Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


Hemigraphis alternata


RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS: Low risk, score: 1 (low risk based on second screen)


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

Hemigraphis alternata Syn: H. colorata, Ruellia alternata Burm. f. (metal leaf, metallic plant, red ivy, red-flame ivy, cemetery plant, purple waffle 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

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

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

y

3.02

Garden/amenity/disturbance weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

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

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

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

y

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

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

6.02

Produces viable seed.

y=1, n=-1

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

y

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

y

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

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

8.05

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

y=-1, n=1

Total score:

1

Supporting data:

Source

Notes

1.01

No evidence

1.02

(1)Naturalized and spreading in Tonga. Naturalized in Samoa. (2)It has become naturalized in lawns and along trailsides in many places (3)Rare escape from cultivation on disturbed sites

(1)http://www.hear.org/pier/healt.htm (2)Whistler, W.A. 2000. Tropical Ornamentals. Timber Press (3)Wunderlin, R.P. 1998. Guide to the vascular plants of Florida. University Press of Florida, Gainesville

1.03

No evidence

2.01

(1)Native range: Java, now common in cultivation pan-tropical(2)Nativity uncertain, but probably originally from Malesia.

(1)http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/acc_num/198700127.html (2)Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii. University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.

2.02

2.03

(1)USDA Zones 10-11 (2)sparingly naturalized along trails from near sea level to perhaps 200 m elevation [Fiji] (3)Winter warmth — minimum 55F (4) often sold as an aquatic plants [requires humidity, wet, partially shaded environment]

(1)http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/codea/A514.shtml (2)Smith, A. C. 1991. Flora Vitiensis nova: A new flora of Fiji. Lawai, Kauai, Hawai‘i. National Tropical Botanical Garden. 5:120-121. (3)http://www.hort.wisc.edu/Hort233Site/notes/Hemigraphis%20alternata.html (4)http://www.petra-aqua.com/catalog.htm#Hemigraphis

2.04

Native range: Java, now common in cultivation pan-tropical

2.05

Pantropical in cultivation.

http://www.hear.org/pier/healt.htm

3.01

(1)Naturalized and spreading in Tonga. Naturalized in Samoa. (2)It has become naturalized in lawns and along trailsides in many places (3)Rare escape from cultivation on disturbed sites

(1)http://www.hear.org/pier/healt.htm (2)Whistler, W.A. 2000. Tropical Ornamentals. Timber Press (3)Wunderlin, R.P. 1998. Guide to the vascular plants of Florida. University Press of Florida, Gainesville

3.02

(1)Collected from lawns [be no evidence that it is considered a pest and is being managed] (2)introduced as an ornamental, was seen at several locations (for example, in the Vailima Reserve and at the trail entrance in O le Pupu Pue National Park) where it forms dense low stands, excluding other species. (3)It has become naturalized in lawns and along trailsides in many places [all these refs together imply that it may become a disturbance weed, but no evidence that it has been subjected to control efforts]

(1)Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii. University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu. (2)http://www.hear.org/pier/reports/sreport.htm (3)Whistler, W.A. 2000. Tropical Ornamentals. Timber Press

3.03

No evidence

3.04

introduced as an ornamental, was seen at several locations (for example, in the Vailima Reserve and at the trail entrance in O le Pupu Pue National Park) where it forms dense low stands, excluding other species. [no description of extent of the "dense low stands" or whether they extend significantly beyond the trail into intact native forest, no indication whether stands are primarily manifestations of vegetative spread from planted individuals or if the stands have developed from naturalized plants, no indication that it has been subjected to control efforts [see also question 3.02 -- Disturbance weed}

http://www.hear.org/pier/reports/sreport.htm

3.05

Other Hemigraphis spp. Are listed as "present" in some countries but not considered important weeds

Holme. 1977. Geographic Atlas of World Weeds. University of Hawaii Press.

4.01

No evidence

http://www.hear.org/pier/healt.htm

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

Don’t know.

