Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


Tabebuia heterophylla


RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS: Low risk, score: 1 (low risk based on second screen)


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

Tabebuia heterophylla (T. pentaphylla ; pink trumpet-tree, white cedar, pink tecoma)

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

y

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

3.04

Environmental weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

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

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

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

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

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

4

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

y

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

n

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

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:

1

Supporting data:

Notes

Source

1.01

No evidence

1.02

(1)Occurs on "degraded soil" on "drier hills on the edge of the valley which have suffered soil erosion as a result of earlier deforestation" (2) It is also naturalized in Bermuda and planted in southern Florida (3)sometimes becoming naturalized (4)'May not be well established in Florida'

(1)http://www.unep-wcmc.org/sites/wh/mai.html (2)http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/tabebuia/heterophylla.htm (3)Whistler, W.A. 2000. Tropical Ornamentals. Timber Press, Portland (4)Long and Lakela A flora of Tropical Floria, University of Miami Press, Miami.

1.03

No evidence

2.01

(1)Native range: Tropical America, now widely cultivated. (2) Native to Puerto Rico and widely distributed through the West Indies from Hispaniola to Grenada and Barbados. It is also naturalized in Bermuda and planted in southern Florida

(1)http://www.hear.org/pier3/tahet.htm (2)http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/tabebuia/heterophylla.htm

2.02

2.03

(1) ' It has a wide ecological range growing on wet and dry sites, on volcanic and calcareous soils. Two ecotypes were recognized (3 and 5 leaflet) growing on different soil types. ' (2)Dry forest trees showed smaller leaves, fruits, and seeds, and greater specific leaf weight. This physiological capacity along with the morphological modifications indicates why this species can maintain viable populations in the contrasting environmental conditions of the dry and moist forest habitats. (3)Roble's persistence in the natural forest, despite its slow growth, is largely attributable to its capacity to survive on poor sites where competition is minimized.

(1)http://www.edinburgh.ceh.ac.uk/geneo/tabebuia.htm (2)Cordero-Roberto-A ; Molano-Flores-Brenda 1996-1997. Germination of Tabebuia heterophylla seeds (Bignoniaceae) from a wet and dry forest of Puerto Rico. Revista-de-Biologia-Tropical. ; 44-45 (3-1) 79-86 (3)http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/tabebuia/heterophylla.htm

2.04

(1)Native range: Tropical America, now widely cultivated. (2) Native to Puerto Rico and widely distributed through the West Indies from Hispaniola to Grenada and Barbados. It is also naturalized in Bermuda and planted in southern Florida

(1)http://www.hear.org/pier3/tahet.htm (2)http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/tabebuia/heterophylla.htm

2.05

Native range: Tropical America, now widely cultivated.

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

3.01

(1)Occurs on "degraded soil" on "drier hills on the edge of the valley which have suffered soil erosion as a result of earlier deforestation" (2) It is also naturalized in Bermuda and planted in southern Florida (3)sometimes becoming naturalized (4)'May not be well established in Florida'

(1)http://www.unep-wcmc.org/sites/wh/mai.html (2)http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/tabebuia/heterophylla.htm (3)Whistler, W.A. 2000. Tropical Ornamentals. Timber Press, Portland (4)Long and Lakela A flora of Tropical Floria, University of Miami Press, Miami.

3.02

No evidence

3.03

Tabebuia heterophylla is a species which naturally invades pastures [suggesting it could be a problem in its native Puerto Rico, but no mention of it being a pest]

Zimmerman, J. K.; Aide, T. M.; Rosario, M.; Serrano, M.; Herrera, L.1995. Effects of land management and a recent hurricane on forest structure and composition in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico. Forest Ecology and Management, 77,:65-76

3.04

(1) little, if any, invasive potential at this time (2)Hear webpage states 'Invasive in Hawai‘i. Reported invasive in Diego Garcia' -- [questionable, not listed as naturalized in Wagner et al. Possibly escaping on disturbed, degraded soils.]

(1)http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/TABHETA.pdf (2)http://www.hear.org/pier3/tahet.htm

3.05

Tabebuia haemantha is a common weed in Puerto Rico.

Holms et al. An electronic atlas of world weeds and invasive species. Cd-ROM database. Version 1.

