Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


Desmodium nicaraguense


RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS: Low risk, score: -2


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

Desmodium nicaraguense [Meibomia nicaraguensis]

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

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

n

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

3.01

Naturalized beyond native range y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2), n= question 2.05

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

n

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

n

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

n

4.06

Host for recognized pests and pathogens

y=1, n=0

n

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

4.1

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

y=1, n=0

4.11

Climbing or smothering growth habit

y=1, n=0

n

4.12

Forms dense thickets

y=1, n=0

y

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

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

y=1, n=-1

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

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

8.01

Prolific seed production (>1000/m2)

y=1, n=-1

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

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:

-2

Supporting data:

Source

Notes

1.01

no evidence

1.02

USDA, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry (2001) Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER) webpage <http://www.hear.org/pier/phkar.htm>

"Planted on Tutuila, American Samoa, (under the name D. rensonii) and showing signs of naturalizing."

1.03

no evidence

2.01

LegumeWeb from the ILDIS World Database of Legumes, version 5.00 avaiable at <http://biodiversity.soton.ac.uk/LegumeWeb>

Geographical records Central America: El Salvador(U)2, 3, Guatemala(U)2, 3, Mexico(U)1, 2, 3, 4, Nicaragua(U)1, 2, 3
(N = native, I = introduced, U = uncertain status)

2.02

2.03

(1)LegumeWeb from the ILDIS World Database of Legumes, version 5.00 avaiable at <http://biodiversity.soton.ac.uk/LegumeWeb> (2)http://www.winrock.org/forestry/FACTPUB/AIS_web/AIS10.html (3)http://mobot.mobot.org/cgi-bin/search_vast

(1)Geographical records Central America: El Salvador(U), Guatemala(U), Mexico(U), Nicaragua(U)
(N = native, I = introduced, U = uncertain status) (2)Mean Annual Rainfall > 1000 mm, Mean Annual Temperature Greater than 20°C (3) most specimens less than 1000 m elevation

2.04

USDA, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry (2001) Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER) webpage <http://www.hear.org/pier/phkar.htm>

"Planted on Tutuila, American Samoa, (under the name D. rensonii) and showing signs of naturalizing."

2.05

USDA, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry (2001) Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER) webpage <http://www.hear.org/pier/phkar.htm>

"Planted on Tutuila, American Samoa, (under the name D. rensonii) and showing signs of naturalizing."

3.01

USDA, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry (2001) Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER) webpage <http://www.hear.org/pier/phkar.htm>

"Planted on Tutuila, American Samoa, (under the name D. rensonii) and showing signs of naturalizing."

3.02

no evidence

3.03

no evidence

3.04

no evidence

3.05

Bacon, P., P.J. Terry, N. Waltham, & P.Castro S. (1997) An Electronic Atlas of World Weed and Invasive Plants. Version 1.0, 1997. A database based on the original work "A Geographical Atlas of World Weeds" by Holm et al 1979.

Desmodium spp. are listed as common to serious weed worldwide.

4.01

National Academy of Sciences (1979) Tropical legumes: resources for the future., National Academy of Sciences., Washington, District of Columbia, USA. 328pp. P.129

no description of these traits

4.02

no evidence

4.03

no evidence

4.04

National Academy of Sciences (1979) Tropical legumes: resources for the future., National Academy of Sciences., Washington, District of Columbia, USA. 328pp. P.129

"Its leaves and young branches are eaten by livestockof all kinds and are locally considered excellent forage."

4.05

National Academy of Sciences (1979) Tropical legumes: resources for the future., National Academy of Sciences., Washington, District of Columbia, USA. 328pp. P.130

"Its leaves and young branches are eaten by livestockof all kinds and are locally considered excellent forage."

4.06

no evidence

4.07

no evidence

4.08

no evidence

4.09

no evidence

4.1

http://www.winrock.org/forestry/factpub/USES.HTM

known to tolerate acid soils

4.11

National Academy of Sciences (1979) Tropical legumes: resources for the future., National Academy of Sciences., Washington, District of Columbia, USA. 328pp. P.129

shrub

4.12

National Academy of Sciences (1979) Tropical legumes: resources for the future., National Academy of Sciences., Washington, District of Columbia, USA. 328pp. P.129

"The plant grows wild and in abundance, both in wet or dry thickets and on rocky hilsides"; "the plant can sustain heavy competition from grasses and other vigorous pants."

5.01

terrestrial

5.02

National Academy of Sciences (1979) Tropical legumes: resources for the future., National Academy of Sciences., Washington, District of Columbia, USA. 328pp. P.129

shrub; Fabaceae

5.03

Agroforestry for the Pacific Technologies
A publication of the Agroforestry Information Service
Written by Mark H. Powell, Program Officer, NFTA/Winrock International, 38 Winrock Drive, Morrilton, AR USA
December 1994, Number 10
Available at: <http://www.winrock.org/forestry/FACTPUB/AIS_web/AIS10.html>

on the table of "Nitrogen-Fixing Tree and Shrub Species Tolerant of Acid Soils and Listed for Given Climatic Ranges "

5.04

National Academy of Sciences (1979) Tropical legumes: resources for the future., National Academy of Sciences., Washington, District of Columbia, USA. 328pp. P.129

shrub

6.01

no evidence

6.02

National Academy of Sciences (1979) Tropical legumes: resources for the future., National Academy of Sciences., Washington, District of Columbia, USA. 328pp. P.129

"easily established by direct sowing"

6.03

no evidence

6.04

no evidence

6.05

no evidence

6.06

no evidence

6.07

no evidence

7.01

no evidence

7.02

National Academy of Sciences (1979) Tropical legumes: resources for the future., National Academy of Sciences., Washington, District of Columbia, USA. 328pp. P.129

"The crop is easily established by direct sowing, seedling transplants, or cuttings."

7.03

no evidence

7.04

Corner, E.J.H. Wayside Trees of Malaya. Vol 1. The Malayan Nature Society. Pg 428 and 430.

Pods constricted into several 1 seedes joints, not opening but the joints falling apart at maturity.' [probably dispersal by gravity]

7.05

no evidence

7.06

no evidence

7.07

Missouri Botanical Garden - w3TROPICOS; Exsiccatae Data Base

Collection index key: JANZEN 12363 -- specimen id {00100054}

"fruits tomentose but do not stick onto fur."

7.08

no evidence

8.01

Briscoe, C.B., S.M. de Faria, V. Lambert, G. Minnick, and R. Russo. 1996. Growing Nitrogen Fixing Trees in Acid Soils. In: M.H. Powell (ed) Nitrogen Fixing Trees for Acid Soils - A Field Manual. Winrock International, Morrilton (AR), USA. p. 22.

Desmodium nicaraguense
500,000 seeds/kg [small seeds, but no data on pod production]

8.02

Briscoe, C.B., S.M. de Faria, V. Lambert, G. Minnick, and R. Russo. 1996. Growing Nitrogen Fixing Trees in Acid Soils. In: M.H. Powell (ed) Nitrogen Fixing Trees for Acid Soils - A Field Manual. Winrock International, Morrilton (AR), USA. p. 22.

Desmodium nicaraguense
Recalcitrant seed, no treeatment need prior germination

8.03

no evidence

8.04

National Academy of Sciences (1979) Tropical legumes: resources for the future., National Academy of Sciences., Washington, District of Columbia, USA. 328pp. P.129

"Although the shrub recovers quickly after grazing, it is killed outright if cropped too close."

8.05

no evidence


Need more info? Have questions? Comments? Information to contribute? Contact PIER!


[ Return to PIER homepage ] [Risk assessment page]


This page updated 3 March 2005