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

Erythrina crista-galli; cockspur coral 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

1

2.03

Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility)

y=1, n=0

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

4.01

Produces spines, thorns or burrs

y=1, n=0

y

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

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

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

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

y=1, n=-1

y

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

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

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

8.05

Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents)

y=-1, n=1

Total score:

6

Source

Notes

1.01

no evidence

1.02

Sainty, G. (1995) Streambank weeds. Better planning for better weed management. Proceedings of the 8th biennial noxious weeds conference, Goulburn, NSW, Australia, 19-21 September 1995: volume 1., 1995, pp.85-86

AB: The control of streambank weeds in Australia is reviewed. Topics discussed include: the need to control exotic plants; problems of erosion as a consequence; a case study example of Salix spp. on the Nambucca River, New South Wales; problems caused by invasion of camphor laurel [Cinnamomum camphora ], Gleditsia tri[a]canthos, Erythrina crista-galli, Tamarix aphylla and Rubus discolor ; and an outline of management methods.

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/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?15739 (31 May 2002)

Distributional range:
Native: Southern America: Argentina [n.]; Bolivia; Brazil [e.]; Paraguay; Uruguay
Other: cult. elsewhere

2.02

2.03

(1)http://gardening.50megs.com/sections-n/peren/peren_e.html (2)http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/nt/nt0908_full.html (3)http://mundomatero.com/proyectos/cristel/migratorias.html

(1)Zone 7b-10. (2-3)Native habitat: this plant grows at low elevations, in coastal areas, and along riverbanks and low-lying sanannas/open forest

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/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?15739 (31 May 2002)

Distributional range:
Native: Southern America: Argentina [n.]; Bolivia; Brazil [e.]; Paraguay; Uruguay
Other: cult. elsewhere

2.05

(1) USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
(2) Sainty, G. (1995) Streambank weeds. Better planning for better weed management. Proceedings of the 8th biennial noxious weeds conference, Goulburn, NSW, Australia, 19-21 September 1995: volume 1., 1995, pp.85-86

(1) USA: Florida; Georgia; Louisiana; Mississippi; Puerto Rico
(2) Australia

3.01

Sainty, G. (1995) Streambank weeds. Better planning for better weed management. Proceedings of the 8th biennial noxious weeds conference, Goulburn, NSW, Australia, 19-21 September 1995: volume 1., 1995, pp.85-86

AB: The control of streambank weeds in Australia is reviewed. Topics discussed include: the need to control exotic plants; problems of erosion as a consequence; a case study example of Salix spp. on the Nambucca River, New South Wales; problems caused by invasion of camphor laurel [Cinnamomum camphora ], Gleditsia tri[a]canthos, Erythrina crista-galli, Tamarix aphylla and Rubus discolor ; and an outline of management methods.

3.02

no evidence

3.03

no evidence

3.04

(1)Sainty, G. (1995) Streambank weeds. Better planning for better weed management. Proceedings of the 8th biennial noxious weeds conference, Goulburn, NSW, Australia, 19-21 September 1995: volume 1., 1995, pp.85-86 (2)Randall, R. 2001. Garden thugs, a national list of invasive and potentially invasive garden plants. Plant Protection Quarterly 16:138-171. (3)http://www.quarantine.org.au/environment/weed_noxious_manly.html (4)http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au/noxweed/?MIval=weed-main&find=OK&lga=&common=Cockspur%2Bcoral%2Btree&botname=

(1)AB: The control of streambank weeds in Australia is reviewed. Topics discussed include: the need to control exotic plants; problems of erosion as a consequence; a case study example of Salix spp. on the Nambucca River, New South Wales; problems caused by invasion of camphor laurel [Cinnamomum camphora ], Gleditsia tri[a]canthos, Erythrina crista-galli, Tamarix aphylla and Rubus discolor ; and an outline of management methods. (2)Environmental weed of unknown importance, New South Wales, Australia (3)Listed noxious weed, Manley, Australia (4)Noxious Weeds in NSW

3.05

(1)http://www.sunzine.net/outback/desertuplands/projects/pgfive.html (2)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.

(1)Batswing Coral Tree (Erythrina vespertilio) in Australia, but it is native to all mainland states except Victoria (2)E. herbacea was listed as present in US

4.01

Gilman EF, HW Beck, DG Watson, P. Fowler, DL Weigle & NR Morgan 1996. Southern Trees 2nd edition. University of Florida

thorns: yes

4.02

no evidence

4.03

no evidence

4.04

no evidence

4.05

no evidence

4.06

Florida Dep. Agric. & Consumer Serv., Div. Plant Industry, FL 32602, USA. (1988) Bureau of nematology. Tri-ology Technical Report, 1988, Vol.27, No.10, pp.5-6

AB: "Helicotylenchus sp., Hoplolaimus tylenchiformis, Meloidogyne sp., R. reniformis, Trichodorus aequalis and X. macrodorum on cockspur coral tree (Erythrina crista-galli ); "

4.07

no evidence

4.08

this tree has a scraggly form, can be deciduous. If a dense thicket were to form, it might create a fire hazard

4.09

(1)Gilman EF, HW Beck, DG Watson, P. Fowler, DL Weigle & NR Morgan 1996. Southern Trees 2nd edition. University of Florida (2)http://www.shaman-australis.com/Website/Erythrinaspecies.htm

(1)Light requirement: full sun (2)open, sunny position

4.1

(1)Gilman EF, HW Beck, DG Watson, P. Fowler, DL Weigle & NR Morgan 1996. Southern Trees 2nd edition. University of Florida (2)http://gardenbed.com/E/6340.cfm

(1)soil texture tolerance: sand, clay, loam (2)Requires a moderately fertile well-drained soil

4.11

Gilman EF, HW Beck, DG Watson, P. Fowler, DL Weigle & NR Morgan 1996. Southern Trees 2nd edition. University of Florida

"Multiple trunks ascend from the lower portion of the main trunk giving rise to a wide-spreading canopy casting dense shade."

