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

Russelia equisetiformis; fire cracker plant

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

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

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

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

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

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

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:

-2

Source

Notes

1.01

no evidence

1.02

(1)http://www.floridata.com/ref/R/russ_equ.cfm (2)Long, R. W., and O. Lakela. 1971, A flora of tropical Florida. Miami, University of Miami Press. (3)Adams, C. D. 1972, Flowering plants of Jamaica. Mona, University of the West Indies.

(1)It has escaped cultivation and established in disturbed sites in central and southern Florida, and in other warm climate areas. (2)naturalized in disturbed sites in Florida (3) escape on roadside banks, Jamaica

1.03

no evidence

2.01

(1)USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available: http://www.ars-grin.gov/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?32571 (12 June 2002) (2)http://www.floridata.com/ref/R/russ_equ.cfm

Distributional range:
Native:
Northern America: Mexico [probably native]
Other: cult. elsewhere (2) native to Mexico

2.02

2.03

(1)http://www.floridata.com/ref/R/russ_equ.cfm (2)http://mobot.mobot.org/cgi-bin/search_vast

(1)USDA Zones 9 - 12. (2)specimens from native habitat <1000m elevation (one cultivated specimen at 1200 m)

2.04

USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available: http://www.ars-grin.gov/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?32571 (12 June 2002)

Distributional range:
Native:
Northern America: Mexico [probably native]
Other: cult. elsewhere (2) native to Mexico

2.05

USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

Present in USA: Florida, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands

3.01

(1)http://www.floridata.com/ref/R/russ_equ.cfm (2)Long, R. W., and O. Lakela. 1971, A flora of tropical Florida. Miami, University of Miami Press. (3)Adams, C. D. 1972, Flowering plants of Jamaica. Mona, University of the West Indies.

(1)It has escaped cultivation and established in disturbed sites in central and southern Florida, and in other warm climate areas. (2)naturalized in disturbed sites in Florida (3) escape on roadside banks, Jamaica

3.02

http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/RUSEQUA.PDF

plants can excape cultivation and have been found forming thickets on disturbed sites such as along roadsides and embankments. [but not being controlled for]

3.03

no evidence

3.04

no evidence

3.05

no evidence

4.01

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.402

no description of these traits

4.02

no evidence

4.03

no evidence

4.04

no evidence

4.05

no evidence

4.06

no evidence

4.07

no evidence

4.08

possibly, sprawling growth habit with no leaves (all stem)

4.09

(1)Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.402 (2)http://www.floridata.com/ref/R/russ_equ.cfm (3)http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/RUSEQUA.PDF

(1)" sunny places are prefered." (2)Full sun or partial shade. (3)full sun

4.1

(1)Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.402 (2)http://www.floridata.com/ref/R/russ_equ.cfm (3)http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/RUSEQUA.PDF

(1)"Fertile, sandy soils are prefered." (2)Grow in a humus-rich, well drained soil and fertilize regularly. (3)Soil tolerances: acidic; alkaline; sand; loam; clay;The Firecracker Plant is tolerant of different types of soils as long as they are well-drained.

4.11

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.402

"shrub, spreading, to 1.5m high with numberous green, drooping, angular stems."

4.12

http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/RUSEQUA.PDF

plants can excape cultivation and have been found forming thickets on disturbed sites such as along roadsides and embankments.

5.01

terrestrial

5.02

shrub; Scrophulariaceae

5.03

no evidence

5.04

shrub

6.01

no evidence

6.02

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.402

"Fruit a subglobose capsule, infrequently formed in cultivation." [no references found for seeds for sale or trade, always listed as "propagate vegetatively"]

6.03

no evidence

6.04

no evidence

6.05

(1) Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.402
(2) About, Inc. (2002) Top Hummingbird Plants: Plants That are Hummer Magnets! A webpage. Available at <http://birding.about.com/library/weekly/aa053001b.htm> (3)http://www.floridata.com/ref/R/russ_equ.cfm

(1) "Corolla with fused petals, tubular, 1.2-2.5 cm long, shallowly five lobed at the tip, bright red."
(2) It was listed among plants that attract hummingbirds. (3) Also visited by butterflies(?)

6.06

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.402

"Propagate by air layering where the stems touch the ground." [air layering is unaturals, don't know if naturally roots at nodes]

6.07

R. Criley, UH Department of Horticulture, personal communication

7.01

no evidence

7.02

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.402

"widely cultivated as a novelty for its distinctive habit, with leafless stems, and for its small, attractive red flowers."

7.03

no evidence

7.04

no evidence

7.05

no evidence

7.06

(1)Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.402 (2)http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/RUSEQUA.PDF

(1)"Fruit a subglobose capsule, infrequently formed in cultivation." (2)The fruit of Firecracker Plant are small, inconspicuous, and also hang in clusters. Fruit cover: dry or hard, brown

7.07

no evidence

7.08

no evidence

8.01

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.402

"Fruit a subglobose capsule, infrequently formed in cultivation."

8.02

no evidence

8.03

no evidence

8.04

no evidence

8.05

no evidence