4.05

No evidence

4.06

(1)No serious insect or disease problems. (2)The following fungi were found to be associated with H. alternata: Alternaria sp, Colletotrichum sp, Curvularia sp, Pythium sp, Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Sclerotium rolfsii. None of the above were found to be recognized pests.

4.07

Safe plant for housholds with young children

http://www.safekid.org/plants.htm

4.08

(1)Often sold as an aquatic plant [Plant of moist environments]

http://www.petra-aqua.com/catalog.htm#Hemigraphis

4.09

Shade-tolerant species, capable of growing and invading beneath forest overstories.

http://www.hear.org/pier/healt.htm

4.1

Don’t know.

4.11

Probably not - not a vine.

4.12

No evidence

5.01

Not a true aquatic plant

5.02

Acanthaceae

5.03

Acanthaceae

5.04

Creeping perennial herb (Acanthaceae)

http://www.hear.org/pier/healt.htm

6.01

(1) 'pollen apparently sterile; fruit never produced.' (2)Plants sterile, no capsules formed. [This information is not from its native habitat, so don't know]

(1)http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/acc_num/198700127.html (2)Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii. University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.

6.02

(1) Probably not - 'pollen apparently sterile; fruit never produced.
(2) "capsule slender; seeds 4-20." (Stone, B. C. 1970. The Flora of Guam. Micronesica 6:534-535.)

(1) http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/acc_num/198700127.html '
(2) http://www.hear.org/pier/healt.htm

6.03

No evidence

6.04

(1) 'pollen apparently sterile; fruit never produced.' (2)Plants sterile, no capsules formed.

(1)http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/acc_num/198700127.html (2)Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii. University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.

6.05

Probably not - (1)Flowers are insignificant. (2) 'pollen apparently sterile; fruit never produced.' (3)From the pictures it appears that the flowers typical insect pollinated

(1)http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/codea/A514.shtml (2)http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/acc_num/198700127.html

6.06

(1)Propagation: Cuttings (2)It grows well on banks and low walls because it roots at nodes.

(1)http://www.hear.org/pier/healt.htm (2)http://www2.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/OF-7.pdf

6.07

Don’t know.

7.01

(1)It has become naturalized in lawns and along trailsides in many places (2,3)Probably yes - as pieces of the stem can root at the nodes. (4)Hemigraphis roots readily from stem cuttings [garden waste]

(1)Whistler, W.A. 2000. Tropical Ornamentals. Timber Press (2)http://www.hear.org/pier/healt.htm (3)http://www2.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/OF-7.pdf (4)http://www.green-seeds.com/PDF/hemigrahis.pdf

7.02

Probably yes as it is used ornamentally as a ground cover.

http://www.hear.org/pier/healt.htm

7.03

Probably not - 'pollen apparently sterile; fruit never produced.'

http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/acc_num/198700127.html

7.04

Plants sterile, no capsules formed. [ or if capsules are produced, they are dry and mechanically dispersed as is typical of Acanthaceae]

Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii. University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.

7.05

mechanical

7.06

mechanical

7.07

mechanical

7.08

No evidence of consumption

8.01

(1)Fruit infrequently formed in cultivation (2) 'pollen apparently sterile; fruit never produced.' (3)Plants sterile, no capsules formed. (4)capsule slender; seeds 4-20.

(1)Whistler, W.A. 2000. Tropical Ornamentals. Timber Press (2)http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/acc_num/198700127.html (3)Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii. University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu. (4)Stone, B. C. 1970. The Flora of Guam. Micronesica 6:534-535.

8.02

No evidence

8.03

The response of this species was tested to Rout herbicide. H. alternata was found to be quite tolerant of this herbicide at different rates. Slight injury symptoms of irregular necrotic spots - not enough to cause death. [(2)Rout herbicide is marketed for pre-emergent weed control in ornamentals like Hemigraphis; it is specifically formulated not to harm many ornamentals]

(1)Edwin, M and Rouch F.D. Response of Hemigraphis to Rout herbicide. Research Extension series. 1989. Number 103. (2)http://www.scottsprohort.com/products/plant_protection/rout.cfm

8.04

Don’t know.

8.05

Heavy damage by sprialing whitefly


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