Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


Kigelia africana


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

Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth.; sausage tree

Answer

1.01

synonyms: Crescentia pinnata Jacq.; Kigelia pinnata (Jacq.) DC.

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

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

n

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

n

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

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

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

7

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

y

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y=1, n=-1

n

7.07

Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally)

y=1, n=-1

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

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:

0

Supporting data:

Notes

Source

1.01

no evidence

1.02

(1) During recent ethnobotanical surveys, Kigelia africana (syn. K. pinnata) was found to be naturalized, though of rare occurrence, in the forest of Uttar Pradesh, Himalya.
(2) naturalized elsewhere (3)The species is now naturalised and widely planted as an ornamental/avenue tree in India.

(1) Sharma, P. K.; Kaul, M. K. (1993) Specific ethnomedicinal significance of Kigelia africana in India. Fitoterapia, 1993, Vol. 64, No. 5, pp. 467-468, 5 ref.
(2) USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: http://www.ars-grin.gov/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?70392 (21 January 2004) (3)http://www.indmedplants-kr.org/Kigelia_africana.htm

1.03

no evidence

2.01

Native:
AFRICA
East Tropical Africa: Kenya; Tanzania; Uganda
Northeast Tropical Africa: Chad; Eritrea; Ethiopia; Sudan
Southern Africa: Botswana; Namibia; South Africa - Natal, Transvaal; Swaziland
West Tropical Africa: Benin; Cote D'Ivoire; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Liberia; Mali; Nigeria; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Togo
West-Central Tropical Africa: Burundi; Cameroon; Equatorial Guinea - Bioko; Rwanda; Zaire
Other: naturalized elsewhere

USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program.
Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database].
National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: http://www.ars-grin.gov/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?70392 (21 January 2004)

2.02

2.03

(1)Native Habitat: Tropics of Africa; Hardiness Range 10B to 11 (2)found primarily in wet savannah woodland spreading into gallery woodland and along rivers in moist forests. In open woodland and in riverine fringes. (3)specimens ranging from 200-1300 m elevation [boarderline]

(1)Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7. (2)http://ecocrop.fao.org/

2.04

Native:
AFRICA
East Tropical Africa: Kenya; Tanzania; Uganda
Northeast Tropical Africa: Chad; Eritrea; Ethiopia; Sudan
Southern Africa: Botswana; Namibia; South Africa - Natal, Transvaal; Swaziland
West Tropical Africa: Benin; Cote D'Ivoire; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Liberia; Mali; Nigeria; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Togo
West-Central Tropical Africa: Burundi; Cameroon; Equatorial Guinea - Bioko; Rwanda; Zaire
Other: naturalized elsewhere

USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program.
Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database].
National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: http://www.ars-grin.gov/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?70392 (21 January 2004)

2.05

(1) Puerto Rico, (2) Hawaii, (3) India

(1) USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
(2) Neal, M.C. (1965) In Gardens of Hawaii. Bernice p. Bishop Museum Special Publicatio 50. Bishop Museeum Press, Honolulu. 924pp. p.771
(3) Sharma, P. K.; Kaul, M. K. (1993) Specific ethnomedicinal significance of Kigelia africana in India. Fitoterapia, 1993, Vol. 64, No. 5, pp. 467-468, 5 ref.

3.01

(1) During recent ethnobotanical surveys, Kigelia africana (syn. K. pinnata) was found to be naturalized, though of rare occurrence, in the forest of Uttar Pradesh, Himalya.
(2) naturalized elsewhere (3)The species is now naturalised and widely planted as an ornamental/avenue tree in India.

(1) Sharma, P. K.; Kaul, M. K. (1993) Specific ethnomedicinal significance of Kigelia africana in India. Fitoterapia, 1993, Vol. 64, No. 5, pp. 467-468, 5 ref.
(2) USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: http://www.ars-grin.gov/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?70392 (21 January 2004) (3)http://www.indmedplants-kr.org/Kigelia_africana.htm

3.02

no evidence

3.03

no evidence

3.04

no evidence

3.05

no evidence

4.01

no description of these traits

Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7.

4.02

no evidence

4.03

no evidence

4.04

"Kigelia leaves are an important livestock fodder, and the fruits are much prized by monkeys and elephants"

http://www.sanprota.com/products/sausage.htm

4.05

In traditional medicine, K. africana is used to treat dysentery, rheumatism and diarrhoea, and as an abortifacient, tonic and aphrodisiac. Aqueous leaf extract of K. africana (collected from Nigeria) was screened for antidiarrhoeal activity using experimental animal models. The extract (100 or 200 mg/kg) protected rats from castor oil-induced diarrhoea and reduced faecal output. The extract also decreased the propulsive movement of the gastrointestinal contents of mice. The extract did not appreciably affect acetylcholine- or histamine-induced contractions of isolated guineapig ileum, but significantly reduced nicotine-induced contractions. The i.p. LD50 of the extract in mice was estimated as 785.65 plus or minus 24 mg/kg. [no evidence of toxicity]

Akah, P. A. (1996) Antidiarrheal activity of Kigelia africana in experimental animals. Journal of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants, 1996, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 31-38, 21 ref.