4.01

No evidence

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/tabebuia/heterophylla.htm

4.02

Not allelopathic

http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi

4.03

No evidence

4.04

No information

4.05

No evidence

4.06

(1)This site list 8 species of fungi to be associated with T. heterophylla. Meliola bidentata
Meliola tecomae
Moellerodiscus musae
Mycena citricolor
Mycosphaerella tabebuiae
Physalospora tabebuiae
Prospodium plagiopus
Prospodium tabebuiae
(2) 'Disease caused by Mycena citricolor is very important in coffee plantations cultivated under shade and to total sun, where conditions of high relative humidity appear, which they favor the development of the disease, produces a strong defoliation of the plants that I reduced the coffee production.'

(1)http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/all/FindRecOneFungusFrame.cfm (2)http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.catie.ac.cr
/investigacion/proyectos/p201.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3DMycena%2
Bcitricolor%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG

4.07

No evidence

4.08

possibly -- becomes twiggy as it ages, carrying a lot of dead wood, especially if unpruned

4.09

Shade intolerant

http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi

4.1

(1)Adapted to fine, medium and coarse textured soils. pH range 4.5 -8. (2)It grows on any soil type and will adapt to poor or degraded soils if moisture is available.

(1)http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi (2)http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/tabebuia/heterophylla.htm

4.11

No evidence - not a vine.

4.12

No evidence

5.01

Tree in Bignoniaceae.

http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi

5.02

Tree in Bignoniaceae.

5.03

Tree in Bignoniaceae.

5.04

Tree in Bignoniaceae.

6.01

In the seedling and sapling stages, roble is an aggressive pioneer.

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/tabebuia/heterophylla.htm

6.02

In the seedling and sapling stages, roble is an aggressive pioneer.
The seeds germinate in open areas and form dense stands of seedlings.

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/tabebuia/heterophylla.htm

6.03

No information regarding hybridization.

6.04

No information

6.05

Visited by bees

Pollination working group of the National Institute of Agronomic Research, (INRA, France): meeting in Paris, October 19-20, 2000. France, National Institute of Agronomic Research. 2001.Apidologie, , Vol.32, No.2, pp.175-191

6.06

(1)Vegetative Spread Rate: None (2) vegetative reproduction cannot be relied on

(1)http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi (2) http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/tabebuia/heterophylla.htm

6.07

(1) growth in all instances was slow and averaged about 1.8 m (6 ft) in 2 years. (2)R. Criley, UH Department of Horticulture, personal communication

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/tabebuia/heterophylla.htm

7.01

The propagules do not have any means of attachment.

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/tabebuia/heterophylla.htm

7.02

Probably yes -an attractive ornamental tree with pink flowers.

7.03

Seeds brown in color and conspicuous.

http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi

7.04

(1)The capsule splits along two lines and seeds are dispersed varying distances from the parent tree, ranging up to 100 m (330 ft) or more, depending upon weather conditions. Dispersal is by wind. (2)with the wind-dispersed tree Tabebuia heterophylla being the predominant colonizer

(1)http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/tabebuia/heterophylla.htm (2)Zimmerman-Jess-K; Pascarella-John-B; Aide-T-Mitchell 2000. Barriers to forest regeneration in an abandoned pasture in Puerto Rico. Restoration-Ecology 8:350-360

7.05

wind dispersal

7.06

wind dispersal

7.07

wind dispersal

7.08

wind dispersal

8.01

(1)The fruits are pods, about 8 to 20 cm (3 to 8 in) long and 6.5 mm (0.25 in) in diameter. The pods contain many winged seeds each about 2 cm (0.79 in) long.[large seed structures, < 100 per pod] (2)At 55 randomly placed collection stations comprised of 0.5 m² (5.4 ft²) screen baskets in the Subtropical Wet Forest of Puerto Rico, roble dropped 39 fruits in 39 months. [ amounts to 24 pods per m2 per year, need 50 seeds per pod to make 1000 seeds per m2, this tree is borderline]

(1)http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/tabebuia/heterophylla.htm (2)http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/tabebuia/heterophylla.htm

8.02

(1)by a conservation at low temperature, the seed viability has been extended from 2 up to 8 months. (2)A 3-week delay in sowing seeds reduced viability to about 55 percent and after 5 weeks, no seeds germinated. [does seem to form a 'seedling bank' to some extent, especially beneath mother trees]

(1)HUC-R BARITEAU-M 1987. TABEBUIA-HETEROPHYLLA DC BRITTON NEW DATA ON BREEDING AND VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION Annales-des-Sciences-Forestieres-Paris. 44 (3): 359-364 (2)http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/tabebuia/heterophylla.htm

8.03

No evidence that the species is being controlled.

8.04

No resprout ability. [this webpage has proven unreliable for this trait, but can find no evidence to contradict]

http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi

8.05

Don’t know.


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This page updated 8 March 2005