Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


Thevetia thevetioides


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


Australian/New Zealand Weed Risk Assessment adapted for Hawai‘i.
Information on Risk Assessments
Original risk assessment

Thevetia thevetioides (Kunth) Schumann. Family - Apocynaceae. Common Names(s) - Giant Thevetia, Cascabel Grande. Synonym(s) - Cascabela thevetioides (Kunth) Lippold.

Answer

Score

1.01

Is the species highly domesticated?

y=-3, n=0

n

0

1.02

Has the species become naturalized where grown?

y=1, n=-1

1.03

Does the species have weedy races?

y=-1, n=-1

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

1

2.04

Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates

y=1, n=0

y

1

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

n

-2

3.02

Garden/amenity/disturbance weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

0

3.03

Agricultural/forestry/horticultural weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

0

3.04

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

n=0

n

0

3.05

Congeneric weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

y

2

4.01

Produces spines, thorns or burrs

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.02

Allelopathic

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.03

Parasitic

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.04

Unpalatable to grazing animals

y=1, n=-1

y

1

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

y

1

4.06

Host for recognized pests and pathogens

y=1, n=0

4.07

Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans

y=1, n=0

y

1

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

0

4.10

Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (or limestone conditions if not a volcanic island)

y=1, n=0

y

1

4.11

Climbing or smothering growth habit

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.12

Forms dense thickets

y=1, n=0

n

0

5.01

Aquatic

y=5, n=0

n

0

5.02

Grass

y=1, n=0

n

0

5.03

Nitrogen fixing woody plant

y=1, n=0

n

0

5.04

Geophyte (herbaceous with underground storage organs -- bulbs, corms, or tubers)

y=1, n=0

n

0

6.01

Evidence of substantial reproductive failure in native habitat

y=1, n=0

n

0

6.02

Produces viable seed.

y=1, n=-1

y

1

6.03

Hybridizes naturally

y=1, n=-1

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

y=-1, n=0

y

-1

6.06

Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

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

-1

7.02

Propagules dispersed intentionally by people

y=1, n=-1

y

1

7.03

Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

7.04

Propagules adapted to wind dispersal

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

7.05

Propagules water dispersed

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y=1, n=-1

y

1

7.07

Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally)

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

7.08

Propagules survive passage through the gut

y=1, n=-1

y

1

8.01

Prolific seed production (>1000/m2)

y=1, n=-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

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:

1

Supporting data:

Notes

Source

1.01

(1)No evidence

(1)Llamas, K.A. 2003. Tropical Flowering Plants: A Guide to Identification and Cultivation. Timber Press. Portland, OR.

1.02

1.03

2.01

(1)Distributional range: Native:* NORTHERN AMERICA Mexico [Michoacan to Tamaulipas - Veracruz - Oaxaca]

(1)http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?102462 [Accessed 08 Jan 2009]

2.02

(1)Distributional range: Native:* NORTHERN AMERICA Mexico [Michoacan to Tamaulipas - Veracruz - Oaxaca]

(1)http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?102462 [Accessed 08 Jan 2009]

2.03

(1)zones 9-11 (2)cultivated in warmer areas at altitudes from sea level to 2000 m [elevation range >1000m] (3)Altitude : 0-2,000+m.

(1)Llamas, K.A. 2003. Tropical Flowering Plants: A Guide to Identification and Cultivation. Timber Press. Portland, OR. (2)Najma Dharani. 2002. Field Guide - East African Trees. Struik. Cape Town, South Africa. (3)http://www.crac-grn.com/files/Thevetia_thevetioides.PDF [Accessed 08 Jan 2009]

2.04

(1)Distributional range: Native:* NORTHERN AMERICA Mexico [Michoacan to Tamaulipas - Veracruz - Oaxaca]

(1)http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?102462 [Accessed 08 Jan 2009]

2.05

(1)Habitat: Native to tropical America, this plant is widely cultivated in the southern United States and Hawaii, and most tropical areas of the world.

(1)Knight, A.P. and R. G. Walter (Eds.). 2002. A Guide to Plant Poisoning of Animals in North America. Teton NewMedia, Jackson WY.

3.01

(1)No evidence

(1)http://www.hear.org/gcw/scientificnames/scinamet.htm [Accessed 08 Jan 2009]

3.02

(1)No evidence

(1)http://www.hear.org/gcw/scientificnames/scinamet.htm [Accessed 08 Jan 2009]

3.03

(1)No evidence

(1)http://www.hear.org/gcw/scientificnames/scinamet.htm [Accessed 08 Jan 2009]

3.04

(1)No evidence

(1)http://www.hear.org/gcw/scientificnames/scinamet.htm [Accessed 08 Jan 2009]

3.05

(1)Thevetia peruviana listed as cultivation escape, environmental weed, garden thug, naturalised, noxious weed, weed (2)Category 1 invader in South Africa

(1)http://www.hear.org/gcw/species/thevetia_peruviana/ [Accessed 08 Jan 2009] (2)http://www.weedwarriors.co.za/Pests1.html

4.01

(1)Description: Yellow oleander is a perennial branched shrub or tree growing to 30 feet (12 meters) tall with dark green, glossy, alternate linear leaves up to 6 inches (15 cm) long and 0.5 inch (1 to 2 cm) wide, with milky sap.

