Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


Casuarina cunninghamiana


RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS: High risk, score: 12


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

Casuarina cunninghamiana (cunninghamia beefwood, river sheoak)

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

y

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

y

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

n

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

n

4.08

Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems

y=1, n=0

y

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

y

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

y

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

y=1, n=-1

n

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

3

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

y

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

y

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

y

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:

12

Supporting data:

Source

Notes

1.01

No evidence.

1.02

C. cunninghamiana is naturalized to the southwestern and southeastern coastal areas of Florida as far north as Tampa and Titusville.

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/casuarina/casaurina.htm

1.03

No evidence.

2.01

C. cunninghamiana is endemic to Australia. C. cunninghamia is adapted to warm humid and sub-humid climates.

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

2.02

2.03

It has a natural range of 12°-38°S and an altitudinal range 0-1000 m. C. cunninghamiana occurs under a wide range of climatic and edaphic conditions, and has proven very adaptable when planted as an exotic. 2) Native range:It typically occurs in pure stands along freshwater streams and rivers, extending to adjacent valley flats and rarely hillsides. The altitudinal range of the main occurrence is 100-500 m

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. 2)http://www.winrock.org/forestry/factpub/FACTSH/C_cunninghamiana.html

2.04

'Native to eastern and northern Australia and naturalized in Florida.

2.05

It has been widely planted in Africa, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, New Zealand, western USA and Central and South America, in woodlots, shelterbelts and parks, and along roadsides, rivers and canals.

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

3.01

C. cunninghamiana is naturalized to the southwestern and southeastern coastal areas of Florida as far north as Tampa and Titusville. 2)In Florida, USA, C. cunninghamiana has naturalized in wild areas as a result of seed spread along watercourses

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/casuarina/casaurina.htm 2)http://www.winrock.org/forestry/factpub/FACTSH/C_cunninghamiana.html

3.02

No evidence.

3.03

No evidence.

3.04

Category II environmental weed (FLEPPC), Prohibited by Fla. Dept. of Environmental Protection

http://www.fleppc.org/99list.htm

3.05

C. equisetifolia is an environmental weed in Florida and Hawai‘i

NAS (National Academy of Sciences). 1984. Casuarinas: Nitrogen-fixing trees for adverse sites. Innovations in tropical reforestation. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C

4.01

No evidence.

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

4.02

Not allelopthic.

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

4.03

No evidence.

4.04

The foliage is palatable to sheep and cattle, but is considered useful only as emergency drought fodder (Bulloch 1986, Turnbull et al. 1986).

http://www.winrock.org/forestry/factpub/FACTSH/C_cunninghamiana.html

4.05

Not toxic.

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

4.06

Pests recorded
Insect pests:
Kalotermes flavicollis [1]
Macrotoma palmata [2]
Rhyparida limbatipennis [3]
Stromatium fulvum [4]
Bacterial diseases:
Ralstonia solanacearum [5]
Ralstonia solanacearum [5]
Footnotes:
1. termites
2. beetle
3. Leaf-eating chrysomelid beetle which causes defoliation.
4. beetles
5. bacterial wilt
(2)Lists 12 fungi species to be associated with C. cunninghamiana. (3)The above bacteria Ralstonia solanacearum causes progressive wilting leading to plant death in members of the family Solanaceae like tomatoes, bell pepper, egg plant, potato and tobacco.

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/all/FindRecOneFungusFrame.cfm (3)http://www2.ctahr.hawaii.edu/adap2/information/pubs/2000-2.pdf

4.07

No evidence.

4.08

It is relatively fire-sensitive, especially when young.

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

4.09

Shade intolerant.

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

4.1

'...is adaptable to a wide range of edaphic conditions in cultivation, including drought, periodic waterlogging, acid to moderately alkaline sandy to clay soils, and sites of moderate salinity.' Soil types: acid soils; alluvial soils; clay soils; saline soils; sandy soils. 2)occurs primarily on well-drained, light-textured sandy or gravelly soils and, less frequently, on clay soils. In cultivation, C. cunninghamiana also performs better on sandy loam rather than heavy clay soils (El-Lakany et al. 1982.) Soil pH is generally acidic to neutral. 'ne species is only moderately salt tolerant, and reportedly becomes chlorotic on highly calcareous soils (Turnbull et al. 1986). (suggests not tolerant of wide range)

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. 2)http://www.winrock.org/forestry/factpub/FACTSH/C_cunninghamiana.html

4.11

Not a vine. No evidence.

4.12

No evidence.

5.01

5.02

5.03

It is a nitrogen fixing evergreen tree.

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

5.04

6.01

No evidence.

6.02

Despite the trend in China towards vegetative (cuttings) propagation, most planting stock is produced from seed, since seed production is so prolific and germination occurs easily. There is an average of 607,200 viable seeds/kg

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

6.03

Natural hybrids occur between C. cunninghamiana and both C. glauca and C. cristata.

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

6.04

(1)The flowers are dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). The plant not is self-fertile. (2)The species is mostly dioecious with individuals bearing unisex flowers in an approximate 1:1 mix of both sexes, but monoecious individuals exist.

(1)http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Casuarina+cunninghamiana (2)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

6.05

It is wind pollinated.

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

6.06

(1)Propagated by seed. No vegetative spread rate. (2) Propagation by root suckers is infrequent.

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

6.07

Age to first flowering in this species was 16-29 months in trials in southeastern Queensland, Australia. Seeds require several months to mature.

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

7.01

Propagules have no means of attachment.

7.02

The species is not a valued ornamental nor does it produce edible fruits.

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

7.03

The seeds are relatively big 3-4 mm.

7.04

The individual fruit is a small, pale greyish, winged single-seeded samara 3-4 mm long, supported by two bracteoles and one bract. The seeds are relatively small in comparison with other casuarinas: the weight of 1000 seeds is 0.56-0.57 g

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

7.05

dispersed by water along waterways

http://www.winrock.org/forestry/factpub/FACTSH/C_cunninghamiana.html

7.06

7.07

Propagules have no means of attachment.

7.08

No evidence.

8.01

The individual fruit is a small, pale greyish, winged single-seeded samara 3-4 mm long, supported by two bracteoles and one bract. The cones are small, sparsely pubescent, subglobose, about 7-14 mm long and 4-6 mm diameter and each cone contain about 32 samaras. ... seed production is so prolific and germination occurs easily. (100+ cones per m2 possible on a large tree)

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

8.02

Fruit and seed not persistent.

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

8.03

'The herbicides tebuthioron or hexazinone are used for control in nonaquatic sites. Imazapyr applied to girdled trees provides some control of mature trees. Small trees can be controlled with the herbicide tryclopyr or with a combination of 2,4-D and dicamba. Cutting does not provide acceptable control because regrowth from root sprouts is quick.'

http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/mcplnt2c.html

8.04

Seedlings require protection from browsing stock and fire in initial stages of growth. (2)Has coppice potential and resprout ability.3)regrowth from root sprouts is quick.'

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi 3)http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/mcplnt2c.html

8.05

Don’t know.


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This page updated 26 February 2006