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

Spartium junceum (Spanish broom, Weaver's broom)

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

1

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

n

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

n

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

y

4.08

Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems

y=1, n=0

y

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

y

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

y

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

y=1, n=-1

y

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

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

y

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y=1, n=-1

n

7.07

Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally)

y=1, n=-1

y

7.08

Propagules survive passage through the gut

y=1, n=-1

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

y

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:

12

Notes

Source

1.01

No evidence

1.02

(1)Native to mediterranean Europe, now widely planted and naturalized to parts of the world with mediterranean climate. (2)S. Europe to N. Africa. Naturalized in S. Britain (3)Spanish broom is native to the southern Mediterranean region of Europe, including Spain, Morocco, the Canary Islands, Madeira, and the Azores ... Naturalized in California (4)This species has naturalized in many areas of the west.

(1)http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/plant/spartium.htm#PartTitle:2.%20SUMMARY (2)http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Spartium+junceum (3)http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=79&surveynumber=182 (4)http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weed_info/spanishbroom.html

1.03

No evidence

2.01

(1)Native to mediterranean Europe, now widely planted and naturalized to parts of the world with mediterranean climate. (2)S. Europe to N. Africa. Naturalized in S. Britain (3)Spanish broom is native to the southern Mediterranean region of Europe, including Spain, Morocco, the Canary Islands, Madeira, and the Azores ... Naturalized in California (4)This species has naturalized in many areas of the west.

(1)http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/plant/spartium.htm#PartTitle:2.%20SUMMARY (2)http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Spartium+junceum (3)http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=79&surveynumber=182 (4)http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weed_info/spanishbroom.html

2.02

2.03

(1)Dry situations amongst rocks and in bushy places, usually on limestone soils (2)It is hardy to zone 8.

(1)http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Spartium+junceum (2)http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Spartium+junceum

2.04

(1)Native to mediterranean Europe, now widely planted and naturalized to parts of the world with mediterranean climate. (2)S. Europe to N. Africa. Naturalized in S. Britain (3)Spanish broom is native to the southern Mediterranean region of Europe, including Spain, Morocco, the Canary Islands, Madeira, and the Azores ... Naturalized in California (4)This species has naturalized in many areas of the west.

(1)http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/plant/spartium.htm#PartTitle:2.%20SUMMARY (2)http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Spartium+junceum (3)http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=79&surveynumber=182 (4)http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weed_info/spanishbroom.html

2.05

(1)Native to mediterranean Europe, now widely planted and naturalized to parts of the world with mediterranean climate. (2)S. Europe to N. Africa. Naturalized in S. Britain (3)Spanish broom is native to the southern Mediterranean region of Europe, including Spain, Morocco, the Canary Islands, Madeira, and the Azores ... Naturalized in California (4)This species has naturalized in many areas of the west.

(1)http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/plant/spartium.htm#PartTitle:2.%20SUMMARY (2)http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Spartium+junceum (3)http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=79&surveynumber=182 (4)http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weed_info/spanishbroom.html

3.01

(1)Native to mediterranean Europe, now widely planted and naturalized to parts of the world with mediterranean climate. (2)S. Europe to N. Africa. Naturalized in S. Britain (3)Spanish broom is native to the southern Mediterranean region of Europe, including Spain, Morocco, the Canary Islands, Madeira, and the Azores ... Naturalized in California (4)This species has naturalized in many areas of the west.

(1)http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/plant/spartium.htm#PartTitle:2.%20SUMMARY (2)http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Spartium+junceum (3)http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=79&surveynumber=182 (4)http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weed_info/spanishbroom.html

3.02

No evidence

3.03

No evidence

3.04

(1)Listed as noxious weed in Hawaii. (2)Spanish broom rapidly colonizes disturbed habitats and develops thick shrub communities that prevent colonization by native soft or hard chaparral species. Plants grow to more than head height and form a tangle containing a large amount of dead wood. Mature stands of Spanish broom should be considered a fire hazard during the dry season. (3)The aggressive replacement of native plants and habitats, prolific seed production, and lack of any natural controls are characteristics of Spanish broom. This species has naturalized in many areas of the west. The limited populations and distribution of Spanish broom in Washington state meet the requirements for a Class A Noxious Weed.

(1)http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Spartium+junceum (2)http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=79&surveynumber=182 (3)http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weed_info/spanishbroom.html

3.05

Spanish broom spreads by seed. Spartium junceum is the only species of this genus.

http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weed_info/spanishbroom.html

4.01

No evidence of such characters.

