Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


Dracaena fragrans


RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS: Low risk, score: 0


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

Dracaena fragrans (Pleomele fragrans, Aletris fragrans, corn plant)

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

n

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

y

3.01

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

n

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

n

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

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

y

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

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

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

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

5

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

y

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

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:

0

Supporting data:

Notes

Source

1.01

(1)Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana' has been used indoors for decades. It comes in a dark green variety called fragrans and then there is the yellow striped variety called Massangeana. (2)Some of the other Dracaena fragrans varieties that belong to the Compacta or Deremensis groups include ‘Green Stripe’, ‘Lemon Lime’. ‘White Surprise’, ‘Lemon Surprise’, ‘Warneckei’, ‘Kanzi’, etc. The subdivision of Dracaena varieties is based on the length of the leaves. There are also a number of intermediate varieties, like Dracaena fragrans White Jewel. Over recent decades, Dracaena have become more and more popular as houseplants, and over this period many varieties have been discovered in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia and many of these have since been cultivated.'

(1)http://www.dracaena.com/guides/fragrans.asp (2)http://www.flowercouncil.org/uk/news/fpnews/Productnieuws2002/Plant_June02.asp?SourcePageID=1366

1.02

No evidence

1.03

No evidence

2.01

Origin: West Africa, Tanzania, Zambia

http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Agavaceae/Dracaena_fragrans.html

2.02

Introduced to Hawaii, Maui.

http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/images/600max/html/starr_031209_0040_dracaena_fragrans.htm

2.03

(1)USDA Zone 11 (2)Hardiness Range: 10B - 11 (3)Most specimens in native range 1000-1500 m elevation (4)Salt Tolerance: Low; Good drought tolerance

(1)http://plantsdatabase.com/go/54287/ (2)http://www.horticopia.com/hortpix/html/pc2055.htm (3)http://mobot.mobot.org/cgi-bin/search_vast (4)http://www.floridagardener.com/pom/Dracaenafragans.htm

2.04

Origin: West Africa, Tanzania, Zambia

http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Agavaceae/Dracaena_fragrans.html

2.05

(1)Introduced to Hawaii, Maui. (2)Over recent decades, Dracaena have become more and more popular as houseplants, and over this period many varieties have been discovered in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia and many of these have since been cultivated.

(1)http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/images/600max/html/starr_031209_0040_dracaena_fragrans.htm (2)http://www.flowercouncil.org/uk/news/fpnews/Productnieuws2002/Plant_June02.asp?SourcePageID=1366

3.01

No evidence

3.02

No evidence

3.03

No evidence

3.04

Invasive potential: not known to be invasive

http://216.239.53.104/search?q=cache:B00edAGv3DkJ:
hort.ufl.edu/shrubs/DRAFRAA.PDF+Dracaena+fragrans&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

3.05

No evidence

4.01

No evidence of such structures

http://ridgwaydb.mobot.org/kemperweb/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=B591

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

http://www.omnisterra.com/bot/pp_home.cgi?name=
Dracaena+fragrans&submit=Submit+Query&search=all

4.04

Don’t know

4.05

(1)Clinical signs: In cats: dilated pupils, breathing difficulty, abdominal pain, increased heartrate and drooling. In both cats and dogs: vomiting, depression, inappetence, drooling, incoordination, and weakness. (2)Poison to rabbits

(1)http://www.aspca.org/toxicplants/M01852.htm (2)http://www.allearssac.org/poison.html

4.06

(1)No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for spider mites and scale. Leaves may brown if soils are too moist or too dry. (2)This site lists 23 fungi species to be associated with D. fragrans. [none of them is specialized pest] (3)AB: The circumtropical ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus affinis (Eichhoff, 1868) was first recorded in Hungary. The pest was unintentionally introduced by canes of Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana' from Costa Rica. With 5 figures and one table [generalist] (2) Dracaena fragrans `Massangeana' (corn plant)-- Opogona sacchari (Bojer), opogona moth: Larvae heavily infested 50% of 500 plants inspected at a nursery in Apopka, Orange County (13 October 94, L. Wilber).[opogona (banana) moth is a serious economic pest - http://www.nal.usda.gov/ttic/tektran/data/000006/97/0000069776.html]

(1)http://ridgwaydb.mobot.org/kemperweb/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=B591 (2)http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/all/FindRecOneFungusFrame.cfm (3)TI: FIRST INTRODUCTION OF XYLEBORUS-AFFINIS COLEOPTERA SCOLYTIDAE A PEST OF DRACAENA-FRAGRANS MASSANGEANA TO HUNGARY.