(1)Knight, A.P. and R. G. Walter (Eds.). 2002. A Guide to Plant Poisoning of Animals in North America. Teton NewMedia, Jackson WY.

4.02

(1)No evidence

(1)http://www.crac-grn.com/files/Thevetia_thevetioides.PDF [Accessed 08 Jan 2009]

4.03

(1)No evidence

(1)http://www.crac-grn.com/files/Thevetia_thevetioides.PDF [Accessed 08 Jan 2009]

4.04

(1)Principal Toxin: Thevitin A and B and thevetoxin are potent cardiac glycosides found in all parts of the plant and are concentrated in the fruits (2)Danger: All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested (3)In Hawaii the fruits of the tree are cultivated for their seeds that contain a strong heart drug. All parts of the tree are poisonous and the latex is an irritant that causes blisters upon skin contact. The tree should not be planted where leaf litter is in contact with animal fodder. In India the plant is reportedly used for the preparation of Fish poison...Poisonous and therefore not browsed; requires little attention once established...It makes an effective hedge as it is not browsed and tolerates repeated pruning.

(1)Knight, A.P. and R. G. Walter (Eds.). 2002. A Guide to Plant Poisoning of Animals in North America. Teton NewMedia, Jackson WY. (2)http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/57964/ [Accessed 08 Jan 2009] (3)http://www.crac-grn.com/files/Thevetia_thevetioides.PDF [Accessed 08 Jan 2009]

4.05

(1)Principal Toxin: Thevitin A and B and thevetoxin are potent cardiac glycosides found in all parts of the plant and are concentrated in the fruits (2)Danger: All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested (3)In Hawaii the fruits of the tree are cultivated for their seeds that contain a strong heart drug. All parts of the tree are poisonous and the latex is an irritant that causes blisters upon skin contact. The tree should not be planted where leaf litter is in contact with animal fodder. In India the plant is reportedly used for the preparation of Fish poison.

(1)Knight, A.P. and R. G. Walter (Eds.). 2002. A Guide to Plant Poisoning of Animals in North America. Teton NewMedia, Jackson WY. (2)http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/57964/ [Accessed 08 Jan 2009] (3)http://www.crac-grn.com/files/Thevetia_thevetioides.PDF [Accessed 08 Jan 2009]

4.06

Unknown

4.07

(1)Principal Toxin: Thevitin A and B and thevetoxin are potent cardiac glycosides found in all parts of the plant and are concentrated in the fruits (2)Danger: All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested (3)In Hawaii the fruits of the tree are cultivated for their seeds that contain a strong heart drug. All parts of the tree are poisonous and the latex is an irritant that causes blisters upon skin contact. The tree should not be planted where leaf litter is in contact with animal fodder. In India the plant is reportedly used for the preparation of Fish poison.

(1)Knight, A.P. and R. G. Walter (Eds.). 2002. A Guide to Plant Poisoning of Animals in North America. Teton NewMedia, Jackson WY. (2)http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/57964/ [Accessed 08 Jan 2009] (3)http://www.crac-grn.com/files/Thevetia_thevetioides.PDF [Accessed 08 Jan 2009]

4.08

(1)No evidence [related species with similar habit considered fire resistant plant]

(1)Bolton, J.1991. Firescaping. Horticulture 69(8), p54, 6p.

4.09

(1)Full Sun

(1)Llamas, K.A. 2003. Tropical Flowering Plants: A Guide to Identification and Cultivation. Timber Press. Portland, OR.

4.10

(1)Sandy, well-drained soil. (2)Tolerates many soils from sands to clays.

(1)Llamas, K.A. 2003. Tropical Flowering Plants: A Guide to Identification and Cultivation. Timber Press. Portland, OR. (2)http://www.crac-grn.com/files/Thevetia_thevetioides.PDF [Accessed 08 Jan 2009]

4.11

(1)Description: Yellow oleander is a perennial branched shrub or tree growing to 30 feet (12 meters) tall with dark green, glossy, alternate linear leaves up to 6 inches (15 cm) long and 0.5 inch (1 to 2 cm) wide, with milky sap.

(1)Knight, A.P. and R. G. Walter (Eds.). 2002. A Guide to Plant Poisoning of Animals in North America. Teton NewMedia, Jackson WY.

4.12

(1)No evidence

(1)http://www.crac-grn.com/files/Thevetia_thevetioides.PDF [Accessed 08 Jan 2009]

5.01

(1)Terrestrial

(1)Knight, A.P. and R. G. Walter (Eds.). 2002. A Guide to Plant Poisoning of Animals in North America. Teton NewMedia, Jackson WY.