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

http://www.omnisterra.com/bot/pp_home.cgi?name=Spartium+junceum&submit=Submit+Query&search=all

4.04

(1)It is poor forage for native wildlife. (2) [conditionally platable] AB: In Mediterranean areas, grazing is often seen as a way to control the overgrowing of rangelands and is therefore subsidized by agroenvironmental measures. But are all livestock systems equivalent in terms of impact on vegetation? Grazing on rangelands by two sheep flocks ('pastoral' and dairy) was studied in the Natural Regional Park of Luberon, south-east France. The feeding behaviour of both flocks was assessed during the winter in about 10 ha plots on the same very bushy slope. The most important differences concerned the presence of two species, Spartium junceum and Rubus fruticosus , preferentially grazed by sheep from the 'pastoral' flock. These differences are the result of a gathering of different management modalities of animals. They show that all livestock systems do not have the same impact on bushy vegetation; for instance in this study, only the 'pastoral' system allows for the removal of bushy vegetation. (3)cattle fod

(2) Lécrivain, E.; Buffin, J.; Vergnet, T. (2000) Feeding behaviour of sheep on rangelands. Outline of differences between flocks. [FT: Comportement alimentaire des ovins sur landes embroussaillées. Approche de différences entre troupeaux.] ED: Gagnaux, D.; Poffet, J. R. Livestock farming systems: integrating animal science advances into the search for sustainability. Proceedings of the fifth international symposium on livestock farming systems, Posieux, Fribourg, Switzerland, 19-20 August, 1999, 2000, pp.384-387, 6 ref. (3)http://ceres.ca.gov/foreststeward/html/broom.html

4.05

No evidence

4.06

AB: "the phytoplasmas causing rubus stunt and being associated with alder yellows, spartium witches' broom, and eucalyptus little leaf" [vague]

Marcone, C.; Ragozzino, A.; Seemüller, E. (1997) Identification and characterization of the phytoplasma associated with elm yellows in southern Italy and its relatedness to other phytoplasmas of the elm yellows group. European Journal of Forest Pathology, 1997, Vol.27, No.1, pp.45-54, 22 ref.

4.07

(1)Poisonous parts- The whole plant, especially the seeds. Convulsions are the main risk, and may be followed by muscle paralysis and coma. Target organ: Central nervous system. (2)Poisoning in humans (3)an alkaloid responsible for the toxicological symptoms, wich include: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pupillary dilatation, salivation, perspiration and dizziness. A number of cases belonging to our experience, derive by eating a rice dish prepared with broom flowers; this preparation was recommended by a magazine and cases were multiple.

(1)http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/plant/spartium.htm#PartTitle:2.%20SUMMARY (2)http://www.intox.org/databank/documents/plant/spartium/spartium.htm (3)http://w3.uniroma1.it/cav/inglese/plants/ginestra.htm

4.08

(1)Spanish broom is considered a potential fire hazard in California, when mature plants form dense, woody undergrowth in hard to reach, hilly areas. All parts of the plant are poisonous if eaten. (2)Spanish broom rapidly colonizes disturbed habitats and develops thick shrub communities that prevent colonization by native soft or hard chaparral species. Plants grow to more than head height and form a tangle containing a large amount of dead wood. Mature stands of Spanish broom should be considered a fire hazard during the dry season.

(1)http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weed_info/spanishbroom.html (2)http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Spartium+junceum

4.09

It cannot grow in the shade.

http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Spartium+junceum

4.1

(1)Dry situations amongst rocks and in bushy places, usually on limestone soils (2)The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils ... It requires dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

(1)http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Spartium+junceum (2)http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Spartium+junceum

4.11

Not a climber

http://www.ildis.org/LegumeWeb/6.00/taxa/5771.shtml

4.12

(1)Spanish broom rapidly colonizes disturbed habitats and develops thick shrub communities that prevent colonization by native soft or hard chaparral species. Plants grow to more than head height and form a tangle containing a large amount of dead wood. Mature stands of Spanish broom should be considered a fire hazard during the dry season. (2)Broom grows rapidly and so densely that wildlife find passage difficult.

(1)http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=79&surveynumber=182 (2)http://ceres.ca.gov/foreststeward/html/broom.html

5.01

Terrestrial

5.02

Perennail shrub.

http://www.ildis.org/LegumeWeb/6.00/taxa/5771.shtml

5.03

It can fix Nitrogen

http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Spartium+junceum

5.04

Perennail shrub.

http://www.ildis.org/LegumeWeb/6.00/taxa/5771.shtml

6.01

(1)The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. … Plants often self-sow in Britain (2)Flowers are pollinated by bees and produced in late March to early April.

(1)http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Spartium+junceum (2)http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=79&surveynumber=182

6.02

(1)Plants often self-sow in Britain (2)No research has been conducted on this plant’s seedbank, seed germination, or seedling recruitment.

(1)http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Spartium+junceum (2)http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=79&surveynumber=182

6.03

'Five species of Genista occur in California, along with three species of Cytisus, as well as Spartium junceum, Spanish broom. The taxonomy is further complicated by the promiscuous tendencies of broom to interbreed, so much that most of the California plants are hybrids.'

http://www.acacialand.com/canary.html

6.04

(1)The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. … Plants often self-sow in Britain (2)Flowers are pollinated by bees and produced in late March to early April.

