Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


Angiopteris evecta


RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS: High risk, score: 8


Australian/New Zealand Weed Risk Assessment adapted for Hawai‘i.
Information on Risk Assessments
Original risk assessment
Angiopteris evecta (Forst.) Family: Marattiaceae
Syn: Polypodium evectum, Angiopteris longifolia
Common name(s): king fern, giant fern, mule's-foot fern, Madagascar tree fern, oriental vessel fern, giant Tweed fern

Answer

Score

1.01

Is the species highly domesticated? (If answer is 'no' then go to question 2.01)

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

n

0

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

 

y

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

y

4

3.05

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

n=0

n

0

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

n

-1

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.06

Host for recognized pests and pathogens

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.07

Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.08

Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.09

Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle

y=1, n=0

y

1

4.10

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

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.11

Climbing or smothering growth habit

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.12

Forms dense thickets

y=1, n=0

y

1

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

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

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

y=-1, n=0

n

0

6.06

Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation

y=1, n=-1

y

1

6.07

Minimum generative time (years) 1 year = 1, 2 or 3 years = 0, 4+ years = -1

See left

4+

-1

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

y

1

7.05

Propagules water dispersed

y=1, n=-1

y

1

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y=1, n=-1

n

-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

n

-1

8.01

Prolific seed production (>1000/m2)

y=1, n=-1

y

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

n

-1

8.05

Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents)

y=-1, n=1

n

1

Total score:

8

Supporting data:

Notes

References

1.01

No, this species has not been in cultivation for at least 20 generations nor has it diverged from wild varieties.

 

1.02

Answer not scored because conditions for scoring (1.01 must = y) were not met

 

1.03

Answer not scored because conditions for scoring (1.01 must = y) were not met

 

2.01

(1)"Angiopteris evecta, [is] a species native to New Guinea, coastal Australia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia" (2)"NATIVE Madagascar - Indonesia/Australia - French Polynesia" (3)"Native: AFRICA Western Indian Ocean: Madagascar ASIA-TROPICAL Indian Subcontinent: Sri Lanka Indo-China: Thailand; VietnamMalesia: Malaysia AUSTRALASIA Australia: Australia - Queensland"

(1)The Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust. 2007. Cook Islands Biodiversity and Natural Heritage. http://cookislands.bishopmuseum.org/search.asp (2)The Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust. 2007. Cook Islands Biodiversity and Natural Heritage. http://cookislands.bishopmuseum.org/search.asp (3)Sinnott, Q. Webpage: USDA Agricultural Research Service Germplasm Resources Information Network- Species Search. Accessed 2008. http://www.ars.usda.gov/search/advanced.htm

2.02

Native range well known

2.03

(1)"The species occurs in rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest to about 600 metres altitude on the banks of streams or in gullies with high moisture content" (2)Restricted to tropical and subtropical areas"USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F) USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)"

(1)NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2001) Recovery Plan for the Giant Fern (Angiopteris evecta). NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, Hurstville NSW (2)Whitinger, D. Website: Dave's Garden. Accessed 2008. http://davesgarden.com/

2.04

"NATIVE Madagascar - Indonesia/Australia - French Polynesia"

The Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust. 2007. Cook Islands Biodiversity and Natural Heritage. http://cookislands.bishopmuseum.org/search.asp

2.05

"This species has been introduced into other localities since the 18th century and is now listed as an invasive species in several regions (Jamaica, Hawaii and Costa Rica)."

Christenhusz. M.J.M. and T.K. Toivonen. 2007. Giants invading the tropics: the oriental vessel fern, Angiopteris evecta (Marattiaceae). Biological Invasions. Online First: 1573-1464

3.01

"Mule's-foot fern [Angiopteris evecta] is naturalizing freely in the Lyon Arboretum and other local botanical gardens, apparently spreading by spores shed from cultivated plants into nearby areas of the Koolau range. Populations of naturalized plants have been found in the Maunawili area of windward Oahu as well as other localities, and this fern appears able to naturalie freely in wet valleys. It soon overtops the surrounding native and exotic vegetation, quickly spawning swarms of offspring downslope/downwind of the parent plant. For this reason we discourage continued planting of mule's-foot fern as an ornamental, and we encourage gardeners to eradicate plants already growing in their yards."

Staples, G.W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora. Plants Cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and Other Tropical Places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, HI. 908 pages

3.02

No evidence

3.03

No evidence

3.04

"Vessel ferns are known to alter the natural environment, which may reduce local biodiversity … in Hawaii too the natural ecosystems are dramatically altered by dense stands of A. evecta, crowding out and outshading native species. It may therefore be a great threat to local plant diversity in the tropics,"

Christenhusz. M.J.M. and T.K. Toivonen. 2007. Giants invading the tropics: the oriental vessel fern, Angiopteris evecta (Marattiaceae). Biological Invasions. Online First: 1573-1464

3.05

No evidence

4.01

No see description: "The stipes (leaf stalks) are green, smooth and swollen at the base where a pair of ear-like stipules enclose the stipe base. These stipules are dark with large, sunken white spots."

