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

Pimenta dioica (allspice)

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

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

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

n

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

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

n

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

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

n

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

5

7.01

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

y=1, n=-1

y

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

n

8.05

Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents)

y=-1, n=1

Total score:

7

Source

Notes

1.01

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/bot350/1996/Meade/pimenta.htm

1.02

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/bot350/1996/Meade/pimenta.htm; Evenhuis. N.L. and S.E. Miller, eds. 1995. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 1994, Part 1: Articles. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. N.41:42.

A new naturalized record of the species in the Hawaiian Islands is found in the records of the HawaiâtartFragment--> A new naturalized record of the species in the Hawaiian Islands is found in the records of the Hawai’i Biological Survey for 1994. Also naturalized in Tonga (http://www.issg.org/features/invasives_on_tonga.html) and Bermuda (http://www.bermuda-online.org/flowers.htm)

1.03

no evidence

2.01

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/bot350/1996/Meade/pimenta.htm

"Pimenta dioica, (L.) Merr. is indigenous to the West Indies and Central America. It was first identified in Jamaica about the year 1509 (U.WI-Mona 11/12/96), where it is still the most abundant. It also occurs wild in Cuba and southern Mexico, and possibly Haiti and Costa Rica. It was introduced into Puerto Rico and Barbados, as well as other locations in the tropics (Adams, 1972). In 1824, it was taken to Ceylon and later Singapore, but it did not do well in either location (Purseglove, 1968)."

2.02

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/bot350/1996/Meade/pimenta.htm

based on distribution

2.03

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/bot350/1996/Meade/pimenta.htm

"It requires good drainage, and grows best below 1,000 feet in altitude (Purseglove, 1968)."

2.04

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/bot350/1996/Meade/pimenta.htm

2.05

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/bot350/1996/Meade/pimenta.htm

"Pimenta dioica, (L.) Merr. is indigenous to the West Indies and Central America. It was first identified in Jamaica about the year 1509 (U.WI-Mona 11/12/96), where it is still the most abundant. It also occurs wild in Cuba and southern Mexico, and possibly Haiti and Costa Rica. It was introduced into Puerto Rico and Barbados, as well as other locations in the tropics (Adams, 1972). In 1824, it was taken to Ceylon and later Singapore, but it did not do well in either location (Purseglove, 1968)."

3.01

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/bot350/1996/Meade/pimenta.htm

"Pimenta dioica, (L.) Merr. is indigenous to the West Indies and Central America. It was first identified in Jamaica about the year 1509 (U.WI-Mona 11/12/96), where it is still the most abundant. It also occurs wild in Cuba and southern Mexico, and possibly Haiti and Costa Rica. It was introduced into Puerto Rico and Barbados, as well as other locations in the tropics (Adams, 1972). In 1824, it was taken to Ceylon and later Singapore, but it did not do well in either location (Purseglove, 1968)."

3.02

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/bot350/1996/Meade/pimenta.htm; http://www.hear.org/AlienSpeciesInHawaii/InfoIndexPlants.htm

3.03

3.04

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/bot350/1996/Meade/pimenta.htm; http://www.hear.org/AlienSpeciesInHawaii/InfoIndexPlants.htm http://www.issg.org/features/invasives_on_tonga.html

"Jim Space -- ""widely planted and naturalized in Tonga. We were shown one area on 'Eua where it had naturalized as a dense thicket of saplings"""

3.05

no other Pimenta spp. listed as weed (Holmes)

4.01

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/bot350/1996/Meade/pimenta.htm

4.02

no evidence

4.03

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/bot350/1996/Meade/pimenta.htm

4.04

"although no direct evidence, the essential oil may deter grazing animal"

4.05

Leela, N. K.; Ramana, K. V. 2000. Nematicidal activity of the essential oil of allspice (Pimenta dioica L. Merr.). Journal of Plant Biology, 2000, Vol.27, No.1, pp.75-76, 7 ref.

no evidence to toxic to livestock

4.06

Marlatt, R. B.; Kimbrough, J. W. 1979. Puccinia psidii on Pimenta dioica in south Florida. Plant Disease Reporter, 1979, Vol.63, No.6, pp.510-512

P. psidii infests guava and eucalyptus

4.07

Kanerva, L.; Estlander, T.; Jolanki, R.; Kanerva, L.; Estlander, T.; Jolanki, R. 1996. Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from spices. Contact Dermatitis, 1996, Vol.35, No.3, pp.157-162, 37 ref.

rare case

4.08

no evidence

4.09

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/bot350/1996/Meade/pimenta.htm; Broschat, T.K. and A.W. Meerow. 1991. Betrock’s Reference Guide to Florida Landscape Plants. Betrock Information Systems, Inc. Cooper City, Florida.

