Myoporum laetum G. Forst. Family - Myoporaceae. Common names - Ngaio tree, False Sandalwood, Mousehole Tree.

Answer

Score

1.01

Is the species highly domesticated? (If answer is 'no' then go to question 2.01)

n

0

1.02

Has the species become naturalized where grown?

1.03

Does the species have weedy races?

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”

1

2.02

Quality of climate match data (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) see appendix 2

2

2.03

Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility)

n

0

2.04

Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates

n

0

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

y

1

3.02

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

y

1

3.03

Agricultural/forestry/horticultural weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n

0

3.04

Environmental weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

3.05

Congeneric weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

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

y

1

4.05

Toxic to animals

y

1

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

y

1

4.09

Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle

n

0

4.1

Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (or limestone conditions if not a volcanic island)

y

1

4.11

Climbing or smothering growth habit

n

0

4.12

Forms dense thickets

y

1

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)

n

0

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

n

0

6.06

Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation

n

-1

6.07

Minimum generative time (years) 1 year = 1, 2 or 3 years = 0, 4+ years = -1

7.01

Propagules likely to be dispersed unintentionally (plants growing in heavily trafficked areas)

n

-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

n

-1

7.05

Propagules water dispersed

n

-1

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y

1

7.07

Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally)

n

-1

7.08

Propagules survive passage through the gut

y

1

8.01

Prolific seed production (>1000/m2)

n

-1

8.02

Evidence that a persistent propagule bank is formed (>1 yr)

y

1

8.03

Well controlled by herbicides

8.04

Tolerates, or benefits from, mutilation, cultivation, or fire

y

1

8.05

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

Total score:

6

Second Screening

Evaluate

Notes

Reference

1.01

No evidence.

1.02

1.03

2.01

(1) Hardiness: USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F) (2) DIST.: K, Three Kings, N., S., Ch. Coastal to lowland forest, especially marginal, to lat. 46°, but rare in southern part of range.

(1) http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/56648/ [11 Dec 2007] (2) Allan, H.H. 1982. Flora of New Zealand Volume 1: Indigenous Tracheophyta - Psilopsida, Lycopsida, Filicopsida, Gymnospermae, Dicotyledons. First electronic edition, Landcare Research, June 2004. Transcr. A.D. Wilton and I.M.L. Andres. http://FloraSeries.LandcareResearch.co.nz. [11 Dec 2007].

2.02

2.03

(1) Hardiness: USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F) (2) It is a fast grower that can withstand salt and winds in coastal areas. Moreover, it is fairly frost hardy. This tree can withstand negative temperatures down to about 20°F, (-7°C) but the foliage will be damaged below 27°F. (about -3°C).

(1) http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/56648/ [11 Dec 2007] (2) http://coolexotics.com/plant-409.html [11 Dec 2007]

2.04

(1) Native to New Zealand

(1) Allan, H.H. 1982. Flora of New Zealand Volume 1: Indigenous Tracheophyta - Psilopsida, Lycopsida, Filicopsida, Gymnospermae, Dicotyledons. First electronic edition, Landcare Research, June 2004. Transcr. A.D. Wilton and I.M.L. Andres. http://FloraSeries.LandcareResearch.co.nz. [11 Dec 2007].                                                                                                        

2.05

(1) M. laetum has been widely utilised in many parts of the world including Portugal, South Africa, Namibia and California as a windbreak or a road tree, especially because of its wind-resistant and salt-tolerant characteristics.

(1) Chinnock, R.J. 2007. Eremophila and Allied Genera: A Monograph of the Plant Family Myoporaceae. Rosenberg Publishing, Kenthurst NSW, Australia.

3.01

(1) Myoporum flourishes in coastal areas in the San Francisco Bay region and in Los Angeles, Marin, and Orange counties, and may be found along the coast from Sonoma County to San Diego County. It has naturalized in Hawaii. It is most common in urban, disturbed areas, below 900 feet (300 m) elevation, where it forms dense monocultures if not controlled. (2) General: Common in the study area. Photographed on the west side of the Delhi Ditch and at Big Canyon. In recent years this plant has become an invasive pest, crowding out native trees and shrubs. (my comments).

