Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


Metroxylon amicarum


RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS: Low risk, score: 0


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

Metroxylon amicarum (Caroline ivory nut palm, Polynesian ivory palm) [Synonyms: Coelococcus amicarum, Sagus amicarum]

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

n

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

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

n

4.01

Produces spines, thorns or burrs

y=1, n=0

y

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

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

4.11

Climbing or smothering growth habit

y=1, n=0

n

4.12

Forms dense thickets

y=1, n=0

y

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

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

y=1, n=-1

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

y=-1, n=0

n

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

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

y

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

n

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:

0

Supporting data:

Source

Notes

1.01

No evidence

1.02

No evidence

1.03

No evidence

2.01

(1)Native: PACIFIC Northwestern Pacific: Micronesia [Truk Island & Ponape, cult. elsewhere] (2)Found only on Pohnpei and Chuuk.

(1)http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Metroxylon+amicarum (2)http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Cabana/4705/proj98/metroxyl.html

2.02

(1) Collected from the Philippines. (2)Caroline Island and Guam.

(1)http://www.kew.org/searchepic/detailquery.do;jsessionid=
44EFF6AD606208B3E493CCFBE870BFAA?requiredPage=1&scientificName=
Metroxylon+amicarum&datasources=ipni&datasources=kewweb&datasources=kr&
datasources=pmb&datasources=herbcat&datasources=livcoll&datasources=ecbot&
datasources=sepasal&datasources=sid&detailDatasource=ecbot (2)http://www.plantapalm.com/vpe/photos/Species/metroxylon_amicarum.htm

2.03

Habit: Terrestrial; usually found in wet, swampy areas and river sides.

http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Cabana/4705/proj98/metroxyl.html AND http://www.comfsm.fm/~dleeling/botany/1998/vhp/metroxyl.html

2.04

Native: PACIFIC Northwestern Pacific: Micronesia [Truk Island & Ponape, cult. elsewhere]

http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Metroxylon+amicarum

2.05

(1) Collected from the Philippines. (2)Caroline Island and Guam. (3) native to Ponape and Truk, Caroline Islands, planted in Hawaii [some of these islands are presumed native habitats]

(1)http://www.kew.org/searchepic/detailquery.do;jsessionid=
44EFF6AD606208B3E493CCFBE870BFAA?requiredPage=1&scientificName=
Metroxylon+amicarum&datasources=ipni&datasources=kewweb&datasources=kr&
datasources=pmb&datasources=herbcat&datasources=livcoll&datasources=ecbot&
datasources=sepasal&datasources=sid&detailDatasource=ecbot (2)http://www.plantapalm.com/vpe/photos/Species/metroxylon_amicarum.htm (3) Neal, M.C. (1965) In Gardens of Hawaii. Bernice p. Bishop Museum Special Publicatio 50. Bishop Museeum Press, Honolulu. 924pp. P.570. p.103

3.01

No evidence

3.02

as suckering palms they build up gigantic swards that invade the derelict sago villages

Corner, E.J.H. 1966. Natural History of Palms. University of California Press. Berkeley.

3.03

No evidence

3.04

No evidence

3.05

No evidence

4.01

"has a trunk bearing short spines"

Neal, M.C. (1965) In Gardens of Hawaii. Bernice p. Bishop Museum Special Publicatio 50. Bishop Museeum Press, Honolulu. 924pp. P.570. p.103

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

Don’t know. But it’s a tall palm - out of reach of livestock.

4.05

The fruit (white meat) is eaten by pigs

http://www.comfsm.fm/~dleeling/botany/1998/vhp/metroxyl.html

4.06

No evidence of any associate pests or pathogens.

4.07

No evidence

4.08

"Phragmites spp., Hibiscus tiliaceus, Barringtonia racemosa, Macaranga spp., Glochidion sp. and Metroxylon amicarum are typical of freshwater swamp that has been converted but is not being actively cultivated." [probably not, grows in swampy area]

http://www.unep-wcmc.org/sites/wetlands/chuuk_st.htm

4.09

Don’t know.

4.1

Don’t know.

4.11

Not a vine - a palm

http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Metroxylon+amicarum

4.12

as suckering palms they build up gigantic swards that invade the derelict sago villages

Corner, E.J.H. 1966. Natural History of Palms. University of California Press. Berkeley.

5.01

(1) Terrestrial (2) "Phragmites spp., Hibiscus tiliaceus, Barringtonia racemosa, Macaranga spp., Glochidion sp. and Metroxylon amicarum are typical of freshwater swamp that has been converted but is not being actively cultivated."

(1) http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Metroxylon+amicarum

(2) http://www.unep-wcmc.org/sites/wetlands/chuuk_st.htm

5.02

A palm in Arecaeae.

http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Metroxylon+amicarum

5.03

No evidence

5.04

6.01

(1)Flowers on large inflorescence branches located axillary. Flowers are produced regularly which enables it to constantly bear fruits. (2) '… Metroxylon amicarum of Micronesia which is peculiar in being solitary ploenanthic palm flowering in the ordinary way with axillary inflorescencs developed from below upwards ...'.

