Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


Thunbergia grandiflora


RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS: Reject, Score: 13

Note:  Risk assessment prepared for Australia

Information on Risk Assessments


        Thunbergia grandiflora
A. Biogeography/     blue thunbergia
  historical     P&C
1 Domestication/ 1.01 Is the species highly domesticated? N
  cultivation 1.02 Has the species become naturalised where grown? Y
    1.03 Does the species have weedy races? N
2 Climate and 2.01 Species suited to Australian climates (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) 2
  Distribution 2.02 Quality of climate match data (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) 2
    2.03 Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility) N
    2.04 Native or naturalised in regions with extended dry periods N
    2.05 Does the species have a history of repeated introductions outside its natural range? Y
3 Weed 3.01 Naturalised beyond native range Y
  Elsewhere 3.02 Garden/amenity/disturbance weed Y
  (interacts with 2.01 3.03 Weed of agriculture  
  to give a weighted 3.04 Environmental weed Y
  score) 3.05 Congeneric weed  
B. Biology/Ecology    
4 Undesirable 4.01 Produces spines, thorns or burrs N
  traits 4.02 Allelopathic  
    4.03 Parasitic  
    4.04 Unpalatable to grazing animals  
    4.05 Toxic to animals  
    4.06 Host for recognised pests and pathogens  
    4.07 Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans  
    4.08 Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems  
    4.09 Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle N
    4.10 Grows on infertile soils N
    4.11 Climbing or smothering growth habit Y
    4.12 Forms dense thickets N
5 Plant 5.01 Aquatic N
  type 5.02 Grass  
    5.03 Nitrogen fixing woody plant  
    5.04 Geophyte  
6 Reproduction 6.01 Evidence of substantial reproductive failure in native habitat N
    6.02 Produces viable seed. Y
    6.03 Hybridises naturally  
    6.04 Self-compatible or apomictic N
    6.05 Requires specialist pollinators  
    6.06 Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation Y
    6.07 Minimum generative time (years) 1
7 Dispersal mechanisms 7.01 Propagules likely to be dispersed unintentionally (plants growing in areas with much vehicle movement) Y
    7.02 Propagules dispersed intentionally by people Y
    7.03 Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant  
    7.04 Propagules adapted to wind dispersal  
    7.05 Propagules water dispersed Y
    7.06 Propagules bird dispersed  
    7.07 Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally)  
    7.08 Propagules survive passage through the gut  
8 Persistence 8.01 Prolific seed production (>2000/m2)  
  attributes 8.02 Evidence that a persistent propagule bank is formed (>1 yr)  
    8.03 Well controlled by herbicides Y
    8.04 Tolerates, or benefits from, mutilation or cultivation Y
    8.05 Effective natural enemies present in Australia Y
      Outcome: Reject
      Score: 13
  Statistical summary   Biogeography 8
  of scoring   Score partition:                       Undesirable attributes 1
      Biology/ecology 4
      Biogeography 6
      Questions answered:                       Undesirable attributes 5
      Biology/ecology 12
      Total 23
      Agricultural 5
      Sector affected:                                   Environmental 9
      Nusiance 2
   A= agricultural, E = environmental, N = nuisance, C=combined  

Risk assessment prepared by Rod Randall


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This page new 26 January 2001.