(1) http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=63&surveynumber=182 [11 Dec 2007] (2) http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/Plants%20of%20Upper%20Newport%20
Bay%20(Robert%20De%20Ruff)/Myoporaceae/Myoporum%20laetum.htm [11 Dec 2007]

3.02

(1) Myoporum laetum: Invades along the coast from Sonoma County to San Diego. Forms dense stands with no other vegetation. Can cover large areas. Spread by birds. Leaves and fruits are toxic to wildlife and livestock. Burns easily. Doesn't typically spread in interior areas. (2) Listed among "Most Invasive Wildland Pest Plants; Regional" (3) There are other non-native plants that are recognized to varying degrees as threats to the health of the maritime chaparral plant community. We will kill and remove Acacia cultivars, Perez's sealavender (Limonium perezii) and myoporum (Myoporum laetum) from the project site. Perez's sealavender along with acacia seedlings will be manually or mechanically removed. Larger acacia and myoporum will be cut at the base and the resulting stump "painted" with Round-up. The biomass from acacia and myoporum will be removed from the site. (4) Ngaio (Myoporum laetum) is regarded as a serious invasive weed in southern California's coastal areas and it has also spread south into the Baja California peninsula in Mexico. In California it is described as — "a most invasive wildland pest plant" and it is listed on the California noxious weeds list. It forms dense single species thickets that expand each year and out-compete other plants. Birds spread the seeds, greatly enlarging the affected areas. Programmes to control the plant in California are underway. (5) The Shoreline Preservation Fund of the University of California at Santa Barbara, funded a Weed Management Component of the Goleta Slough Habitat Enhancement Project with several grants. This grant program of the Associated Students awarded Santa Barbara Audubon funds for weed control associated with our Goleta Slough restoration projects. We are removing seedlings of Pampas grass, Myoporum shrubs and Castor bean, and investigating alternatives to herbicides for controlling such invasive exotics such as Arundo (Giant reed) and iceplant. In salt marsh areas with high cover of native vegetation, removal of non-native plants such as Curly dock is the only restoration required. This funding also helps us in site preparation and plant maintenance for our planting efforts, largely in the upland margin of the wetlands more susceptible to weed invasion. Most of the project sites were in Goleta Slough near Atascadero Creek, wetland and adjacent upland margins.

(1)http://www.cal-ipc.org/landscaping/dpp/plantpage.php?region=state&type=Trees [11 Dec 2007] (2)http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/inventory/pdf/Inventory1999.pdf [11 Dec 2007] (3)http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/SERG/restorationproj/chaparraland/
point_loma/plantspeciesman/orcutt.html [13 Dec 2007] (4)http://www.rnzih.org.nz/pages/NativeWeeds.htm [13 Dec 2007] (5)http://www.rain.org/~audubon/sbaspastrestore.html

3.03

(1) Not listed as an Agricultural/forestry/horticultural weed.

(1) http://www.hear.org/gcw/species/myoporum_laetum/ [11Dec 2007]

3.04

Evidence of impacts mostly anecdotal and invasion is generally at disturbed coastal sites. Therefore, this plant is being scored as a disturbance weed. (1) Myoporum laetum: Invades along the coast from Sonoma County to San Diego. Forms dense stands with no other vegetation. Can cover large areas. Spread by birds. Leaves and fruits are toxic to wildlife and livestock. Burns easily. Doesn't typically spread in interior areas. (2) Listed among "Most Invasive Wildland Pest Plants; Regional"

(1) http://www.cal-ipc.org/landscaping/dpp/plantpage.php?region=state&type=Trees [11 Dec 2007] (2) http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/inventory/pdf/Inventory1999.pdf [11 Dec 2007]

3.05

(1) Several species of Myoporum listed as weeds, but no evidence of impacts.

(1) http://www.hear.org/gcw/scientificnames/scinamem.htm [11 Dec 2007]

4.01

(1) Tree up to c. 10 m. tall; trunk up to 3 dm. or more diam.; bark brownish, furrowed; branches stout, spreading; branchlets at tip and lvs in bud viscid. Plant often low-growing in exposed coastal places. Lvs on petioles, somewhat flattened, up to c. 3 cm. long. Lamina bright green, glab., sub-fleshy, ± 4-10 × (1)-2-3 cm.; lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate or oblong to obovate, acute to acuminate; margins crenulate-serrulate in upper half, sinuate in lower half, or sinuate throughout (different forms often on same plant).

(1) Allan, H.H. 1982. Flora of New Zealand Volume 1: Indigenous Tracheophyta - Psilopsida, Lycopsida, Filicopsida, Gymnospermae, Dicotyledons. First electronic edition, Landcare Research, June 2004. Transcr. A.D. Wilton and I.M.L. Andres. http://FloraSeries.LandcareResearch.co.nz. [11 Dec 2007].

