Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)
RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS: Low risk, score: 3 (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 |
Cassia fistula (golden shower tree) |
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 |
n |
3.04 |
Environmental weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2) |
n=0 |
|
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 |
y |
4.03 |
Parasitic |
y=1, n=0 |
n |
4.04 |
Unpalatable to grazing animals |
y=1, n=-1 |
y |
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 |
n |
4.09 |
Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle |
y=1, n=0 |
y |
4.1 |
Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (or limestone conditions if not a volcanic island) |
y=1, n=0 |
n |
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 |
y |
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 |
n |
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 |
y |
8.01 |
Prolific seed production (>1000/m2) |
y=1, n=-1 |
n |
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 |
|
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: |
3 |
Supporting data:
Source |
Notes |
|
1.01 |
no evidence |
|
1.02 |
see 3.01 |
|
1.03 |
no evidence |
|
2.01 |
CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. |
Review of natural distribution |
2.02 |
||
2.03 |
CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. |
It is a very widespread forest tree in India, usually
occurring in deciduous forest throughout and ascending to 1220 m in the
sub-Himalayan tract and outer Himalayas, from the Indus eastwards to Assam;
it is common throughout the Gangetic Valley, central India, Deccan and South
India. In Maharashtra State, it occurs as a scattered tree in the Deccan and
Konkan forests, ascending to 1130 m in the Khandesh Akrani. It is
particularly abundant in the Bhabar tracts on the fringes of the Himalayas. |
2.04 |
CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. |
Review of natural distribution |
2.05 |
CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. |
C. fistula is cultivated as an ornamental or avenue tree
throughout the tropical regions of Asia and of Central and South America,
and in some tropical African countries. |
3.01 |
1)Irvine. Woody Plants of Ghana. Oxford University Press. 2)Long and Lakela. A flora of tropical Florida. Miami Pres 3)Little and Wadsworth. Common trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 4) Stanley and Ross. Flora of south east Queensland 5)R. Randall's garden thugs |
1) Africa (Ghana) -- occurs only in gardens, 2) Florida (persists on abandoned home sites but does not spread. 3)Cultivated and sometimes "locally" naturalized throughout the tropics 4) "possibly naturalized in Queensland 5)environmental concern in Qlnd and NT Australia but no justification available, assumption is that it is naturalized. |
3.02 |
not recognized as a weed |
|
3.03 |
not recognized as a weed |
|
3.04 |
1)Randall Garden Thugs 2) Stanley and Ross. Flora of south east Queensland |
possibly a problem in parts of Australia but no details available. 2) Flora from same region indicates "possibly naturalized" in Australia; not recognized as a weed |
3.05 |
Note: The weedy "Cassias" have been are now in the genus Senna because of important differences from the "true" Cassias |
|
4.01 |
CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. |
|
4.02 |
Joshi, R. K.; Prasad, D.; Nautiyal, R.; Pant, G.; Rawat, M. S. M. (1998) Phytotoxicity of Cassia fistula on Triticum aestivum seedlings. Journal of Hill Research, 1998, Vol.11, No.1, pp.43-48, 13 ref. |
In field observations, germination and root and shoot development of Triticum aestivum growing under the canopy of Cassia fistula have been shown to be inhibited. The effect of organic and aqueous extracts of stem bark, leaves and pods of Cassia fistula on seed germination and seedling growth of Triticum aestivum was examined. All the aqueous extracts tested significantly inhibited seed germination and seedling growth of Triticum aestivum , with the inhibitory effect increasing with concentration from 2.5 to 5 to 10%. Bark extracts tended to be more inhibitory than those of leaves and pods. Of the extracts made with organic solvents, the ethyl acetate extracts of all 3 Cassia parts were most inhibitory. These yielded flavanoids, flavonoids and anthraquinones. Bioassays of these groups of chemicals showed that the flavonoids gave maximum inhibition of germination and seedling growth of Triticum aestivum . |
4.03 |
CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. |
tree |
4.04 |
CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.;Troup RS, Joshi HB, 1983. Troup's The Silviculture of Indian Trees. Vol IV. Leguminosae. Delhi, India; Controller of Publications. |
"It is not browsed by domestic animals, and hence may be suitable for revegetating land which has become degraded through overgrazing (Troup and Joshi, 1983)," |
4.05 |
no evidence |
|
4.06 |
Shelly, T. E. (2000) Flower-feeding affects mating performance in male oriental fruit flies Bactrocera dorsalis.Ecological Entomology, 2000, Vol.25, No.1, pp.109-114, 25 ref. AA: USDA-APHIS and Hawaiian Evolutionary Biology Program, University of Hawaii, USA. |
Males of the oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis are attracted to and feed on flowers of the golden shower blossom Cassia fistula . Flowers of this plant contain methyl eugenol, the metabolites of which apparently function in the synthesis of male sex pheromone. The goal of the study reported here was to determine whether feeding on C. fistula flowers enhanced male mating success. Mating frequencies of unfed (control) and fed (treated) males were compared in trials conducted 0 (same day), 2, 7, or 21 days after treated males were exposed to the flowers. Trials were performed using flowers from three trees of C. fistula to investigate whether the effects of floral feeding were similar among different plants. For all three trees, treated males accounted for a disproportionately large number of matings in trials performed 0, 2, and 7 days after floral feeding by the treated males. For two of the trees, treated males also had a mating advantage 21 days after flower-feeding. Additional tests were conducted to c |