4.12

no evidence

5.01

terrestrial

5.02

tree; Fabaceae

5.03

Frioni, L.; Dodera, R.; Malatés, D.; Irigoyen, I. (1998) An assessment of nitrogen fixation capability of leguminous trees in Uruguay. Applied Soil Ecology, 1998, Vol.7, No.3, pp.271-279, 41 ref.

AB: "A survey of the nodulating ability of 17 Uruguayan native and sub-spontaneous tree legumes has added Inga uragüensis to the list of legumes known to fix N2. Nodulation and N2 fixation capability of the following species were confirmed: Acacia caven, Calliandra tweediei, Parapiptadenia rigida, Lonchocarpus nitidus, Erythrina crista-galli ."

5.04

tree

6.01

no evidence

6.02

Maunder, M. (1991) The coral tree. Erythrina crista-galli L. Plantsman, 1991, Vol.12, No.4, pp.193-200, 8 ref.

AB: :" Advice is given on propagation of E. crista-galli from seed and by softwood cuttings"

6.03

Maunder, M. (1991) The coral tree. Erythrina crista-galli L. Plantsman, 1991, Vol.12, No.4, pp.193-200, 8 ref.

AB: Descriptions and a key to identification are provided for E. herbacea, E. crista-galli and their hybrid E. x bidwillii, the 3 erythrinas which can be grown outdoors in mild areas of the UK. Advice is given on propagation of E. crista-galli from seed and by softwood cuttings, and its culture under glass and outdoors. [no evidence of hybridization in nature]

6.04

Galetto, L.; Bernardello, G.; Isele, I. C.; Vesprini, J.; Speroni, G.; Berduc, A. (2000) Reproductive biology of Erythrina crista-galli (Fabaceae). Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 2000, Vol.87, No.2, pp.127-145, 76 ref.

AB: "Hand crosses showed that this species is self-compatible. Crossed fruits showed significant differences from hand-selfed ones (autogamy and geitonogamy). Xenogamous fruits and seeds showed the highest values for many traits (fruit mass, total seeds per fruit mass, mean seed mass, and seed germination percentage). Approximately 6% of the flowers set seeds in natural populations."

6.05

(1) Galetto, L.; Bernardello, G.; Isele, I. C.; Vesprini, J.; Speroni, G.; Berduc, A. (2000) Reproductive biology of Erythrina crista-galli (Fabaceae). Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 2000, Vol.87, No.2, pp.127-145, 76 ref.
(2) Baker, H. G.; Baker, I. (1990) The predictive value of nectar chemistry to the recognition of pollinator types. Israel Journal of Botany, 1990, Vol.39, No.1-2, pp.157-166, 40 ref.

(1) AB: "Hymenopterans (carpenter bees and honeybees) and hummingbirds (four species) assiduously visited the trees in all the areas sampled and can be assumed pollinators. Almost 93% of recorded flowers were visited by bees, with the rest visited by hummingbirds."; "Phylogenetically, this species was included in the basal clade for the genus and characterized as passerine/hummingbird pollinated. However, we found that not only birds but bees functioned as major pollinators. This observation may indicate that this basal clade may represent an intermediate step from entomophily (typical of tribe Phaseoleae) to ornithophily (typical of Erythrina )."
AB: "Analysis of nectar sugar ratios indicated a close relation between the sucrose/(glucose + fructose) ratio and the type of pollinator that visits the flowers; when taken in conjunction with the morphology of the flowers and inflorescence, these ratios can be good predictors of the pollinators. Predictions are made for Erythrina crista-galli, where its hexose-do

6.06

no evidence

6.07

http://gardenbed.com/E/6340.cfm

Plants take 3 - 4 years to flower from seed [plus additional several months for seed maturation after flowering]

7.01

no evidence

7.02

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/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?15739 (31 May 2002)

cultivated

7.03

no evidence

7.04

no adaptation to wind

7.05

Carquist S. (1980) Hawaii: A Natural History. Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden. Lawai, Hawaii USA

p. 169: "The seeds do not float (E. sandwicensis), although seeds of non-Hawaiian erythrinas can"

7.06

no evidence

7.07

no evidence

7.08

no evidence

8.01

(1) Galetto, L.; Bernardello, G.; Isele, I. C.; Vesprini, J.; Speroni, G.; Berduc, A. (2000) Reproductive biology of Erythrina crista-galli (Fabaceae). Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 2000, Vol.87, No.2, pp.127-145, 76 ref.
(2) Gilman EF, HW Beck, DG Watson, P. Fowler, DL Weigle & NR Morgan 1996. Southern Trees 2nd edition. University of Florida

(1) AB: "Approximately 6% of the flowers set seeds in natural populations."
(2) fruit 3-6 inches long [large fruit and low fruiting rate]

8.02

http://www.shaman-australis.com/Website/Erythrinaspecies.htm

Seeds need scarification to germinate.

8.03

no evidence

8.04

no evidence

8.05

no evidence