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

Macfadyena unguis-cati (yellow trumpet vine, cat's claw vine)

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

y

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

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

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

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

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

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

7.01

Propagules likely to be dispersed unintentionally (plants growing in heavily trafficked areas)

y=1, n=-1

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

y

7.05

Propagules water dispersed

y=1, n=-1

y

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y=1, n=-1

n

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

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:

17

Source

Notes

1.01

No evidence

1.02

(1) 'A serious environmental weed in sub-tropical southeast Queensland.' Reported moderately invasive in New Caledonia (2)Naturalized in Queensland, Australia

(1)http://www.hear.org/pier/maung.htm (2)Stanley, T.D. and Ross, E.M. 1986. Flora of southeastern Queensland. Queensland Dept of Primary Industries

1.03

No evidence

2.01

Native range: Tropical America

http://www.hear.org/pier/maung.htm

2.02

2.03

(1)USDA zones 8a to 11a. (2)Most specimens collected 50-1500 m elevation

(1)Plant Master. CDROM database. Version 5.5 (2)http://mobot.mobot.org/cgi-bin/search_vast

2.04

Native range: Tropical America

http://www.hear.org/pier/maung.htm

2.05

(1)Introduced to: Pacific islands: Cook Islands (Rarotonga (cult.)), Hawai‘i, New Caledonia, Niue
A serious environmental weed in sub-tropical southeast Queensland.
(2)SE USA

(1)http://www.hear.org/pier/maung.htm (2)http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/macung.pdf

3.01

(1) 'A serious environmental weed in sub-tropical southeast Queensland.' Reported moderately invasive in New Caledonia (2)Naturalized in Queensland, Australia

(1)http://www.hear.org/pier/maung.htm (2)Stanley, T.D. and Ross, E.M. 1986. Flora of southeastern Queensland. Queensland Dept of Primary Industries

3.02

No evidence of garden weeed

3.03

AB: "The exotic cat's claw creeper, M. unguis-cati , was introduced into South Africa as an ornamental species and is in the early stages of invasion. Natural forests are particularly at risk and woodlands, plantations, orchards and disturbed areas are also invaded." [plantation / orchard weed, subject to biocontrol research ]

Sparks, H. E. (1999) The initiation of a biological control programme against Macfadyena unguis-cati (L.) Gentry (Bignoniaceae) in South Africa. Editors: Olckers, T.; Hill, M. P. Biological control of weeds in South Africa (1990-1998)., 1999, pp.153-157, 12 ref.

3.04

(1) 'It has invaded riparian vegetation in south-east, coastal Queensland and in north-east, coastal New South Wales. ' (2)Considered a pest in many places (Odenwald and Turner 1980); a “troublesome weed” in southern Florida, “not recommended” (Nelson 1996). Increasingly spreading into natural areas in northern Florida (D. B. Ward, University of Florida, 1994 personal communication). Has become dominant ground cover in undisturbed hammocks by Lake George; Also reported as rapidly spreading in 4 hammock preserves in Dade County (EPPC 1996). (3)Florida -- Category I - Invasive = exotics that are altering native plant communities by displacing native species, changing community structures or ecological functions, or hybridizing with natives. (4)The largest remaining indigenous forest in South Africa, the Grootvadersbosch, is threatened by a large infestation on its eastern boundary, which has already severely degraded some of the bordering indigenous forest despite costly control attempts.