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2001) Recovery Plan for the Giant Fern (Angiopteris evecta). NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, Hurstville NSW

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No, a giant fern

USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service Staff. 2008. Parasitic Plant Genera List

4.04

"Many Angiopteris species are endangered by invasions of other invasive alien species, such as Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae), and herbivory by goats (Capra hircus L.)."

Christenhusz. M.J.M. and T.K. Toivonen. 2007. Giants invading the tropics: the oriental vessel fern, Angiopteris evecta (Marattiaceae). Biological Invasions. Online First: 1573-1464

4.05

"GENERAL NOTE: Fleshy rhizome formerly used as a famine food."

The Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust. 2007. Cook Islands Biodiversity and Natural Heritage. http://cookislands.bishopmuseum.org/search.asp

4.06

The following fungi were listed to be associated with Angiopteris evecta. Cercospora angiopteridis, Coronicium thymicola, Meliola angiopteridis var. indica, Sclerotium rolfsii (generalist). [No evidence that the above are recognized pests].

Sinnott, Q. Webpage: USDA Agricultural Research Service Germplasm Resources Information Network- Species Search. Accessed 2008. http://www.ars.usda.gov/search/advanced.htm

4.07

"GENERAL NOTE: Fleshy rhizome formerly used as a famine food."

The Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust. 2007. Cook Islands Biodiversity and Natural Heritage. http://cookislands.bishopmuseum.org/search.asp

4.08

(1)"It is not resistant to fire but grows in wet areas that only burn under extreme drought conditions. There has been no evaluation of the potential for biological control"(2)"The Giant Fern is likely to be extremely fire sensitive and easily killed by exposure to flames or heat. The Tweed Giant Fern is restricted to a permanently damp site within rainforest that may represent a refuge from fire. "

(1)Smith, C.W. Webpage: Hawaiian Alien Plant Studies. Last updated 1998. http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/cw_smith/aliens.htm (2)NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2001) Recovery Plan for the Giant Fern (Angiopteris evecta). NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, Hurstville NSW

4.09

"Sun Exposure: Light Shade Partial to Full Shade"

Whitinger, D. Website: Dave's Garden. Accessed 2008. http://davesgarden.com/

4.10

"The Tweed Giant Fern is growing in a humus enriched, clay-loam soil developed on alluvium and colluvium. Surrounding soils on the hillslopes are red-yellow, podzolic clay-loams formed on deeply weathered metasediments, mainly greywacke and chert … In Queensland, the Giant Fern occurs on a wide range of substrates, including marine-aeolian sands, metamorphics and basalt. The species occurs in rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest to about 600 metres altitude on the banks of streams or in gullies with high moisture content"

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2001) Recovery Plan for the Giant Fern (Angiopteris evecta). NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, Hurstville NSW

4.11

No, species is a giant fern

4.12

"in Hawaii too the natural ecosystems are dramatically altered by dense stands of A. evecta, crowding out and outshading native species. It may therefore be a great threat to local plant diversity in the tropics"

Christenhusz. M.J.M. and T.K. Toivonen. 2007. Giants invading the tropics: the oriental vessel fern, Angiopteris evecta (Marattiaceae). Biological Invasions. Online First: 1573-1464

5.01

Terrestrial

5.02

Not Poaceae

5.03

Not Nitrogen-fixing

5.04

"A massive fern to 5m"

The Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust. 2007. Cook Islands Biodiversity and Natural Heritage. http://cookislands.bishopmuseum.org/search.asp

6.01

(1) Unknown. There is no data on the controlling factors in its native habitat, only speculation. Also, it is doing well in parts of it snative range "It is interesting that A. evecta is endangered in some parts of its native range, requiring conservation, even though it has been shown to be an aggressive invader when introduced into suitable new areas … On the island of Moorea (Society Islands), where A. evecta is native, it often replaces species of native tree ferns (Alsophila tahitensis Brack. And Cyathea medullaris (G.Forst.) Sw., Cyatheaceae) in secondary upland forests" (2)"This species is known from only one population, and as such is susceptible to exposure to fire, or stochastic events that may affect hydrology. At present it is known from a spring rainforest in a sandstone gorge and it is difficult to identify any imminent threats. Accessibility of the locality to feral animals such as pigs is unknown. Further research is required to establish the extent of populations and to monitor population dynamics. Propagation of material and translocation to Darwin Botanic Gardens is recommended."