4.06

(1) The biology of Bathycoelia thalassina (H.-S.), an important pest of cacao in Ghana [cf. RAE/A 62, 4824, etc.] and elsewhere, were studied in Ghana in the field and in the insectary. A method used to rear the pentatomid on fruits of Kigelia africana is described.
(2) In a survey in Ghana in 1973, the cacao pest Bathycoelia thalassina (H.-S.) was found feeding on 10 alternative food-plants. These included orange, cola and wild plants, of which only Kigelia africana is found on cacao farms.
[a pest attcking cacao tree with limited host range]

(1) Owusu-Manu, E. (1972) Biology and control of Bathycoelia thalassina (H.S.) (Pentatomidae Hemiptera), a pest of cocoa in Ghana. IV International Cocoa Research Conference, St. Augustine, Trinidad, 8-18 January, 1972., 1972, recd. 1976, pp. 539-547, 15 ref.
(2) Owusu-Manu, E. (1978) Host plants of Bathycoelia thalassina (H.-S.) (Hem., Pentatomidae) in Ghana. Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, 1978, publ. 1979, Vol. 114, No. 1372/1375, pp. 201-202, 4 ref.

4.07

(1) Govindachari et al. (1971) demonstrated the presence of lapachol in the roots of this species. Lapachol is a known elicitor of contact dermatitis (Schulz et al. 1977). [no direct evidence of cases]
(2) Danger: Seed is poisonous if ingested [no cases of accidental poisnonings where discovered]

(1) http://bodd.cf.ac.uk/index.html
(2) http://plantsdatabase.com/go/54271/index.html

4.08

(1)oliage is large and has a crisp, leathery texture [naturally grows with low hanging branches, don't know about flammablllity]

http://gardening.worldonline.co.za/0223.htm

4.09

Exposure: Full sun

Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7.

4.1

Soil Condition Loamy, sandy, clay, acidic, neutral, slightly alkaline, tolerates some salt, somewhat drought tolerant

4.11

tree

Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7.

4.12

"a medium-sized, wide spreading tree, 30 feet high or more"

Neal, M.C. (1965) In Gardens of Hawaii. Bernice p. Bishop Museum Special Publicatio 50. Bishop Museeum Press, Honolulu. 924pp. p.771

5.01

terrestrial

5.02

medium Deciduous tree to 25 m; Bignoniaceae

5.03

no evidence

5.04

tree

6.01

(1) "The fragrant, nectar-rich blossoms are pollinated by bats, insects and sunbirds in their native habitat."
(2) "the fruit, while not palatable for humans, is popular with hippos, baboons, and giraffes."

(1) http://waynesword.palomar.edu/sausage.htm

(2) http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/sausage_tree.htm

6.02

AB: "The initial seed germination of 87% showed that this was a highly viable seedlot. A maximum generation level of 94% was reached showing that higher viability was possible. "

Dudley, A.; Wood, C. B.; Pritchard, H. W. (2001) Quantification of dryland tree seed storage behaviour. IV: Kigelia africana. Newsletter - Project on Handling and Storage of Recalcitrant and Intermediate Tropical Forest Tree Seeds, 2001, No. 9, pp. 6-11, 17 ref.

6.03

no evidence

6.04

(1) Winston Williams in Florida's Fabulous Trees (1986) describes it as an “amazing tree [that] produces a sausage shaped fruit which is woody and inedible.” He goes on to say that “the long sausages are produced by flowers that have been cross-pollinated and the short sausages from self-pollinated flowers.”[seeded and seedless?]
(2) A comparison of seedless forms growing at Agra and seeded forms growing at Delhi and Dehradun showed that pollination and fertilization were appreciably affected by temperature and relative humidity. By keeping pollinated pistils at low temperatures relative to room temperatures in Agra during the summer (22-48 deg C), normal pollen tube development and growth in the stylar tissues and normal fertilization were achieved. At Dehradun, where fruits develop, the range of temperatures is 16-32 deg C and humidity 49-86%. Pistil culture and in vitro pollination were performed. The best results were obtained by pollinating receptive stigmas with fresh pollen suspended in 15% sucrose sol

(1) http://www.seabean.com/newsletters/vol07-2.pdf

(2) Rana, A.; Chauhan, W. V. A. (1990) Studies on pollen physiology and fertilization in Kigelia pinnata. Plant Cell Incompatibility Newsletter, 1990, No. 22, pp. 37-40, 5 ref. (3)http://www.tropicaldesigns.com/tp-pollinating.htm

