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 marginata; dragontree, money 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

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

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

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

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

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:

-1

Source

Notes

1.01

no evidence

1.02

no evidence

1.03

no evidence

2.01

USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?100962 (02 April 2003)

Distributional range:
Native:
Africa: Madagascar
Other: cult. elsewhere

2.02

2.03

Gilman, E.F. 1999. Fact Sheet FPS-185. Dracaena marginata.
University of Florida, Coperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Available at: <http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/DRAMARA.PDF>

USDA hardiness zones: 10B through 11

2.04

USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?100962 (02 April 2003)

Distributional range:
Native:
Africa: Madagascar

2.05

(1) Akamine, E. K. and T. Goo "Test shipment of Hawaii-grown ornamentals by surface transportation.
(2) Marban-Mendoza, N. and L. Flores (1993). "Phytonematological survey of foliage ornamentals in Costa Rica." Manejo Integrado de Plagas(32): 1-4.
(3) Poole, R. T. and C. A. Conover (1990). "Storage of Dracaena cuttings." Proceedings of the Interamerican Society for Tropical Horticulture 34: 7-10.

(1) Hawaii, (2) Costa Rica, (3) Florida

3.01

no evidence

3.02

no evidence

3.03

no evidence

3.04

no evidence

3.05

http://www.arasi.freeservers.com/weeds.htm

D. ombet listed as a "wild weed" in Egypt. [not economic, not listed in Holm Geographic Atlas of World Weed]

4.01

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.184

no description of these traits

4.02

no evidence

4.03

no evidence

4.04

no evidence

4.05

Poisonous Plants for Rabbits. Sacramento House Rabbit Society. Available at: <http://www.allearssac.org/poison.html>

on the list of plants that are poisonous to rabbits [if artifically fed]

4.06

(1) Schroeder, W. J. and D. S. Green (1983). "Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): oil sprays as a regulatory treatment, effect on egg attachment." Journal of Economic Entomology 76(6): 1395- 1396.
(2)Marban-Mendoza, N. and L. Flores (1993). "Phytonematological survey of foliage ornamentals in Costa Rica." Manejo Integrado de Plagas(32): 1-4.
(3)Labanowski, G. (1999). "Scale insects - dangerous pests of Dracaena." Ochrona Roslin 43(6): 14-15.
(4) Osborne, L. S. (1984). "Soap spray: an alternative to a conventional acaricide for controlling the twospotted spider mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) in greenhouses." Journal of Economic Entomology 77(3): 734-737.
(5) Chase, A. R. (1987). "Effect of fertilizer level on severity of Fusarium leaf spot of Dracaena marginata." Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society 100: 360-362. (6)Villalobos-M-Carlos {a}; Monge-Najera-Julian {a}; Barrientos-Zaidett; Franco-Jose. 1995. Life cycle and field abundance of the snail Succinea costaricana (Stylommatoph

[many known pest and pathogens but all have rather wide host range ]
(1) Diaprepes abbreviatus
(2) Nematodes of the genera Meloidogyne, Helicotylenchus, Tylenchus, Aphelenchus, Aphelenchoides and Tylenchorhynchus
(3) Chrysomphalus aonidum and Pinnaspis aspidistrae
(4) twospotted spider mite (Acari: Tetranychidae)
(5) Fusarium moniliforme (6) QUARANTINE PEST: The neotropical terrestrial snail Succinea costaricana has become a quarantenary pest in ornamental plant (Dracaena marginata, Dracaenaceae). Specimens were collected in Guapiles, Limon, Costa Rica, where they reached a density of 282 900 individuals/ha. In the field, reproduction is continuous (as is rainfall) and eggs, young and copulating pairs are found mainly under moist litter. The population concentrated on plants rather than on the soil an greatly decreased after several control methods were applied.

4.07

Toxicity of Common Houseplants. University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension educational programs. Avaialble at: <http://lancaster.unl.edu/factsheets/031.htm>

non-toxic

4.08

no evidence [maintains few green leaves, semi-succulent stem]

4.09

(1)Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.72 (2)http://hort.ufl.edu/shrubs/DRAMARB.PDF

(1)"Grows well in light conditions ranging from full sun to dense shade." (2)grows in shade or sun

4.1

Gilman, E.F. 1999. Fact Sheet FPS-185. Dracaena marginata.
University of Florida, Coperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Available at: <http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/DRAMARA.PDF>

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

4.11

Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.72

"evergreen shrub with multiple, irregular stems"

4.12

no evidence

5.01

terrestrial

5.02

shrub; Agavaceae

5.03

no evidence

5.04

shrub

6.01

no evidence

6.02

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.184

"propagate by stem cutting or seeds."

6.03

no evidence

6.04

no evidence

6.05

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.184

Flowers many, borne in widly branching terminal panicles with a lanceolate bract at the base f each branch. Corolla with fused tepals, tubular, 1.3-1.8 cm long, divided about two-third of the way into six narrow segments, white, fragrant. [moth pollination syndrome]

6.06

no evidence

6.07

(1)http://hort.ufl.edu/shrubs/DRAMARB.PDF (2)http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Agavaceae/Dracaena_marginata.html

(1)Growth rate: slow (2)Growth Habits: Very slowly [minimum for a slow growing woody plant]

7.01

no evidence

7.02

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.183

"widely cultivated the tropics"

7.03

no evidence

7.04

Whistler, A.W. (2000) Tropical Oramentals: a Guide. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 542pp. p.184

Fruit a yellow-oragne globose berry."

7.05

no evidence

7.06

Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. p.72

fruit: small berry

7.07

no evidence

7.08

bird-dispersed

8.01

http://hort.ufl.edu/shrubs/DRAMARB.PDF

The small, golden berries of this shrub are also insignificant and not commonly produced

8.02

no evidence

8.03

no evidence

8.04

Gilman, E.F. 1999. Fact Sheet FPS-185. Dracaena marginata.
University of Florida, Coperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Available at: <http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/DRAMARA.PDF>

"Two or more branches form after pruning a stem. This technique can be used to increase the density of the plant. This can be beneficial since lower leaves drop from the stems as the plant grows taller leaving the bottom of the plant bare. Cut one or two of the stems to a point where new foliage is needed. Several weeks later, new growth emerges from this point."

8.05

no evidence