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

Schefflera actinophylla (Endl.) Harms; Brassaia actinophylla, octopus tree, umbrella tree, Australian ivy palm, schefflera

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

y

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

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

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

n

6.07

Minimum generative time (years) 1 year = 1, 2 or 3 years = 0, 4+ years = -1

See left

3

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

y

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:

13

Notes

Source

1.01

no evidence

1.02

"In Hawai`i, naturalized in relatively low elevation, mesic, disturbed areas. In Fiji, "cultivated and also naturalized in secondary forest at low elevation"

http://www.hear.org/pier/species/schefflera_actinophylla.htm

1.03

no evidence

2.01

Distributional range:
Native: (links to other web resources are provided for some distributions)
ASIA-TROPICAL
Malesia: Indonesia [Aru Islands]; Papua New Guinea
AUSTRALASIA
Australia: Australia - Northern Territory [n.], Queensland [n.e.]

USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program.
Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN)
[Online Database].
National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: http://www.ars-grin.gov/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Schefflera+actinophylla (10 May 2004)

2.02

2.03

(1) "It grows up to 1,000 m elevation in wet lowland habitats " (2) Hardiness Range: 10A - 11 (3)Rainforests of tropical eastern Queensland and the Northern Territory; The plant prefers a shettered, moist area

(1) http://www.hear.org/pier/species/schefflera_actinophylla.htm (2) http://www.horticopia.com/hortpix/html/pc4871.htm (3)http://farrer.riv.csu.edu.au/ASGAP/s-actin.html

2.04

In Fiji, "cultivated and also naturalized in secondary forest at low elevation

http://www.hear.org/pier/species/schefflera_actinophylla.htm

2.05

"widely grown as an ornamental" also listed are numrous countries where the plant present

http://www.hear.org/pier/species/schefflera_actinophylla.htm

3.01

"In Hawai`i, naturalized in relatively low elevation, mesic, disturbed areas. In Fiji, "cultivated and also naturalized in secondary forest at low elevation"

http://www.hear.org/pier/species/schefflera_actinophylla.htm

3.02

"Schefflera seeds itself very easily causing Schefflera to grow where no one wants a large tree. Roots are strong, aggressive and can take over much of the surrounding soil "

http://mgonline.com/schefflera.html

3.03

no evidence

3.04

(1)"Umbrella tree is fast-becoming a serious pest in Miami-Dade county where it aggressively invades intact, undisturbed hardwood forests and, to a lesser extent, pine rockland habitat....It is also a major pest plant in Hawaii where it sometimes constitutes the most common tree in forest areas." (2)It is a shade tolerant plant capable of invading undisturbed forests. There are major infestations in the northern valleys of Kaua'i, particularly Limahuli valley, and in Nu'uanu and Waiahole Valleys, O'ahu. (3) Dr. Philip Motooka of UH CTAHR taught a workshop on weed control for dryland forestry....Tree species treated by drilling or notching included....Schefflera actinophylla (octopus tree) (4)The major threat to Lysimachia filifolia is competition with alien plant taxa...Individuals of Lysimachia filifolia on Oahu are vulnerable to rock slides and compete for space with alien plants such as marsh pennywort, tarweed, Ageratina riparia (Hamakua pamakani), and Schefflera actinophylla (octopus tree).

(1)http://www.miamidade.gov/derm/Plants/plants_queensland_umbrella.asp (2)http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/cw_smith/sch_act.htm (3)http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/forestry/Newsletter_Pages/renewable_resources_extension__h.htm (4)http://endangered.fws.gov/r/fr94530.html [Federal Register for Friday, February 25, 1994]

3.05

no evidence

4.01

no description of these traits

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

4.02

no evidence

4.03

no evidence

4.04

no evidence

4.05

no evidence

4.06

A severe leaf spot and blight disease of potted Schefflera actinophylla trees growing in a Brisbane nursery was due to A. panax, not previously recorded on this host in Qd. Pathogenicity was confirmed experimentally.
[A. panax is a specialist pathogen infecting Arialiaceous hosts including species used in horticulture]

Forsberg, L. I. (1983) Alternaria panax on umbrella tree. Australasian Plant Pathology, 1983, Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 7, 4 ref.

4.07

Brassaia actinophylla Endl.
(syns Schefflera actinophylla Harms, Schefflera macrostachya Harms, Brassaia macrostachya Seemann)
Queensland Umbrella Tree, Schefflera, Starleaf, Octopus Tree, Australian Ivy Palm
Aplin (1976) noted that in Western Australia this species was suspected of having caused an irritating rash in a person who had handled the plant. In another case, a white female homemaker aged 33 years became sensitised by cutting back Hedera during the summer. The following winter she developed several attacks of acute vesicular dermatitis affecting the hands, wrists, forearms, and face subsequent to contact with Brassaia actinophylla grown as a houseplant. A patch test with lightly crushed leaf produced a strongly positive reaction, negative in three controls. Positive patch test reactions were also observed to some other species, namely Fatsia japonica Decne. & Planchon, Hedera helix L., Polyscias fruticosa Harms, (syn. Panax fruticosum L.), and x Fatshedera Guillaumin, negative to Dizygotheca elegan

http://bodd.cf.ac.uk/index.html

4.08

everygreen, wet habitats

4.09

(1)"Now naturalized and spreading in a variety of habitats, from cypress strands to sand pine scrub, from the full sun of beach dunes to the deep shade of hammocks" (2)most plants are produced in 55 to 63% shade; 150 footcandles, minimum of 75 footcandles.