4.02

No evidence.

4.03

No evidence.

4.04

Probably unpalatable due to toxicity. (1) Listed among species unpalatable to deer (2) Described as "Avoided" by ungulates in New Zealand (3) Grazing: Grazing is not an option because of the toxicity of this species.

(1) http://www.orchardnurserynews.com/php/10deer_list_06.pdf [12 Dec 2007] (2) Forsyth, D.M., D.A. Coomes, G. Nugent, and G.M.J. Hall. 2002.Diet and diet preferences of introduced ungulates (Order: Artiodactyla) in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 29: 323-343. (3) http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=63&surveynumber=182 [13 Dec 2007]

4.05

(1) Danger: Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested (2) The leaves of this shrub are toxic, and may be fatal to livestock. (3) Abstract: Myoporum laetum was collected in the municipalities of Rio Grande and Capao do Leao in winter and in Santa Vitoria in summer, autumn, winter and spring, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and in the Department of Rocha, Uruguay, in winter and spring. The fresh green plant was fed to 17 sheep. All sheep developed clinical signs, except 1 that consumed only 4 g/kg bw daily during 10 d. Five of the 9 sheep dosed with 40 g/kg died. Four sheep dosed with plants from Uruguay at 40 g/kg, 6 sheep dosed with 20 g/kg, and 1 sheep dosed with 2 daily doses of 8 g/kg survived. Clinical signs were anorexia, restlessness, ruminal stasis, jaundice and dry feces with mucus or blood. All surviving sheep had photodermatitis in the face, ears, eyes and lips. Histologic lesions were characterized by periportal liver necrosis. Serum levels of AST, GGT and bilirubin were increased. M. laetum from Uruguay was less toxic, suggesting a variation in toxicity among plants from different regions. (3) Abstract: Myoporum laetum was collected in the counties of Rio Grande and Capao do Leao in winter and in Santa Vitoria in summer, autumn, winter and spring, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and in the Department of Rocha, Uruguay, in winter and spring. The fresh green leaves were fed to 16 calves. Two calves that ingested the plant from Capao do Leao at 40 and 44 g/kg bw did not develop clinical signs. The other 14 calves had depression, abdominal pain, ruminal atony, ocular and nasal serous discharge, and dry feces with blood and mucus. Four calves developed icterus. First signs appeared 24-72 h after ingestion, and clinical period varied from 2 to 7 d. One animal had mild photosensitization. Calves dosed with 20 g/kg of plant from Santa Vitoria and 40 g/kg of plant from Uruguay had less severe clinical signs. All cattle recovered except 1 dosed with 40 g/kg of plant collected in winter in Santa Vitoria; it died 70 h after ingestion. Histologic lesions in the liver of this animal and in biopsies obtained 48 h after dosing other calves had centrilobular necrosis, sometimes extending to the midzonal region. Clinical signs and hepatic lesions were also observed in a calf dosed with 5 daily doses at 8 g/kg. Serum AST, GGT and bilirubin were increased. M. laetum from Santa Vitoria was the most toxic for cattle, and the plant from Uruguay was the least toxic, suggesting variations in toxicity among plants from different regions. (4) Ngaio (Myoporum laetum) Small tree up to 10m found throughout New Zealand in coastal and lowland forest. Ngaio deaths are most common in cattle (in 1945, 73 cattle died on Banks Peninsula), though pig deaths have also been reported, and on one occasion a horse was thought to have been poisoned by this plant. Ngaio leaves are the most poisonous part of this plant with livestock being most at risk after storms when branches and leaves are blown to the ground.

(1) http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/56648/ [11 Dec 2007] (2) http://www.plantright.org/plants/invasive.php?invPlantID=25&region=none [11 Dec 2007] (2) Raposo, J. B., M. Mendez, F. Riet-Correa, and G. Andrade. 1998. Experimental intoxication by Myoporum laetum in sheep. Veterinary and Human Toxicology 40 (3) : 132-135. (3) J.B. Raposo, M. Mendez, G. Andrade, and F. Riet-Correa. 1998. Experimental intoxication by Myoporun laetum in cattle. Veterinary and Human Toxicology 40 (5) : 275-277. (4) http://www.biodynamic.org.nz/guides/ch3env_app.pdf [12 Dec 2007]