4.07 |
no evidence |
|
4.08 |
no evidence |
|
4.09 |
CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. |
C. fistula is a moderate light-demander and will tolerate
some shade. |
4.1 |
CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. |
Soil and physiography |
4.11 |
CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. |
tree |
4.12 |
CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. |
no evidence |
5.01 |
CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. |
terrestrial tree |
5.02 |
CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. |
woody tree |
5.03 |
Pokhriyal, T. C.; Bhandari, H. C. S.; Negi, D. S.; Chaukiyal, S. P.; Gupta, B. B. (1990) Identification of some fast growing leguminous tree species for nitrogen fixation studies. Indian Forester, 1990, Vol.116, No.6, pp.504-507, 8 ref. |
Twenty-seven tree species, whose seeds were obtained from the Plant Introduction Unit of the Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, India, were grown first in sand (to height 10-12 cm), and then in pot culture in soil/farmyard manure (3:1) for 2-3 months. Records were made of nodulation in each species, and healthy plants were selected for determination of the nitrogen fixing activity of their isolated nodules. Sixteen of the species tested (12 Mimosoideae and 4 Papilionoideae) formed nodules which exhibited nitrogen fixing activity; data are tabulated on nodule fresh weight, number and acetylene reduction activity for each. The 16 nitrogen fixing species were Acacia albida, A. benthemii [A. benthamii], A. catechu, A. lenticularis, A. nilotica, Albizia lebbeck [A. lebbek], A. procera, Leucaena leucocephala, Mimosa pudica (field collected), Enterolobium timbouva [E. contortisiliquum], Prosopis cineraria, P. chilensis, Dalbergia sissoo, Derris robusta, Pongamia pinnata and Ouge[i]nia oojeinensis. The remaining n |
5.04 |
CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. |
tree |
6.01 |
no evidence |
|
6.02 |
Sreerama, R.; Krishnappa, N.; Reddy, T. V.; Reddy, M. A. N. (2000) Effect of pre-sowing treatments on seed germination of ornamental trees. Current Research - University of Agricultural Sciences (Bangalore), 2000, Vol.29, No.7/8, pp.127-128, 3 ref. |
"At 21 days after sowing, SAT for 30 minutes recorded the highest C. fistula seed germination (9.33 of 10 seeds). " |
6.03 |
||
6.04 |
||
6.05 |
(1) Saradhi, P. P.; Ram, H. Y. M. (1981) Some aspects of
floral biology of Cassia fistula Linn. (the Indian laburnum). Part I.
Current Science, 1981, Vol.50, No.18, pp.802-805, 11 ref. |
(1) "Stamens, pollen production, the carpel and flower
abscission were studied. Starchy pollen grains were found in C. fistula
flowers on the anthers in the inner whorl and lipid-rich pollen grains on
the anthers in the outer whorl. Of the many thousand pollen grains produced
on average by one flower only 250-350 are used for pollination. It is
suggested that some heavy-bodied insects push the pollen into the hollow
stigma. " |
6.06 |
CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. |
- Ability to sucker; suited for coppicing (but does not naturally spread by vegetative reproduction). |
6.07 |
R. Criley, UH Department of Horticulture, personal communication |
|
7.01 |
no evidence |
|
7.02 |
CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.; Krishnamurthy T, 1993. Minor Forest Products of India. New Delhi, India: Oxford & IBH. |
C. fistula is widely planted in the tropics as an ornamental and avenue tree. The timber is hard, strong and durable, and although not available on a commercial scale, is used for a wide variety of purposes on a local scale. The roots, bark, seeds, leaves and pulp from ripe pods are used medicinally. In India, the bark is also widely used in tannin industry. The flowers are golden-yellow, and are used in religious ceremonies in India and Bangladesh. The flowers and buds may be eaten (Krishnamurthy, 1993). |
7.03 |
no evidence |
|
7.04 |
no evidence |
|
7.05 |
no evidence |
|
7.06 |
Santharam-V. 1998. Woodpeckers feeding on Cassia pods.Journal-of-the-Bombay-Natural-History-Society. 95 (3): 505-506. |
pods fed upon by woodpeckers in native range |
7.07 |
no evidence, large seeds fall to the ground in closed pods. Possibly eaten by rodents or cattle but no evidence. Typically piles of seeds and pods accumulate under the tree. |
|
7.08 |
CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. |
The seeds are dispersed by various mammals which break open the pods to eat the pulp and scatter the seeds in the process, or eat the seeds which are then disseminated through the faeces. |
8.01 |
CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. |
Fruit an indehiscent pod, 40-60 cm long by 1-2 cm diameter, cylindrical, pendulous and terete, containing 25-100 seeds. The pod develops numerous transverse septa between the seeds. When fresh the pods contain a black pulp which on drying adheres to the septa. (must produce >16 pods/sq m) |
8.02 |
(1) FC; Troup RS, Joshi HB, 1983. Troup's The Silviculture
of Indian Trees. Vol IV. Leguminosae. Delhi, India; Controller of
Publications. |
(1) The seeds germinate during the rainy season, some lying
dormant for 2 to 3 rainy seasons (Troup and Joshi, 1983). |
8.03 |
||
8.04 |
CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. |
- Ability to sucker; suited for coppicing |
8.05 |
Need more info? Have questions? Comments? Information to contribute? Contact PIER!
[ Return to PIER homepage ] [Risk assessment page]
This page updated 26 February 2005