5.02

(1)Apocynaceae

(1)http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=506004&print_version=PRT&source=to_print [Accessed 07 Jan 2009]

5.03

(1)Apocynaceae

(1)http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=506004&print_version=PRT&source=to_print [Accessed 07 Jan 2009]

5.04

(1)Description: Yellow oleander is a perennial branched shrub or tree growing to 30 feet (12 meters) tall with dark green, glossy, alternate linear leaves up to 6 inches (15 cm) long and 0.5 inch (1 to 2 cm) wide, with milky sap.

(1)Knight, A.P. and R. G. Walter (Eds.). 2002. A Guide to Plant Poisoning of Animals in North America. Teton NewMedia, Jackson WY.

6.01

(1)No evidence

(1)http://www.crac-grn.com/files/Thevetia_thevetioides.PDF [Accessed 08 Jan 2009]

6.02

(1)Each fruit contains two black seeds. (2)raised from seed

(1)Knight, A.P. and R. G. Walter (Eds.). 2002. A Guide to Plant Poisoning of Animals in North America. Teton NewMedia, Jackson WY. (2)Oakman, H. 1995. Harry Oakman's What Flowers When: The Complete Guide to Flowering Times in Tropical and Subtropical Gardens. Univ. of Queensland Press. St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.

6.03

Unknown

6.04

(1)Self-pollination is absent

(1)Sharma, O.P. 1993. Plant Taxonomy. Tata McGraw-Hill. New Delhi, India.

6.05

(1)flower robbed by Xylocopa sonorina and Apis mellifera without pollinating [related species, T. peruviana, with similar flower morphology, so T. thevetioides, with larger flowers also assumed to share similar pollinator guild] (2)bird sucks nectar of the ornamental tree Thevetia peruviana [bird-pollinated, consistent with floral morphology]

(1)Barrows, E. M.1980. Robbing of exotic plants by introduced carpenter and honey bees in Hawaii, with comparative notes. Biotropica 12:.23-29. (2) Rahman, M. M.; Baksha, M. W.; Sterringa, J. T. 1993. Ethological observations of the purple sunbird (Nectarinia asiatica Latham): a mistletoe-frequenting bird. Indian Forester, , Vol.119, No.5, pp.388-394

6.06

(1)No evidence

(1)Everett, T.H. 1982. The New York Botanical Garden Illustrated Encyclopedia of Horticulture. Garland Publishing. New York, NY.

6.07

Unknown

7.01

(1)Drupes 6-6.5 cm, broad [no means of external attachment]

(1)Woodson Jr., R. E. 1938. North American Flora. Volume 29. Part 2. Asclepiadales. Apocynaceae. New York Botanical Garden. New York,, NY.

7.02

(1)Ornamental

(1)Llamas, K.A. 2003. Tropical Flowering Plants: A Guide to Identification and Cultivation. Timber Press. Portland, OR.

7.03

(1)Drupes 6-6.5 cm, broad [no evidence & fruit too large to contaminate produce]

(1)Woodson Jr., R. E. 1938. North American Flora. Volume 29. Part 2. Asclepiadales. Apocynaceae. New York Botanical Garden. New York,, NY.

7.04

(1)Fruits are fleshy drupes turning yellow to black when ripe.

(1)Knight, A.P. and R. G. Walter (Eds.). 2002. A Guide to Plant Poisoning of Animals in North America. Teton NewMedia, Jackson WY.

7.05

(1)Drupes 6-6.5 cm, broad [no evidence that fruit are buoyant]

(1)Woodson Jr., R. E. 1938. North American Flora. Volume 29. Part 2. Asclepiadales. Apocynaceae. New York Botanical Garden. New York,, NY.

7.06

(1)Fruits are fleshy drupes turning yellow to black when ripe.

(1)Knight, A.P. and R. G. Walter (Eds.). 2002. A Guide to Plant Poisoning of Animals in North America. Teton NewMedia, Jackson WY.

7.07

(1)Fruits are fleshy drupes turning yellow to black when ripe [no means of external attachment]

(1)Knight, A.P. and R. G. Walter (Eds.). 2002. A Guide to Plant Poisoning of Animals in North America. Teton NewMedia, Jackson WY.

7.08

(1)Fruits are fleshy drupes turning yellow to black when ripe [bird and possible mammal dispersed.

(1)Knight, A.P. and R. G. Walter (Eds.). 2002. A Guide to Plant Poisoning of Animals in North America. Teton NewMedia, Jackson WY.

8.01

(1)Each fruit contains two black seeds.

(1)Knight, A.P. and R. G. Walter (Eds.). 2002. A Guide to Plant Poisoning of Animals in North America. Teton NewMedia, Jackson WY.

8.02

Unknown

8.03

Unknown

8.04

(1)It makes an effective hedge as it is not browsed and tolerates repeated pruning.

(1)http://www.crac-grn.com/files/Thevetia_thevetioides.PDF [Accessed 08 Jan 2009]

8.05

Unknown


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