(1)http://www.hear.org/pier/maung.htm (2)http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/macung.pdf (3)http://www.fleppc.org/03list.htm (4)http://pest.cabweb.org/Journals/BNI/BNI20-4/Gennews.htm

3.05

No evidence

4.01

No evidence ["claws" are hook-like attachments]

http://www.hear.org/pier/maung.htm

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

'It can survive grazing and fire …' [This suggests that M. unguis-cati is probably grazed upon and hence is palatable.]

http://216.239.37.100/search?q=cache:QYkrWTmQqGgC:www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/Macfadyena%2520unguis-cati.pdf+Macfadyena+unguis-cati+&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

4.05

No evidence

4.06

The fungus - Uropyxis rickiana was found to be associated with. M. unguis-cati. Did not find this to be a recognized pest.

http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/all/FindRecOneFungusFrame.cfm

4.07

No evidence

4.08

(1) 'It can survive grazing and fire …' (2)An evergreen vine. [dead vines hanginig on vegetation are a possible fire hazard, but the plant is normally evergreen]

(1)http://216.239.37.100/search?q=cache:QYkrWTmQqGgC:www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/Macfadyena%2520unguis-cati.pdf+Macfadyena+unguis-cati+&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 (2)http://www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au/newsletters/issue4/catsclaw.html

4.09

(1) 'Cat's claw is moderately shade tolerant as a young plant and grows in both full sun and under forest canopies.' (2)Cat's Claw Creeper is highly tolerant of low light situations,

(1)http://216.239.37.100/search?q=cache:QYkrWTmQqGgC:www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/Macfadyena%2520unguis-cati.pdf+Macfadyena+unguis-cati+&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 (2)http://www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au/newsletters/issue4/catsclaw.html

4.1

(1)Clay, loamy and rocky soilswith neutral pH. (2) 'It prefers fertile, well drained soils, but appears to tolerate most soil types, particularly alluvial soils.' (3)a wide variety of soils

(1)Plant Master. CDROM database. Version 5.5 (2)http://www.hear.org/pier/maung.htm

4.11

(1)A clinging vine. 'This semi-evergreen vine exhibits vigorous growth with tendrils that cling to any surface.' (2) 'As such, the plant can form a dense mat which carpets the forest floor. The vine climbs standing vegetation and can smother native trees and shrubs.'

(1)Plant Master. CDROM database. Version 5.5 (2)http://www.hear.org/pier/maung.htm (3)http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/macung.pdf

4.12

No evidence (a vine)

5.01

A clinging vine.

Plant Master. CDROM database. Version 5.5

5.02

Bignoniaceae

5.03

Bignoniaceae

5.04

(1) A woody vine. 'Root tubers and stolons form in the plant's second year …' (2)tuberlike storage organs;

(1)http://www.hear.org/pier/maung.htm (2)http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/macung.pdf

6.01

'… there are actually two periods of flowering in Puerto Rico, both during dry seasons…'

http://216.239.37.100/search?q=cache:QYkrWTmQqGgC:www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/Macfadyena%2520unguis-cati.pdf+Macfadyena+unguis-cati+&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

6.02

Seedlings are common and widespread in suitable habitat.

http://216.239.37.100/search?q=cache:QYkrWTmQqGgC:www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/Macfadyena%2520unguis-cati.pdf+Macfadyena+unguis-cati+&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

6.03

No evidence

6.04

A surprising finding was that about 20% of the seeds produced multiple seedlings (sometimes as many as three). This is strong circumstantial evidence that cat’s claw creeper is apomictic, i.e. capable of producing seeds asexually, in addition to the more usual sexual process.

http://www.cpitt.uq.edu.au/biocontrol/pest_plant_management/weeds_in_seq.htm

6.05

Tubular corolla -- appears too long and narrow for bees but don't know

http://www.csupomona.edu/~tbhfujimoto/HOR233/List8/Macfadyena_unguis-cati.html

6.06

(1) 'Root tubers and stolons form in the plant's second year and can subsequently form at each leaf node while the vine is prostrate.' (2) 'Branches and runners with adventitious aerial roots.'

(1)http://www.hear.org/pier/maung.htm (2)http://216.239.37.100/search?q=cache:YCfRmrF9PZ4C:www.fleppc.org/pdf/Macfadyena%2520unguis-cati.pdf+Macfadyena+unguis-cati+&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

6.07

may not begin flowering until vine is well established

http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/macung.pdf

7.01

[fragments in garden waste? But no documented evidence]

http://www.hear.org/pier/maung.htm

7.02

Probably yes - an ornamental vine. 'This semi-evergreen vine exhibits vigorous growth with tendrils that cling to any surface. Its glossy green leaves show off bright yellow flowers in the spring season.'