(1)http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/schact.pdf (2)http://www.farm-life.com/Plant%20pictures%20and%20info/amate/scheffle.htm

4.1

Soil tolerances: clay; loam; sand; grows on a wide variety of well-drained soils

http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/SCHACTA.pdf

4.11

"Evergreen tree to12 m (40 ft) tall, with single or multistemmed
trunks and greenish bark."

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

4.12

"Forms dense and shady thickets"

Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world. CABI publishing. Cambridge.

5.01

Araliaceae

5.02

tree, Araliaceae

5.03

Araliaceae

5.04

tree

6.01

"Now naturalized and spreading in a variety of habitats, from cypress strands to sand pine scrub, from the full sun of beach dunes to the deep shade of hammocks"

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

6.02

"Seeds often germinate in the old leaf bases of palms or in the crotches of large trees, growing as epiphytes until roots reach the ground"

http://www.hear.org/pier/species/schefflera_actinophylla.htm

6.03

human-made hybrids for sale

http://www.plantscaping.net/medium_light.htm

6.04

no evidence

6.05

(1) "Some plants such as the umbrella tree Schefflera actinophylla, when flowering, cause bees to fall to the ground dazed, where they will sting people walking barefoot in the area. The problem can be overcome by cutting the flowers or using a temporary fence to fence off the area while bees are present."
(2) Takes nectar from introduced umbrella tree (Schefflera actinophylla) on O'ahu (E. VanderWerfand J. Rohrer pers. comm.). [nectar used by bird]
(3) The flowers, which develop in summer through to autumn, are attractive to honey-eating birds
[visited by birds and bees, but no additional information about the cause of bees fall]

(3) http://farrer.riv.csu.edu.au/ASGAP/s-actin.html

6.06

no evidence

6.07

(1)Schefflera will grow rapidly (2)moderate to fast rate of growth [minimum estimate for a fast growing small tree]

(1)http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ST585 (2)http://www.csupomona.edu/~fdgibbons/hor232/notes4.html

7.01

"Use for screens, windbreaks, hedges, specimens, street plantings, and patios. Used extensively in south Florida along freeways and turnpikes. " [also used for lei]

7.02

" It remains extremely popular both as a landscape tree in Florida and as an indoor subject in Florida and elsewhere. "

http://www.miamidade.gov/derm/Plants/plants_queensland_umbrella.asp

7.03

no evidence

7.04

"Those weed species fed on by the largest number of bird species were camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora), ochna (Ochna serrulata), wild tobacco (Solanum mauritianum), umbrella tree (Schefflera actinophylla), glossy nightshade (Solanum americanum) and Chinese elm (Celtis sinensis). "

Stansbury, C. D. Vivian-Smith, G. (2003) Interactions between frugivorous birds and weeds in Queensland as determined from a survey of birders. Plant Protection Quarterly, 2003, Vol. 18, No. 4, pp. 157-164, many ref.

7.05

no evidence

7.06

(1)"Those weed species fed on by the largest number of bird species were camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora), ochna (Ochna serrulata), wild tobacco (Solanum mauritianum), umbrella tree (Schefflera actinophylla), glossy nightshade (Solanum americanum) and Chinese elm (Celtis sinensis). " (2)Bird-dispersed fleshy fruits (3)the fleshy fruits are attractive to fruit-eating birds.

Stansbury, C. D. Vivian-Smith, G. (2003) Interactions between frugivorous birds and weeds in Queensland as determined from a survey of birders. Plant Protection Quarterly, 2003, Vol. 18, No. 4, pp. 157-164, many ref. (2)http://www.hear.org/pier/species/schefflera_actinophylla.htm (3)http://farrer.riv.csu.edu.au/ASGAP/s-actin.html

7.07

no evidence

7.08

bird-dispersed

8.01

(1) Flowers 25 mm (1 in) across, borne in dense clusters that form a large, red, showy inflorescence at stem tips above foliage. Fruit a purplish black, round, fleshy drupe to 7 mm (1/4 in) in diameter
(2) fruit 10-12-seeded, nutlets purple
[probably yes, dense, relatively small fruits with 10-12 nutlets each]

(1) http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/schact.pdf
(2) http://www.hear.org/pier/species/schefflera_actinophylla.htm

8.02

"seeds are spread in bird droppings and germinate readily" [no evidence of seed dormancy]

http://farrer.riv.csu.edu.au/ASGAP/s-actin.html

8.03

"Imazapyr injected by the sidewinder stem injection system was highly effective on very large trees. Glyphosate and metsulfuronmethyl were also effective using the sidewinder stem injection technique. Amitrole T in a dieseline carrier was effective using the frill ringing technique, although laborious if used over a large area. Triclopyr ester, triclopyr + picloram esters in a methanol based carrier (racing fuel), and to a lesser extent in the diesel carrier, proved to be the most efficacious when using the basal stem method of application."

http://www.northcoastweeds.org.au/site-files/docs/forum04/umbrella-sparkes.pdf

8.04

(1)"Branches and trunk can re- sprout if left on the ground" (2)It takes a huge amount of reckless pruning without a hint of a problem.

(1)http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/register/p01188ak.pdf (2)http://plantsdatabase.com/go/37035

8.05

no evidence