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

Muntingia calabura (jamaica cherry)

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

y

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

y

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

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

y

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

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

2

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

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

y

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:

12

Source

Notes

1.01

No evidence.

1.02

Reported to be moderately invasive on Nauru. (2)'In India, the tree is found growing in thickets in urban and rural areas from the seeds dispersed by birds.'

http://www.hear.org/pier/mucal.htm (2)Bose, T. K. , Das, P and Maiti, G.G. 1998. Trees of the World. Volume 1. Art publishing house. Calcutta. India.

1.03

No evidence.

2.01

The Jamaica cherry is tropical to near-tropical

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/jamaica_cherry.html#Description

2.02

2.03

Occurs widely in the lowland humid tropics up to 1500 m altitude. Approximate limits north to south: 30°N to 10°S. (2)It is found up to 4,000 ft (1,300 m) in Colombia

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/jamaica_cherry.html#Description

2.04

Native to Tropical America; widely cultivated and naturalized. In French Polynesia (Raiatea) naturalizing to 300 m. Reported to be moderately invasive on Nauru. (2)'In India, the tree is found growing in thickets in urban and rural areas from the seeds dispersed by birds.'

http://www.hear.org/pier3/mucal.htm (2)Bose, T. K. , Das, P and Maiti, G.G. 1998. Trees of the World. Volume 1. Art publishing house. Calcutta. India.

2.05

Widely introduced to almost all tropical regions.

http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/cherry_tree.htm

3.01

Native to Tropical America; widely cultivated and naturalized. In French Polynesia (Raiatea) naturalizing to 300 m. Reported to be moderately invasive on Nauru. (2)'In India, the tree is found growing in thickets in urban and rural areas from the seeds di

http://www.hear.org/pier3/mucal.htm. (2)Bose, T. K. , Das, P and Maiti, G.G. 1998. Trees of the World. Volume 1. Art publishing house. Calcutta. India.

3.02

1) "It is a typical pioneer species and may become a weed, colonizing disturbed sites in tropical lowlands. It establishes itself in trodden yards and along shop fronts where no other tree takes root."

1) http://www.ecoport.org/EP.exe$EntPage?ID=1500

3.03

No evidence.

3.04

Considered a "minor" weed on Christmas Island, not subject to control. The plant is considered a disturbance weed (q 3.02 above) rather than an environmental weed because of the specific types of sites that it has colonized after naturalizing.

Swarbrick,J.T. and Hart-R. 2001.Environmental weeds of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) and their management. Plant-Protection-Quarterly.16 (2): 54-57

3.05

No evidence.

4.01

No evidence.

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/jamaica_cherry.html#Description

4.02

No evidence.

4.03

No evidence.

4.04

No information.

4.05

No evidence.

4.06

Lists 10 fungi that occur on this species. (2)In Florida, in recent years, the fruits are infested with the larvae of the Caribbean fruit fly and are accordingly rarely fit to eat. The foliage is subject to leaf spot caused by Phyllosticta sp. and Pseudocercospora muntingiae (formerly Cercospora muntingiae), and the tree is subject to crown gall caused by Agrobacterium tumefaciens.
(3) 'There are quarantines against shipping any mangos to California because of Caribbean fruit fly.'

http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/all/FindRecOneFungusFrame.cfm (2)http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/jamaica_cherry.html#Description (3)http://www.nal.usda.gov/ttic/tektran/data/000008/38/0000083800.html

4.07

The Jamaica cherry is widely eaten by children out-of-hand, though it is somewhat sticky to handle. It is often cooked in tarts and made into jam.
The leaf infusion is drunk as a tea-like beverage.
The flowers are said to possess antiseptic properties. An infusion of the flowers is valued as an antispasmodic. It is taken to relieve headache and the first symptoms of a cold.
(2)The fruits are eaten in Mexico and sold in markets there.

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/jamaica_cherry.html#Description (2)http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/cherry_tree.htmhttp://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/cherry_tree.htm

4.08

No information regarding fire ecology.

4.09

'…whose seedlings are highly shade intolerant.'

Fleming T. H. et al. 1985. Phenology, seed dispersal, and colonization in Muntingia calabura, a neotropical pioneer tree. American Journal of Botany. 72(3): 383-391.