(1)http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Spartium+junceum (2)http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=79&surveynumber=182

6.05

The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.

http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Spartium+junceum

6.06

Spreads by seed.

http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=79&surveynumber=182

6.07

Spanish broom reproduces by seed after two to three years of growth.

http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=79&surveynumber=182

7.01

"Main Method(s) of Dispersal: Ants, machinery and transfer of seed contaminated soil. "

http://www.ecoaction.net.au/ccserac/docs/weeds/spartum.htm

7.02

The fibres are used in Europe for cordage and the manufacture of gunny-sacks. The flowers yield a yellow dye. … An essential oil is obtained from the flowers, it is used in perfumery[46, 61]. 1200kg of flowers yields 300 - 350gr absolute …. A very ornamental plant

http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Spartium+junceum

7.03

Probably not - relatively large seeds. Seeds 5-10 cm long and 0.5 to 1 cm wide.

http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/plant/spartium.htm#PartTitle:2.%20SUMMARY

7.04

1)Fruit: pod with 10-15 seeds; 2-4 in (5-10 cm) long and 0.2-0.4 in (0.5-1.0 cm) wide; dehiscent longitudinally with halves splaying apart and twisting into a spiral, ejecting seeds. This species spreads by abundantly, producing seeds that are transported by any type of erosion or by rain wash. (2)Seeds fall near the plant and are subsequently moved by erosion, rain wash, and possibly ants.

(1)http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=79&surveynumber=182 (2)http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=79&surveynumber=182

7.05

1)Fruit: pod with 10-15 seeds; 2-4 in (5-10 cm) long and 0.2-0.4 in (0.5-1.0 cm) wide; dehiscent longitudinally with halves splaying apart and twisting into a spiral, ejecting seeds. This species spreads by abundantly, producing seeds that are transported by any type of erosion or by rain wash. (2)Seeds fall near the plant and are subsequently moved by erosion, rain wash, and possibly ants.

(1)http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=79&surveynumber=182 (2)http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=79&surveynumber=182

7.06

1)Fruit: pod with 10-15 seeds; 2-4 in (5-10 cm) long and 0.2-0.4 in (0.5-1.0 cm) wide; dehiscent longitudinally with halves splaying apart and twisting into a spiral, ejecting seeds. This species spreads by abundantly, producing seeds that are transported by any type of erosion or by rain wash. (2)Seeds fall near the plant and are subsequently moved by erosion, rain wash, and possibly ants.

(1)http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=79&surveynumber=182 (2)http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=79&surveynumber=182

7.07

"Main Method(s) of Dispersal: Ants, machinery and transfer of seed contaminated soil. "

http://www.ecoaction.net.au/ccserac/docs/weeds/spartum.htm

7.08

Chickens will reduce the seed bank; seeds are digested and will not germinate

http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weed_info/spanishbroom.html

8.01

(1)The fruits are flat, 6 to 8 cm long, hairless pods, green changing to black when they mature, with 10 to 16 seeds each. (2)Fruit: pod with 10-15 seeds; 2-4 in (5-10 cm) long and 0.2-0.4 in (0.5-1.0 cm) wide; dehiscent longitudinally with halves splaying apart and twisting into a spiral, ejecting seeds (3)One plant can easily produce 7,000 to 10,000 seed in one season.

(1)http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/plant/spartium.htm#PartTitle:2.%20SUMMARY (2)http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=79&surveynumber=182 (3)http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=79&surveynumber=182

8.02

'Seed viability is at least five years, suggesting that a significant seedbank is present in these stands. No research has been conducted on this plant’s seedbank, seed germination, or seedling recruitment.

http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=79&surveynumber=182

8.03

(1) Information about eradicating Spanish broom is meager because there has been little experimentation with this species compared with that for Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) or French broom (Genista monspessulana). Evaluation of the following mechanisms of renewal is therefore based on the biology of the species rather than on information derived from controlled experiments. ... Spanish broom is sensitive to applied pesticides. In greenhouse situations only mild pesticides can be used without detrimentally affecting the plants. It is highly likely that application of chemicals such as glyphosate or triclopyr will drastically reduce population size. The ramifications of applying herbicides to a plant community must be carefully considered, because effects on non-target species are likely, especially when foliage spray methods are used. A particularly effective control combination may be saw cutting followed by an application of 3 percent glyphosate (as Roundup®) to cut stems. This would remove above-gro

(1)http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=79&surveynumber=182 (2)http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weed_info/spanishbroom.html

8.04

(1)'… they can be pruned almost to the ground and will resprout from the base…' (2)This species is also an effective stem sprouter. (3)The whole root must be removed because the fragments will resprout. Mowing will encourage resprouting from the root crowns.

(1)http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Spartium+junceum (2)http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=79&surveynumber=182 (3)http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weed_info/spanishbroom.html

8.05

(1)There are no USDA approved biological control agents for Spanish broom. In greenhouse situations plants are susceptible to mealy bugs and show significant evidence of viral depression of growth. (2)Biocontrol Potentials There are conflicting reports of control of Spanish broom by goat grazing. Chickens will reduce the seed bank; seeds are digested and will not germinate. A broom aphid (Aphis cytisorum) and Eriophyes spartii both feed on Spanish broom (Hoshovsky 1986).

(1)http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=79&surveynumber=182 (2)http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weed_info/spanishbroom.html