"Allspice is described as drought-tolerant with wide soil requirements, and requires high light(Broschat, 1991)"

4.1

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/bot350/1996/Meade/pimenta.htm

"Allspice is described as drought-tolerant with wide soil requirements; In Jamaica, the natural habitat of the tree is mainly wet limestone forests."

4.11

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/bot350/1996/Meade/pimenta.htm

4.12

"Tonga (Jim Space) -- ""We were shown one area on 'Eua where it had naturalized as a dense thicket of saplings"""

5.01

5.02

5.03

5.04

6.01

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/bot350/1996/Meade/pimenta.htm

Much of the crop in Jamaica is semi-wild plants from self-sown seedlings. The trees are preserved when the land is cleared and put down to pasture.

6.02

Devadas, V. S.; Manomohandas, T. P. 1988. Studies on the viability of allspice seeds. Indian Cocoa, Arecanut & Spices Journal, 1988, Vol.11, No.3, p.99, 1 ref.

"Berries of Pimenta dioica were harvested on 2 July and seeds were extracted from the berries at the time of sowing, sowings being made immediately after harvest or between 1 and 15 weeks later. For later sowings the berries were kept in polyethylene bags at 21.5-30.5 deg C. During the first 3 weeks after collection the germination ranged between 70 and 93.3%, dropping to 53.3% after 9 weeks, and to zero after 11 weeks."

6.03

6.04

Mayer, S. S.; Charlesworth, D. 1991. Cryptic dioecy in flowering plants.Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 1991, Vol.6, No.10, pp.320-325, 50 ref.

"In some dioecious plant species, including economically important ones such as grape (Vitis spp.), allspice (Pimenta dioica ) and members of the mahogany family (Meliaceae), males and/or females have large and presumably resource-costly opposite-sex structures that are sterile. This is termed cryptic dioecy and several new cases have been reported in the last 5 years."

6.05

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/bot350/1996/Meade/pimenta.htm

"Pollination in the Myrtaceae is either by insect or bird. However, pollination of this particularl species has not been studied. Personal observation indicates that the pollinator of the tree in Hawaiâhis particularl species has not been studied. Personal observation indicates that the pollinator of the tree in Hawai’i may be the Japanese White eye bird, (Mejiro), and possibly bees. It is also possible that allspice pollen may be wind-transferred.

6.06

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/bot350/1996/Meade/pimenta.htm

6.07

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/bot350/1996/Meade/pimenta.htm

Trees begin fruiting in about the fifth through seventh year

7.01

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/bot350/1996/Meade/pimenta.htm

"The ripe fruits of the allspice are soft and grape-like, and can easily stick to surfaces and be transported great distances."

7.02

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/bot350/1996/Meade/pimenta.htm

7.03

7.04

7.05

7.06

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/bot350/1996/Meade/pimenta.htm

"The fruit is appealing to bulbuls, which undoubtedly contribute to its distribution."

7.07

7.08

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/bot350/1996/Meade/pimenta.htm

8.01

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/bot350/1996/Meade/pimenta.htm

"Young trees of 10-15 years produce about 22.7 kg per year of berries. If allowed to ripen on the trees, the fruits fall in a heavy covering at the tree base."

8.02

Devadas, V. S.; Manomohandas, T. P. 1988. Studies on the viability of allspice seeds. Indian Cocoa, Arecanut & Spices Journal, 1988, Vol.11, No.3, p.99, 1 ref.

"Berries of Pimenta dioica were harvested on 2 July and seeds were extracted from the berries at the time of sowing, sowings being made immediately after harvest or between 1 and 15 weeks later. For later sowings the berries were kept in polyethylene bags at 21.5-30.5 deg C. During the first 3 weeks after collection the germination ranged between 70 and 93.3%, dropping to 53.3% after 9 weeks, and to zero after 11 weeks."

8.03

8.04

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/bot350/1996/Meade/pimenta.htm

"Allspice does not produce root shoots, nor prolific adventitious shoots after pruning. Therefore, it is unlikely that a cut tree stump sill put out shoots."

8.05

no evidence