6.05

(1) "The fragrant, nectar-rich blossoms are pollinated by bats, insects and sunbirds in their native habitat."
(2) "The corollas are leathery, which resists shredding by the clawed wings of bats that visit and pollinate this species in its native habitat in tropical west Africa."
(3) "It is also true that "bat flowers" are often produced by non-cauliflorous species in which the blossoms appear on long, rope-like stalks that hang from the forest canopy. Good examples of this "hanging method" are the tropical lianas (Mucuna species) and the infamous sausage tree (Kigelia pinnata)."
(4) "The cluster of flowers resemble a chandelier which hang from a stem that may be from a few feet to as long as 25 feet. Only a portion of the buds in the cluster open in any one night. In its native Africa, the flowers are pollinated by bats, and it is theorized that the long flower stems help the bats by keeping the flowers away from the thick leaves of the canopy which might confuse the bats's sonar. In Florida these trees are

(1) http://waynesword.palomar.edu/sausage.htm

(2) http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/vascular/bignoni.htm

(3) http://waynesword.palomar.edu/plmay99.htm

(4) http://www.seabean.com/newsletters/vol07-2.pdf (5)http://ecocrop.fao.org/

6.06

no evidence

6.07

First flowering from 6 years.

http://gardening.worldonline.co.za/0223.htm

7.01

large fruit

7.02

"cultivated as a curiosity for its strange, large, susage-shaped fruit"

Neal, M.C. (1965) In Gardens of Hawaii. Bernice p. Bishop Museum Special Publication 50. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 924pp. p.771

7.03

large fruit

7.04

large fruit, seeds unwinged

7.05

(1)found in beach drift but no evidence of seed viability; could be water dispersed if the natural habitats have periodical flooding (2)found along rivers in moist forests [the woody fruits presumably float]

(1)http://www.seabean.com/newsletters/vol07-2.pdf (2)http://ecocrop.fao.org/

7.06

Usually only hippos, rhinos and insects eat the fruit.

http://au.store.yahoo.com/neemstore/kigaf.html

7.07

"the fruit, while not palatable for humans, is popular with hippos, baboons, and giraffes." [mammals might carry the fruits]

http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/sausage_tree.htm

7.08

(1)"the fruit, while not palatable for humans, is popular with hippos, baboons, and giraffes." (2)Bushpigs are known to eat the fruit. [mammal dispersal by ingestion]

(1)http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/sausage_tree.htm (2)http://www.tropicaldesigns.com/tp-pollinating.htm

8.01

(1) "The hard, grey fruit has a thin skin covering a firm, fibrous fruit pulp containing numerous small, unwinged seeds. "
(2) Viable seeds/kg : 5800 - 7700 (3)Seed size length 9,6±1,0 mm, width 5,5±0,6 mm and breadth 4,0±0,4 mm.[Probably not > 1000/m2, relatively large seeds.]

(1) http://www.sanprota.com/products/sausage.htm
(2) http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/Sites/TreeDBS/TSSD/seedinfo.cfm?seed_id=kigafr (3)http://216.239.53.104/search?q=cache:DS7ZsxDXd1EJ:www.dfsc.dk/pdf/IPGRI%2520
tests/Kigelia%2520africana.pdf+Kigelia+africana+seed+size&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

8.02

(1) AB: A study was conducted on Kigelia africana seeds to quantify its dry storage capability, thus confirming or denying their orthodox nature. The initial seed germination of 87% showed that this was a highly viable seedlot. A maximum generation level of 94% was reached showing that higher viability was possible. Moreover, there was no evidence of seed dormancy, with more than 80% germination after 49 days at 25 deg C. Seed germination was not affected by drying to approx equal to 3% moisture content. It is suggested that these seeds are not recalcitrant, but orthodox in their response to drying.
(2) Fruit is persistent [seed storage orthodox implying that seeds could surviva > 1 year if kept dry, but no evidence of natrual dormancy] (3)It seems as if the viability of the seeds decrease faster once they are removed from the fruit. If kept moist, the seeds should germinate within 2 to 4 weeks. (4)Sow as soon as possible after harvest. The seeds are viable only a few weeks, and should be stored in a cool and

(1) Dudley, A.; Wood, C. B.; Pritchard, H. W. (2001) Quantification of dryland tree seed storage behaviour. IV: Kigelia africana. Newsletter - Project on Handling and Storage of Recalcitrant and Intermediate Tropical Forest Tree Seeds, 2001, No. 9, pp. 6-11, 17 ref.
(2) Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7. (3)http://www.africantrees.com/details.asp?treeID=16 (4)http://www.ulandslaere.au.dk/NOTICES/TeachingMaterial/
TeachingMaterial_2000_01/undervisningsmateriale/Lars_Moller/Sausagetree.pdf

8.03

no evidence

8.04

"Be sure to clear all turf away from beneath the branches and mulch to the dripline, especially on young trees, to reduce competition with turf and weeds. This will allow roots to become well established and keep plants healthier. " [probabaly not- weak root system]

Horticopia A-Z.Horticopia, Inc., Purcellville, VA. ISBN 1-887215-07-7.

8.05

no evidence


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