AU: MERKL-O {a}; TUSNADI-C-K SO: Folia-Entomologica-Hungarica. 1992; 52: 67-72. (2)http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/enpp/94-9&10all.htm

4.07

'Common pests Poisonous parts Poisonous indications Internal poison no Dermatologic poison no Livestock poison no Mechanical injury no Hay fever pollen Hay fever season …'
(2) Occupational contact urticaria (CU) from plants is often reported, but it is less often attributed to decorative houseplants. We present an atopic gardener and caretaker of plants who developed CU when occupationally exposed to weeping fig, spathe flower, and yucca [Finland; date not given]. Sensitization was evaluated by skin prick tests (SPT) and analyses for IgE antibodies. SPT were positive to all three plants, and IgE antibodies were found to weeping fig and spathe flower. SPT were also performed with several decorative houseplants in more than 600 patients. Positive SPT was found to weeping fig (12%), African milk tree (Euphorbia trigona; 8.3%), yucca (5.8%), Chinese rose (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis; 4.7%), massangana (Dracaena fragrans; 4.6%), bird's nest fern (Asplenium nidus; 3.2%), and spathe flower (3.2%). Our study in

http://www.crescentbloom.com/Plants/Specimen/DO/Dracaena%20fragrans.htm

(2) Kanerva, L. Estlander, T. Petman, L. Mäkinen-Kiljunen, S. (2001) Occupational allergic contact urticaria to yucca (Yucca aloifolia), weeping fig (Ficus benjamina), and spathe flower (Spathiphyllum wallisii). Allergy (Copenhagen), 2001, Vol. 56, No. 10, pp. 1008-1011, 27 ref.

4.08

broad leaf evergreen

http://ridgwaydb.mobot.org/kemperweb/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=B591

4.09

(1)It does well in low light conditions … [Massangeana variety] (2)Sun Exposure: Light shade to shade (3)prefers full shade to partial shade or partial sun

(1)http://www.dracaena.com/Massangeana.asp (2)http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Agavaceae/Dracaena_fragrans.html (3)http://www.horticopia.com/hortpix/html/pc2055.htm

4.1

Soil tolerances: clay; sand; acidic; slightly alkaline; loam.

http://216.239.53.104/search?q=cache:B00edAGv3DkJ:
hort.ufl.edu/shrubs/DRAFRAA.PDF+Dracaena+fragrans&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

4.11

Not a climber- a tree

http://www.horticopia.com/hortpix/html/pc2055.htm

4.12

No evidence

5.01

Agavaceae

http://www.crescentbloom.com/Plants/Specimen/DO/Dracaena%20fragrans.htm

5.02

A tree

http://www.horticopia.com/hortpix/html/pc2055.htm

5.03

Agavaceae

5.04

No evidence

6.01

No evidence

6.02

"Reproduction: Seeds/Cuttings "

http://www.bihrmann.com/rikke/subs/dra-fra-sub.asp

6.03

No evidence

6.04

"It will not set fruit (yet alone produce fertile seed) because you need a pollinator and the flowers are not self-fertile. "

http://www.gardening-forum.com/general/unusual_african_corn_plant_blooms_463741.html [information from a forum]

6.05

(1) "It will not set fruit (yet alone produce fertile seed) because you need a pollinator and the flowers are not self-fertile. " (2) 'The white flowers are very fragrant at night [moth pollination syndrome, but does not appear to have a long corolla tube, suggesting it may also be visited by other insects during the day]]

(1) http://www.gardening-forum.com/general/unusual_african_corn_plant_blooms_463741.html [information from a forum] (2) http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Agavaceae/Dracaena_fragrans.html

6.06

(1)'Fragrans can be either grown as a low shrub form, by rooting tip cuttings, or a tree form, by rooting mature canes.' [Massangeana variety] (2)Propagation: Air layering, root stem sections, or suckers [suckers form only at the base of plants; now a mechanism promoting natural fragmentation]

(1)http://www.dracaena.com/Massangeana.asp (2)http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Agavaceae/Dracaena_fragrans.html

6.07

' I have a Dracaena Fragrans - "Corn plant" and have had this plant for 5 years - in some cases more. It is blooming for the first time. …'

http://www.plant-care.com/PlantTips/1998/121198.htm

7.01

No evidence

7.02

Easily grown as an indoor plant in St. Louis. Tolerates a wide range of indoor temperatures. … Corn plant is a popular houseplant.

http://ridgwaydb.mobot.org/kemperweb/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=B591

7.03

unlikely. not grown with crops, fleshy fruits, don't fruit well when grown.

7.04

Probably no - 'The white flowers are very fragrant, they come in clusters and are followed by red-orange berries.'

http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Agavaceae/Dracaena_fragrans.html

7.05

No evidence that the species inhabits waterways.

7.06

The white flowers are very fragrant, they come in clusters and are followed by red-orange berries.'

http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Agavaceae/Dracaena_fragrans.html

7.07

No evidence that propagules have any means of attachment.

7.08

red-orange berries [bird dispersal syndrome]

http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Agavaceae/Dracaena_fragrans.html

8.01

Flowers: small panicles seldom seen in cultivation

http://pss.uvm.edu/pss123/foldfm.html

8.02

No evidence regarding seed bank

8.03

No evidence that the species is being controlled for.

8.04

The plant will continue to grow. It will begin by putting out a new head of foliage. The center of the plant - the growing tip - is no longer active after flowering. This new "head" will emerge out of the center of the foliage next to where the flower stalk was. This is similar to pruning a plant and new growth starts below the cut.

http://www.plant-care.com/PlantTips/1998/121198.htm

8.05

Don’t know


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