Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)

Microsorum musifolium

RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS: Low risk, score: 5 (low risk based on second screen)

Australian/New Zealand Weed Risk Assessment adapted for Hawai‘i.
Information on Risk Assessments
Original risk assessment
  Microsorum musifolium Synonym:Polypodium musifolium (Crocodyllus, crocodile fern) Answer Score
1.01 Is the species highly domesticated? n 0
1.02 Has the species become naturalized where grown? n  
1.03 Does the species have weedy races? 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” 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
2.04 Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates y 1
2.05 Does the species have a history of repeated introductions outside its natural range?  y=-2 y  
3.01 Naturalized beyond native range         y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2), n= question 2.05 n -2
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
3.04 Environmental weed                                                     y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2) n 0
3.05 Congeneric weed                                                          y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2) n 0
4.01 Produces spines, thorns or burrs n 0
4.02 Allelopathic n 0
4.03 Parasitic n 0
4.04 Unpalatable to grazing animals    
4.05 Toxic to animals n 0
4.06 Host for recognized pests and pathogens n 0
4.07 Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans n 0
4.08 Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems n 0
4.09 Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle y 1
4.1 Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (or limestone conditions if not a volcanic island)    
4.11 Climbing or smothering growth habit n 0
4.12 Forms dense thickets n 0
5.01 Aquatic n 0
5.02 Grass n 0
5.03 Nitrogen fixing woody plant n 0
5.04 Geophyte (herbaceous with underground storage organs -- bulbs, corms, or tubers) y 1
6.01 Evidence of substantial reproductive failure in native habitat n 0
6.02 Produces viable seed. y 1
6.03 Hybridizes naturally    
6.04 Self-compatible or apomictic    
6.05 Requires specialist pollinators    
6.06 Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation y 1
6.07 Minimum generative time (years)                 1 year = 1, 2 or 3 years = 0, 4+ years = -1   0
7.01 Propagules likely to be dispersed unintentionally (plants growing in heavily trafficked areas) y 1
7.02 Propagules dispersed intentionally by people y 1
7.03 Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant n -1
7.04 Propagules adapted to wind dispersal y 1
7.05 Propagules water dispersed y 1
7.06 Propagules bird dispersed n -1
7.07 Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally) n -1
7.08 Propagules survive passage through the gut n -1
8.01 Prolific seed production (>1000/m2) y 1
8.02 Evidence that a persistent propagule bank is formed (>1 yr)    
8.03 Well controlled by herbicides    
8.04 Tolerates, or benefits from, mutilation, cultivation, or fire    
8.05 Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents)    
  Total score:   5

Supporting data:

  Notes Reference
1.01 No evidence  
1.02 No evidence  
1.03 No evidence  
2.01 (1)It is native to a small valley in a local rainforest near Cairns, Australia. (2)The plant is a native of Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea and a rainforest valley near Cairns. (3)Philippines, Solomon Islands across Malaya. (1)http://home.att.net/~a.j.calisi/plants.html  (2)http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Microsorium%20musifolium%20pc.html (3)Copeland  E.B.1960. Fern flora of the Philippines. Volume 3. Manila Bureau of Printing. Manila. Page486.
2.02    
2.03 (1)Hardiness:
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6° C (20° F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8° C (25° F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1°C (30° F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7° C (35° F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5° C (40° F)  (2)The fern was earlier known as Polypodium musifolium and some growers claim the fern does not appreciate temperatures below 55 degrees.  Others say it is actually semi-tropical and can be grown in Zone 7A.  It can be grown in Southern Florida as a landscape plant in bright filtered light most of the year even though temps sometimes drop quite low.  (3)Collected from Kimantis trail at an elevation of 850 m in Sayap- Kinabalu park, Sabah. (4)Philippines - 'Mindanao, common alt. about 1200, on Mts. Apo and Matutum. 		(1)http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/122914/  (2)http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Microsorium%20musifolium%20pc.html  (3)Jaman, R and Latiff A. 1998. On some pteridophytes of Sayap-Kinabalu Park, Sabah. ASEAN Review of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation (ARBEC). Article IV. (4)Copeland  E.B.1960. Fern flora of the Philippines. Volume 3. Manila Bureau of Printing. Manila. Page486.
2.04 (1)It is native to a small valley in a local rainforest near Cairns, Australia. (2)The plant is a native of Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea and a rainforest valley near Cairns. (3)Philippines, Solomon Islands across Malaya. (1)http://home.att.net/~a.j.calisi/plants.html  (2)http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Microsorium%20musifolium%20pc.html (3)Copeland  E.B.1960. Fern flora of the Philippines. Volume 3. Manila Bureau of Printing. Manila. Page486.
2.05 (1)Available for sale online through T & C Terranium located in Port Orange, Florida.  (2)Introduced to Florida, Louisiana and Washington in the U.S. (1)http://home.att.net/~a.j.calisi/plants.html  (2)http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/122914/
3.01 No evidence  
3.02 No evidence  
3.03 No evidence  
3.04 No evidence  
3.05 No evidence  
4.01 No evidence  
4.02 No evidence  
4.03 No evidence  
4.04 Don’t know  
4.05