Plant Master. CDROM database. Version 5.5

7.03

Probably not- seeds relatively large - 'Seeds 1-1.8 cm long, 4.2-5.8 cm wide…'

http://www.hear.org/pier/maung.htm

7.04

Seeds 1-1.8 cm long, 4.2-5.8 cm wide, the wings membranous, not sharply demarcated from the seed body."

http://www.hear.org/pier/maung.htm

7.05

This seed is spread by wind and water. A large number of the infestations in Brisbane occur along the creek systems where the seed source has obviously come downstream during floods and during normal stream flow.

http://www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au/newsletters/issue4/catsclaw.html

7.06

7.07

7.08

No evidence of consumption

8.01

Probably not - seeds relatively large -'Seeds 1-1.8 cm long, 4.2-5.8 cm wide, the wings membranous, not sharply demarcated from the seed body.'

http://www.hear.org/pier/maung.htm

8.02

(1)Germinates in 3 - 6 weeks, a few stragglers taking up to 20 weeks. (2) A preliminary study of the germination of cat’s claw creeper seeds showed very low levels of dormancy (between 5-15%) in freshly shed seed. This is consistent with observations indicating that cat’s claw creeper seeds are relatively short-lived, not surviving for 12 months in the field.

(1)http://www.jlhudsonseeds.net/SeedlistM-N.htm (2)http://www.cpitt.uq.edu.au/biocontrol/pest_plant_management/weeds_in_seq.htm

8.03

(1) 'The only means of control recommended at present is to cut the vines and paint the cut ends with glyphosate herbicide (Stockard 2001). However, Vélez and van Overbook (1950) report that older plants are killed by simply cutting the stems.' (2) 'Ground cover carpets of Cat's Claw can also be foliar sprayed to great effect. Infestations treated in this way do not need to be cut and painted.' (3)Chemical control kills only the topgrowth and is thus at best a temporary solution, and is, in any case, inappropriate in natural forests.[conflicting information]

(1)http://216.239.37.100/search?q=cache:QYkrWTmQqGgC:www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/Macfadyena%2520unguis-cati.pdf+Macfadyena+unguis-cati+&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 (2)http://www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au/newsletters/issue4/catsclaw.html (3)http://pest.cabweb.org/Journals/BNI/BNI20-4/Gennews.htm

8.04

(1) 'Young plants sprout when damaged …' (2)rim down hard after bloom to prevent the plant from becoming top-heavy. Necessitates frequent pruning to keep balanced.

(1)http://216.239.37.100/search?q=cache:QYkrWTmQqGgC:www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/Macfadyena%2520unguis-cati.pdf+Macfadyena+unguis-cati+&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 (2)http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Bignoniaceae/Macfadyena_unguis-cati.html

8.05

(1) 'A more practical long-term solution is hoped for in the ongoing biological control introductions in several countries.' (2) 'In 1996, a leaf-feeding tortoise beetle, Charidotis auroguttata (Boheman 1855), was introduced from Venezuela. Following routine screening in quarantine, permission for the release of C. auroguttata was granted in autumn 1999.' [in South Africa, not Hawaii]

(1)http://216.239.37.100/search?q=cache:QYkrWTmQqGgC:www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/Macfadyena%2520unguis-cati.pdf+Macfadyena+unguis-cati+&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 (2)Williams-Hester-E. 2002. Life history and laboratory host range of Charidotis auroguttata (Boheman) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), the first natural enemy released against Macfadyena unguis-cati (L.) Gentry (Bignoniaceae) in South Africa. Coleopterists-Bulletin. 2002; 56 (2): 299-307.