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

Mussaenda erythrophylla (Paper-chase tree , red mussaenda, flagbush, Ashanti blood)

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

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

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

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

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

n

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

y

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:

0

Notes

Source

1.01

No evidence

1.02

No evidence

1.03

No evidence

2.01

Origin: Eastern and Central Africa, Tanzania, Congo

http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Rubiaceae/Mussaenda_erythrophylla.html

2.02

Introduced to Florida, Texas, California and Arizona

Horticopia

2.03

(1)USDA: 9b-10, likes humidity

http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Rubiaceae/Mussaenda_erythrophylla.html

2.04

Origin: Eastern and Central Africa, Tanzania, Congo

http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Rubiaceae/Mussaenda_erythrophylla.html

2.05

Introduced to Florida, Texas, California and Arizona

Horticopia

3.01

No evidence

3.02

No evidence

3.03

No evidence

3.04

No evidence

3.05

No evidence

4.01

No thorns

Horticopia

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

Don’t know

4.05

No evidence

4.06

(1)Usually not infested with pests. (2)This site does not list any associated fungal pathogens

(1)Horticopia (2)http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/all/FindRecOneFungusFrame.cfm

4.07

No evidence

4.08

Evergreen, moderately flammable.

Horticopia

4.09

(1)Sun Exposure: Growth sun to partial shade (partial shade is better in Phoenix) (2)prefers partial shade or partial sun to full sun

(1)http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Rubiaceae/Mussaenda_erythrophylla.html (2)http://www.horticopia.com/hortpix/html/pc3674.htm

4.1

Loamy, sandy, clay, acidic, neutral, slightly alkaline, somewhat drought tolerant

Horticopia

4.11

Growth Habits: Sprawling shrub to 10 feet tall (3 m)

http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Rubiaceae/Mussaenda_erythrophylla.html

4.12

No evidence

5.01

Rubiaceae

5.02

Growth Habits: Sprawling shrub to 10 feet tall (3 m)

http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Rubiaceae/Mussaenda_erythrophylla.html

5.03

Rubiaceae

5.04

No evidence

6.01

No evidence

6.02

"Seeds, which are rarely available, germinate readily at a soil temperature of 66 - 75°F."

http://miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/programs/commorn/publications/
Mussaendas%20for%20South%20Florida%20Landscapes.pdf

6.03

Meiotic studies of 4 spp. and 3 hybrid varieties of Mussaenda [M. flava, M. galbrata, M. erythrophylla, M. philippica var. Aurorae] were made. The chromosome number was n = 11 in all the cases. Meiosis was normal in the 4 spp. The hybrids examined showed various abnormalities and high pollen sterility. Two species, M. galbrata and M. flava showed exceptional pollen development in which the vegetative nucleus breaks up and the nuclear fragments are included in pollen buds which are subsequently shed from the pollen. [No evidence of natual hybrids]

SO: Cytologia-Tokyo. 1984; 49 (2): 407-414..

6.04

No evidence

6.05

"a Mussaenda species with red calyx-lobs (M. erythrophylla) attracts butterflies."

6.06

No evidence

6.07

"Plants flower within two yrs. In commercial production, rooted cuttings of Mussaenda erythrophylla can beforced into flower within 6 months."

http://miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/programs/commorn/publications/
Mussaendas%20for%20South%20Florida%20Landscapes.pdf

7.01

No evidence

7.02

Attractive flowers or blooms- Blooms appear periodically throughout the year

Horticopia

7.03

No produce

http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:A-gO6S8Ys9UJ:miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/programs/commorn/publications/
Mussaendas%2520for%2520South%2520Florida%2520Landscapes.pdf+Mussaenda+philippica+soil&hl=e

7.04

No evidence of adaptive structures for wind dispersal.

7.05

No evidence that the species inhabits waterways.

7.06

(1)Fleshy round fruits. (2)Genus characteristic - The fruit is a small (to 3/4”), fleshy, somewhatelongated berry containing many seeds.

(1)Horticopia (2)http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:A-gO6S8Ys9UJ:miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/programs/commorn/publications/
Mussaendas%2520for%2520South%2520Florida%2520Landscapes.pdf+Mussaenda+philippica+soil&hl=e

7.07

No evidence that propagules have any means of attachment

7.08

(1)Fleshy round fruits. (2)(2)Genus characteristic - The fruit is a small (to 3/4”), fleshy, somewhatelongated berry containing many seeds. [bird dispersal syndrome]

(1)Horticopia (2)http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:A-gO6S8Ys9UJ:miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/programs/commorn/publications/
Mussaendas%2520for%2520South%2520Florida%2520Landscapes.pdf+Mussaenda+philippica+soil&hl=e

8.01

Genus characteristic - The fruit is a small (to 3/4”), fleshy, somewhatelongated berry containing many seeds.

http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:A-gO6S8Ys9UJ:miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/programs/commorn/publications/
Mussaendas%2520for%2520South%2520Florida%2520Landscapes.pdf+Mussaenda+philippica+soil&hl=en

8.02

"Seeds, which are rarely available, germinate readily at a soil temperature of 66 - 75°F."

http://miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/programs/commorn/publications/Mussaendas%20for%20South%20Florida%20Landscapes.pdf

8.03

No evidence that the species is being controlled for.

8.04

Frost Tolerance: Occasionally dies to the ground, but grows back in the spring

http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Rubiaceae/Mussaenda_erythrophylla.html

8.05

Don’t know