTHERN AMERICA Northern South America: Guyana; Suriname; Venezuela [w.] Brazil: Brazil Western South America: Bolivia; Colombia; Ecuador; Peru

(1)http://mgonline.com/heliconia.html (2)http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Heliconia+stricta

2.05

(1)Hawaii (2)Florida (3)New Zealand (4)Australia

(1)http://www.htbg.com/tour/ (2)http://mgonline.com/heliconia.html (3)http://www.subtropical.co.nz/writing.html (4)http://plant.id.au/guide_view.aspx?id=6

3.01

No evidence

3.02

No evidence

3.03

No evidence

3.04

Invasive potential: not known to be invasive

http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:4Fm2nwgyPbEJ:hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/HELSPPA.PDF+Heliconia+stricta+Florida&hl=en

3.05

Heliconia bihai is considered a weed and subjected to control

Argel, P. Villegas, C. Doll, J. (1977) Chemical control of Heliconia bihai in pastures. (Foreign Title: Control quimico de tacana (Heliconia bihai) en potreros.) Revista COMALFI, 1977, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 32-36, 11 ref.

4.01

No evidence

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

rare or minor damage [resistant to deer damage]

edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_UW137

4.05

No evidence

4.06

Calonectria spathiphylli (with limited host range), Bipolaris incurvata (a specialist also attacking coconut) and other Bipolaris species, Helicotylenchus sp. (a nematode) were recorded as pathogen of Heliconia stricta as well as other Heliconia species.

http://www.extento.hawaii.edu/kbase/reports/heliconia_pest.htm

4.07

No evidence

4.08

species inhabits moist tropical habitats.

(1)http://mgonline.com/heliconia.html (2)http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Heliconia+stricta

4.09

(1)Blooms all year and can be planted in full sun to 60% shade. (2)Depending on variety, heliconias want shade, partial shade or full sun.

(1)http://heliconiaparadise.com/Heliconia_stricta_cv.Dwarf_Jamaican.htm (2)http://mgonline.com/heliconia.html

4.1

In general for Heliconia's - Soil tolerances: acidic; alkaline; sand; loam; clay.

http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:4Fm2nwgyPbEJ:hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/HELSPPA.PDF+Heliconia+stricta+Florida&hl=en

4.11

No evidence

4.12

No evidence [not know to have naturalized populations]

5.01

Heliconiaceae

5.02

Heliconiaceae

5.03

herbaceous

5.04

[Rhizomes are quite large, sold at 350 grams each -- clearly functions as an underground storage organ]

http://www.heliconias.net/heliconia_erec_stricta_tagami.htm

6.01

No evidence

6.02

AB: "In Heliconia stricta cv. Dwarf Jamaican, E was initiated in week 17 and reached 44%; T50 occurred at week 24 and T10-90 was 13 weeks; this was the species with the most irregular pattern of germination."

Maciel, N. Mogollón, N. (1998) Germination in six ornamental Zingiberales. (Foreign Title: Germinación en seis Zingiberales ornamentales.) Proceedings of the Interamerican Society for Tropical Horticulture, 1997, publ. 1998, Vol. 41, pp. 55-61, 20 ref.

6.03

Hybridization between heliconia species is probably uncommon in nature (a notable exception being hybrids between Heliconia bihai and H. caribaea species in the Caribbean ), but is becoming more common in cultivation as species that would not naturally be exposed to each other come into close proximity, and share pollinators.

http://andromeda.cavehill.uwi.edu/Heliconias%20page.htm

6.04

No evidence

6.05

The tubular flowers tend to have a "lock & key" fit with the beaks of the hummingbirds that pollinate most neotropical heliconias. Plants pollinated by hummingbirds tend toward such tubular flowers, and toward bright "parrot colours": reds, oranges, and sometimes bright yellows or bright greens.

http://andromeda.cavehill.uwi.edu/Heliconias%20page.htm

6.06

"Heliconias produce rhizomes (underground stems) and erect shoots. The rhizomes branch off and produce new shoots. "

http://www.uog.edu/cals/site/pubs/heliconia.pdf

6.07

Months from planting to flowering - 12 months [time required to flowering after rhizome planting, reproduction by seed must be longer - minimum estimate is given for a rhizomatous perrenial herb]

http://www.agrotropical.andes.com/heliconia_erec_stricta_tagami.htm

7.01

no evidence

7.02

Cut flower, ornamental plant, protection of streams, landscaping.

http://www.agrotropical.andes.com/heliconia_erec_stricta_tagami.htm

7.03

[not a food crop. Commercial propagation in Heliconias is mostly by rhizomes and not seeds; stems used in floral arrangements do not contain seeds and do not root]

http://andromeda.cavehill.uwi.edu/Heliconias%20page.htm

7.04

"Virtually all species of heliconias have fruits that are bright blue, purple, or blue-black in color. Each fruit contains 3 very hard seeds, which are capable of extended dormancy in the soil - perhaps on the order of many years. Fruits are eaten by a variety of fruit-eating birds, with tanagers and thrushes likely for most dispersal."

http://www.projectamazonas.com/subpages/floraandfauna/FloraFaunaGalleries/plants-heliconia%20gallery.htm

7.05

[no record of infestations along streams or rivers]

7.06

"Virtually all species of heliconias have fruits that are bright blue, purple, or blue-black in color. Each fruit contains 3 very hard seeds, which are capable of extended dormancy in the soil - perhaps on the order of many years. Fruits are eaten by a variety of fruit-eating birds, with tanagers and thrushes likely for most dispersal."

http://www.projectamazonas.com/subpages/floraandfauna/FloraFaunaGalleries/plants-heliconia%20gallery.htm

7.07

"Virtually all species of heliconias have fruits that are bright blue, purple, or blue-black in color. Each fruit contains 3 very hard seeds, which are capable of extended dormancy in the soil - perhaps on the order of many years. Fruits are eaten by a variety of fruit-eating birds, with tanagers and thrushes likely for most dispersal."

http://www.projectamazonas.com/subpages/floraandfauna/FloraFaunaGalleries/plants-heliconia%20gallery.htm

7.08

bird-dispersed

8.01

[Inflorescences per plant / year - 35 inflorecences; 3 seeds per fruit]

http://www.agrotropical.andes.com/heliconia_erec_stricta_tagami.htm

8.02

"Virtually all species of heliconias have fruits that are bright blue, purple, or blue-black in color. Each fruit contains 3 very hard seeds, which are capable of extended dormancy in the soil - perhaps on the order of many years. Fruits are eaten by a variety of fruit-eating birds, with tanagers and thrushes likely for most dispersal."

http://www.projectamazonas.com/subpages/floraandfauna/FloraFaunaGalleries/plants-heliconia%20gallery.htm

8.03

control measures should include immediate rogueing of infected plants or killing them with herbicide [refers to sanitary measures for controlling Heliconia diseases but no specifics of an effective herbicide treatment are given]

http://www.extento.hawaii.edu/kbase/reports/heliconia_pest.htm

8.04

'… each pseudostem will only flower once, so after flowering it is best to cut that pseudostem out." [regenerates from rhizome - common cultivation practice]

http://www.plant.id.au/guide_view.aspx?id=6

8.05

Don’t know