Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


Solanum seaforthianum


RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS: High risk, score: 9


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

Solanum seaforthianum (Brazilian nightshade, St. Vincent's lilac)

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

y

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

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

y

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

y

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

y=-1, n=0

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

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

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

y

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:

9

Supporting data:

Source

Notes

1.01

No evidence

1.02

(1) 'Common weed in Venezuela.' (2) 'Native to West Indies, but widely grown as an ornamental and now naturalized in many tropical areas, in Hawaii naturalized in low elevation disturbed areas…'

(1)Debrot, E.A. et al. 1977. Solanum seaforthianum, a weed host of eggplant mosaic virus in Venezuala. Plant disease reporter. 61(8): 628 - 631. (2)Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.

1.03

No evidence

2.01

'Native to West Indies, but widely grown as an ornamental and now naturalized in many tropical areas, in Hawaii naturalized in low elevation disturbed areas…'

Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.

2.02

2.03

Hardiness range 10 to 11.

http://www.neoflora.com/cgi-bin/plant_profile.cgi?plant_sid=7652

2.04

'Native to West Indies, but widely grown as an ornamental and now naturalized in many tropical areas, in Hawaii naturalized in low elevation disturbed areas…'

Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.

2.05

Introduced to (1)Venezuela, (2)Hawaii, (3)India and (4)Japan.

(1)Debrot, E.A. et al. 1977. Solanum seaforthianum, a weed host of eggplant mosaic virus in Venezuala. Plant disease reporter. 61(8): 628 - 631. (2)Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu. (3)Naithani, H. B. 1990. Flowering plants of India, Nepal and Bhutan. Surya publications. (4)Walker, E.H> Flora of Okinawa and the Southern Ryukyu islands. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington D,C.

3.01

(1) 'Common weed in Venezuela.' (2) 'Native to West Indies, but widely grown as an ornamental and now naturalized in many tropical areas, in Hawaii naturalized in low elevation disturbed areas…'

(1)Debrot, E.A. et al. 1977. Solanum seaforthianum, a weed host of eggplant mosaic virus in Venezuala. Plant disease reporter. 61(8): 628 - 631. (2)Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.

3.02

No evidence.

3.03

No evidence

3.04

(1)'...invasive on rainforest edges and disturbed areas.' (2)Listed as a weed in Africa by the National Botanical Institute -South Africa (Category 1). (3)It is listed as a weed in bushland along Pullen Reach, Brisbane River, in Westlake, and various other areas in the Centenary Suburbs of Brisbane, Queensland. (4) A category 2 weed in Australia --Weeds that may be difficult to control within their preferred habitat but are generally less invasive than those in the categories 1 and 1A. [Could be classified as a disturbance weed instead of an environmental weed]

(1)http://www.hear.org/pier3/sosea.htm (2)http://www.plantzafrica.com/miscell/aliens2.htm (3)http://members.ozemail.com.au/~eparker/floraw.htm (4)http://www.mackay.qld.gov.au/publications/vegplan.pdf

3.05

S. grossedentatum is a principal weed in Kenya. S. hamulosum is a common weed in Australia.

An electronic atlas of weeds and invasive species. Version 1. 1997. CD-ROM database.

4.01

Unarmed.

Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

No information

4.05

No evidence that this species is poisonous, but some other species is this genera like S. nigrum, S. carolinense, and S. dulcamara are poisonous to animals.

4.06

(1)Alternaria sp and Cephalosporium lecanii - did not find these to be recognized pests.
(2)Host for the eggplant mosaic tymovirus - another host of this virus is the tomato plant.

(1)http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/all/FindRecOneFungusFrame.cfm (2)http://image.fs.uidaho.edu/vide/descr318.htm#Taxonomy

4.07

Fruit toxic to humans but no evidence of fruit being eaten

Austin, D. F. 1998. Poisonous Plants of Southern Florida. Published on WWW at http://www.fau.edu/divdept/science/envsci/poison-pl.html

4.08

Unlikely, herbaceous

4.09

(1)Sun to full sun. (2)Partial shade, especially in afternoon.

(1)http://www.neoflora.com/cgi-bin/plant_profile.cgi?plant_sid=7652 (2)http://www.streetside.com/plants/floridata/ref/s/solanum.htm

4.1

Sandy to clay. pH 7 to 8.

http://www.neoflora.com/cgi-bin/plant_profile.cgi?plant_sid=7652

4.11

It is a problematic climber/vine in rainforest fragments

http://www.nor.com.au/environment/greenwork/regen.htm

4.12

No evidence.

5.01

5.02

Climber, 3 to 4 m tall (Solanaceae).

Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.

5.03

5.04

6.01

No evidence.

6.02

Propagation by seed.

http://www.hear.org/pier3/sosea.htm

6.03

No information regarding hybridization.

6.04

Self-compatible.

Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.

6.05

No information.

6.06

Propagation by seed.

http://www.hear.org/pier3/sosea.htm

6.07

No information.

7.01

Probably not as the propagules do not have any means of attachment.

7.02

Probably yes because - 'Showy flowers with decorative berries or fruits.'

http://www.neoflora.com/cgi-bin/plant_profile.cgi?plant_sid=7652

7.03

Probably not - relatively large seed size - 2 to 3 mm in diameter.

Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.

7.04

7.05

7.06

Bird dispersed.

http://www.hear.org/pier3/sosea.htm

7.07

7.08

Bird-dispersed, so the seeds probably survive passage through the gut of birds.

8.01

(1)Fruit is a berry, globose, bright red and succulent. Seed, reddish brown, compressed and about 2-3 mm in diameter, shaggy and pubescent. (2)Many seeds [estimate 1 dozen seeds per fruit, so possibly approaching 1000 seeds per m2]

(1)Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu. (2)http://flora.sut.ac.th/st144.html

8.02

No information on seed bank.

8.03

Several different herbicides have been reported for use in controlling Solanum species alone or in combinations

http://www.agron.iastate.edu/~weeds/WeedBiolLibrary/solanumbiblio.html

8.04

No information.

8.05

Don’t know.


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This page updated 8 March 2005