(1)Christenhusz. M.J.M. and T.K. Toivonen. 2007. Giants invading the tropics: the oriental vessel fern, Angiopteris evecta (Marattiaceae). Biological Invasions. Online First: 1573-1464 (2)Kerrigan, R. and I. Cowie. 2006. Threatened species of the Northern Territory. Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Commission Paper

6.02

(1)"Since gametophytes and young sporophytes are commonly found in the rainforest surrounding the Wilson Garden and at the nearby Las Cruces Biological Station (L. D. Go´mez, personal communication, 7 February 2007), we are certain that the plants produce viable spores." (2)"The Tweed Giant Fern is propagated from spore foruse in ex situ collections, and possibly for population enhancement."

(1)Christenhusz. M.J.M. and T.K. Toivonen. 2007. Giants invading the tropics: the oriental vessel fern, Angiopteris evecta (Marattiaceae). Biological Invasions. Online First: 1573-1464 (2)NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2001) Recovery Plan for the Giant Fern (Angiopteris evecta). NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, Hurstville NSW

6.03

Unknown

6.04

Unknown

6.05

a pteridophyte (fern)

6.06

"The enormous bipinnate leaves sprout spirally from the rhizome and can grow up to 6 m long and 3 m wide. At the base of every petiole there are fleshy stipules, which have proliferous buds that can grow into new plants when the stipules break off and find suitable ground. This vegetative reproduction enables the formation of dense stands."

Christenhusz. M.J.M. and T.K. Toivonen. 2007. Giants invading the tropics: the oriental vessel fern, Angiopteris evecta (Marattiaceae). Biological Invasions. Online First: 1573-1464

6.07

"However, as a biennial H. mantegazzianum reaches the reproductive stage in the second year, whereas it takes A. evecta many years before producing spores. In contrast, A. evecta is very long-lived, and over its lifetime an individual produces billions of propagules."

Christenhusz. M.J.M. and T.K. Toivonen. 2007. Giants invading the tropics: the oriental vessel fern, Angiopteris evecta (Marattiaceae). Biological Invasions. Online First: 1573-1464

7.01

Unlikely, spores are wind dispersed and plants are intolerant of heavy traffic. "Site visitation is currently minimal. A protective barrier has been constructed a short distance from the Tweed Giant Fern to lessen the chances of physical amage. Soil compaction, particularly around the base of the specimen and accidental introduction of pathogens are possible as a result of site visitation."

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2001) Recovery Plan for the Giant Fern (Angiopteris evecta). NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, Hurstville NSW

7.02

"In addition, the plants are of ornamental value, due to their large rhizomes and gigantic leaves. For these reasons they are commonly cultivated in (botanical) gardens worldwide."

Christenhusz. M.J.M. and T.K. Toivonen. 2007. Giants invading the tropics: the oriental vessel fern, Angiopteris evecta (Marattiaceae). Biological Invasions. Online First: 1573-1464

7.03

Habitat is wet forest, not agricultural or disturbed areas

 

7.04

"Spores are dispersed by wind and spread this fern into native forests."

Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW). Webpage: Hawaii's Most Invasive Horticultural Plants. Accessed 2008. http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/hortweeds/specieslist.htm

7.05

Yes as it is often in proximity to water and there is evidence of vegetative reproduction "The species occurs in rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest to about 600 metres altitude on the banks of streams or in gullies with high moisture content"

Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW). Webpage: Hawaii's Most Invasive Horticultural Plants. Accessed 2008. http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/hortweeds/specieslist.htm

7.06

Dispersal syndrome = Wind

Staples, G.W., D. Herbst and C.T. Imada. 2000. Survey of invasive or potentially invasive cultivated plants in Hawaii. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers 65:1-35

7.07

Means of external attachment lacking

 

7.08

Unlikely to be eaten by animals, and if consumed spores would probably be destroyed during digestion

 

8.01

"A. evecta is very long-lived, and over its lifetime an individual produces billions of propagules."

Christenhusz. M.J.M. and T.K. Toivonen. 2007. Giants invading the tropics: the oriental vessel fern, Angiopteris evecta (Marattiaceae). Biological Invasions. Online First: 1573-1464

8.02

Unknown

8.03

Unknown

8.04

"The Giant Fern is likely to be extremely fire sensitive and easily killed by exposure to flamesor heat. The Tweed Giant Fern is restricted to a permanently damp site within rainforest that may represent a refuge from fire."

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2001) Recovery Plan for the Giant Fern (Angiopteris evecta). NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, Hurstville NSW

8.05

No. spreading rapidly in Hawaii "Funk (1987) described its rapid escape into many of Oahu’s forested ridges and valleys … In 1994, A. evecta was reported to have spread into the lowland wet forest above Hana on the island of Maui, where it probably escaped from cultivation in the nursery at Helani Gardens. Likewise on the main island of Hawaii, several large A. evecta plants are found outside cultivation on the grounds of the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, where it is also cultivated. It has been found naturalised in the Waiakea Forest Reserve"

Christenhusz. M.J.M. and T.K. Toivonen. 2007. Giants invading the tropics: the oriental vessel fern, Angiopteris evecta (Marattiaceae). Biological Invasions. Online First: 1573-1464


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