4.1

...regenerates rapidly under most soil conditions, including alkaline and saline soils…'

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

4.11

It is not a vine. No evidence of smothering habit.

4.12

In India, the tree is found growing in thickets in urban and rural areas from the seeds dispersed by birds.'

Bose, T. K. , Das, P and Maiti, G.G. 1998. Trees of the World. Volume 1. Art publishing house. Calcutta. India.

5.01

5.02

5.03

It is a tree but does not fix nitrogen.

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/jamaica_cherry.html

5.04

6.01

No evidence.

6.02

'…M. calabura is a large-gap specialist whose seeds germinate only in high temperature …'

Fleming T. H. et al. 1985. Phenology, seed dispersal, and colonization in Muntingia calabura, a neotropical pioneer tree. American Journal of Botany. 72(3): 383-391.

6.03

No information.

6.04

'Muntingia calabura's breeding system is unusual …most flowers are either male (pollen donors) or hermaphordites ((pollen donors and fruit producers) … Its self compatible flowers last one day and are visited by many species of bees and butterflies ... sex ratio is skewed towards hermaphrodites.'

Fleming T. H. et al. 1985. Phenology, seed dispersal, and colonization in Muntingia calabura, a neotropical pioneer tree. American Journal of Botany. 72(3): 383-391.

6.05

(1) 'Because Muntingia has a generalized pollination system there is no reason to expect buffering of floral traits ...' (2)' Monthly samples of pollen loads were obtained from 13 apiaries in different areas of the Philippines. With the exception of one apiary, the 7 major pollen types found were Mimosa pudica, Cocos nucifera, Muntingia calabura, Mimosa invisa, Myrtaceae types, Leucaena leucocephala and Compositae types.'

Armbruster-W-Scott {a}; Di-Stilio-Veronica-S; Tuxill-John-D; Flores-T-Christopher; Velasquez-Runk-Julie-L. 1999. Covariance and decoupling of floral and vegetative traits in nine Neotropical plants: A re-evaluation of Berg's correlation-pleiades concept. American-Journal-of-Botany. 86 (1) 39-55.
(2)Payawal, P. C.; Tilde, A. C.; Manimtim, A. L. 1991. Year round pollen sources of Italian honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) in the Philippines. III. Selected areas. Philippine Agriculturis. Vol.74, No.4, pp.503-509

6.06

No evidence.

6.07

Age at maturity is less than or equal to 2 years.

Fleming T. H. et al. 1985. Phenology, seed dispersal, and colonization in Muntingia calabura, a neotropical pioneer tree. American Journal of Botany. 72(3): 383-391.

7.01

The berries have the seeds embedded in the pulp which is sticky. People relish the sweet berries.

7.02

They are a favorite with birds and bats, which disperse the seeds, and children too! This species is values as an ornamental and also for its sweet edible berries.

http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/cherry_tree.htm

7.03

7.04

7.05

7.06

(1)The sweet berry is edible and is also eaten by birds and other wildlife. (2)Seeds spread by birds and fruit bats.

(1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://www.hear.org/pier3/mucal.htm

7.07

7.08

Carollia perspicillata and Glosophaga soricina are the major nocturnal seed dispersers and along with orange chinned parakeets are probably the major dispersers among all verterbrates visiting this tree species.'

Fleming T. H. et al. 1985. Phenology, seed dispersal, and colonization in Muntingia calabura, a neotropical pioneer tree. American Journal of Botany. 72(3): 383-391.

8.01

'...fruit 5-celled baccate, sub-globose, light red, 1-1.5 cm wide, sweet-juicy, with many small (1/2 mm) elliptic grayish yellow seeds. Fruits contain on the order of 100 tiny seeds.

http://www.hear.org/pier3/mucal.htm

8.02

'This high soil seed density probably represents an accumulation of dormant seeds over several years because the rate of deposition of seeds on the soil surface by vertebrates is low in this forest.'

Fleming T. H. et al. 1985. Phenology, seed dispersal, and colonization in Muntingia calabura, a neotropical pioneer tree. American Journal of Botany. 72(3): 383-391.

8.03

No information regarding efforts to control this species.

8.04

No information

8.05

Don't know.