(1)http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Cabana/4705/proj98/metroxyl.html (2)Corner, E>J.H. 1966. Natural history of palms. University of California Press. Berkeley.

6.02

[picture of seedling]

http://www.comfsm.fm/~dleeling/botany/1998/vhp/metroxyl.html

6.03

6.04

6.05

typical palm flowers [insect]

6.06

'Furthermore as suckering palms they build up gigantic swards that invade the derelict sago villages. … It is a solitary palm with suckers and it is not hapaxanthic but … '.

Corner, E.J.H. 1966. Natural History of Palms. University of California Press. Berkeley.

6.07

Don’t know.

7.01

Probably not - no evidence that the fruits or seeds have any means of attachment.

(1)http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Cabana/4705/proj98/metroxyl.html (2)http://www2.junglemusic.net/gallery2/dispimage.asp?id=764 (3)http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/Mansfeld/Taxonomy/datenvoll.afp?module=mf&ID=
botnam_13L0AK1H3&source=botnam&taxid=10746&akzanz=0

7.02

planted in Hawaii

Neal, M.C. (1965) In Gardens of Hawaii. Bernice p. Bishop Museum Special Publicatio 50. Bishop Museeum Press, Honolulu. 924pp. P.570. p.103

7.03

Probably not - (1)Fruit: Round (4-6in., 10-15cm) in diameter. Fruit skin (exocarp) is scalelike. Fibrous mesocarp; white meat (endosperm) covering embryo. Embryo is soft when young and hardens when old. (2)Photo of fruit. (3)The hard, ivory-like seeds (exported under the name of Polynesian ivory nuts, Tahiti-nuts, Südsee-Steinnüsse) are used for the production of buttons.(4) 'This anomalous species is the caroline ivory-nut palm M. amicarum of Micronesia. It is not a sago palm but one that supplies vegetable ivory from th endosperm of the large seeds.' [The above suggest that the seeds are relatively large].

(1)http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Cabana/4705/proj98/metroxyl.html (2)http://www2.junglemusic.net/gallery2/dispimage.asp?id=764 (3)http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/Mansfeld/Taxonomy/datenvoll.afp?module=mf&ID=
botnam_13L0AK1H3&source=botnam&taxid=10746&akzanz=0

7.04

No evidence that the propagules have any adaptation to dispersal by wind.

7.05

(1)Habit: Terrestrial; usually found in wet, swampy areas and river sides. (2) 'In other genera such as Raphia and Metroxylon the pulpy layer is pervaded with heavily lignified fibres and dries up to make a large round or oblong armoured nut; like the nuts of other palms, they can be floated by streams and floods which serve for dispersal.'

(1)http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Cabana/4705/proj98/metroxyl.html (2)Corner, E.J.H. 1966. Nartural History of Palms. University of California Press. Berkeley.

7.06

(1)Fruit skin (exocarp) is scalelike [not likely to attract birds] The fruit (white meat) is eaten by pigs and shrimps. (2)FLOWERS are eaten by birds [?]

(1)http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Cabana/4705/proj98/metroxyl.html (2)http://www.comfsm.fm/~dleeling/botany/1998/vhp/metroxyl.html

7.07

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

7.08

The fruit (white meat) is eaten by pigs and shrimps.[the large embryo is the source of food; scaly exocarp cannot protect from digestion].

http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Cabana/4705/proj98/metroxyl.html

8.01

(1)Fruit: Round (4-6in., 10-15cm) in diameter. Fruit skin (exocarp) is scalelike. Fibrous mesocarp; white meat (endosperm) covering embryo. Embryo is soft when young and hardens when old. (2)Photo of fruit. (3)The hard, ivory-like seeds (exported under the name of Polynesian ivory nuts, Tahiti-nuts, Südsee-Steinnüsse) are used for the production of buttons.(4) 'This anomalous species is the caroline ivory-nut palm M. amicarum of Micronesia. It is not a sago palm but one that supplies vegetable ivory from th endosperm of the large seeds.' [The above indicate that the seeds are relatively large].

(1)http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Cabana/4705/proj98/metroxyl.html (2)http://www2.junglemusic.net/gallery2/dispimage.asp?id=764 (3)http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/Mansfeld/Taxonomy/datenvoll.afp?module=mf&ID=
botnam_13L0AK1H3&source=botnam&taxid=10746&akzanz=0

8.02

Palm with a very large seed and scaly exocarp [palms have recalcitrant seeds]

8.03

No evidence that the species is being controlled for.

8.04

Don’t know

8.05

Don’t know


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This page updated 2 November 2005