4.06

(1) Host of Rhizoctonia sp. Causing root rot

(1) http://www.hear.org/pph/hosts/5146.htm [12 Dec 2007]

4.07

Plant needs to be ingested to manifest toxicity. No evidence of poisoning in humans. (1) Allergy: Very Low (2) The reddish-purple fruits are recorded as being eaten but caution should be taken as all parts of this plant are now known to contain a liver toxin. The leaves are the most toxic part of the plant and are best considered to be POISONOUS. Also used as a medicinal plant

(1) http://schelters.org/library.cfm?id=204133 [12 Dec 2007] (2)

4.08

Possibly, but evidence is anecdotal. (1) The interior of the myoporum shrub consists of a tangle of dead branches that is highly susceptible to wildfire. (2) It has been reported that, because the interior of large plants contains an accumulation of dead branches, myoporum burns with an intensity that seems in contradiction to its lush, dark green foliage. This is of concern in areas prone to wildfires. (3) The species accumulates dead twigs, rendering it flammable.

(1) http://www.plantright.org/plants/invasive.php?invPlantID=25&region=none [11 Dec 2007] (2) http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=63&surveynumber=182 [11 Dec 2007] (3) http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/inventory/PAF/Myoporum%20laetum.pdf [11 Dec 2007]

4.09

(1) Sun Exposure: Full Sun (2) It cannot grow in the shade.

(1) http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/56648/ [11 Dec 2007] (2) http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Myoporum+laetum [11 Dec 2007]

4.1

(1) Soil - This plant prefers a sandy and well-drained ground. (2) The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soil.

(1) http://coolexotics.com/plant-409.html [11 Dec 2007] (2) http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Myoporum+laetum [11 Dec 2007]

4.11

Growth habit: small tree

4.12

(1) The shade from a dense stand of myoporum stunts or eliminates the growth of slower-growing native plant species. These dense stands are a result of myoporum’s heavy seed production and popularity as a food source for birds.

(1) http://www.plantright.org/plants/invasive.php?invPlantID=25&region=none [11 Dec 2007]

5.01

Terrestrial

5.02

Myoporaceae

5.03

Myoporaceae

5.04

Not a geophyte

6.01

Apparently common and without reproductive limitations (1) Myoporum laetum Forst.f. (Myoporaceae) An evergreen tree often with a single, leaning stem, up to about 12 m tall, common mainly in coastal forest. (2) DIST.: K, Three Kings, N., S., Ch. Coastal to lowland forest, especially marginal, to lat. 46°, but rare in southern part of range. (3) This is one of the most common coastal trees, both in coastal forest and in open places, around the shores of New Zealand. It extends also to the Three Kings, Kermadec, and Chatham Islands.

(1) Burrows, C.J. 1996. Germination behaviour of seeds of the New Zealand woody species Melicope simplex, Myoporum laetum, Myrsine divaricata, and Urtica ferox. New Zealand Journal of Botany 34: 205-213. (2) Allan, H.H. 1982. Flora of New Zealand Volume 1: Indigenous Tracheophyta - Psilopsida, Lycopsida, Filicopsida, Gymnospermae, Dicotyledons. First electronic edition, Landcare Research, June 2004. Transcr. A.D. Wilton and I.M.L. Andres. http://FloraSeries.LandcareResearch.co.nz. [11 Dec 2007]. (3) http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/N/Ngaio/Ngaio/en [13 Dec 2007]

6.02

(1) Mypoprum reproduces by generating a copious number of seeds.

(1) http://www.plantright.org/plants/invasive.php?invPlantID=25&region=none [11 Dec 2007]

6.03

Unknown.

6.04

Unknown, but probably self-compatible.

6.05

(1) Entomophilous flowers also visited by honeyeaters.

(1) Castro, I. and A.W. Robertson. 1997. HONEYEATERS AND THE NEW ZEALAND FOREST FLORA: THE UTILISATION AND PROFITABILITY OF SMALL FLOWERS. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 21(2): 169-179.

6.06

(1) Little information is available on the growth and reproduction of myoporum. It reproduces only by seed. (2) M. laetum is not known to spread by vegetative means, but it can resprout from stumps.

(1) http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=63&surveynumber=182 [13 Dec 2007]

6.07

No information on years to flower, but fast growth rate suggests tree could flower in less than 4 years. (1) An evergreen Shrub growing to 6m by 3m at a medium rate. (2) This plant’s rapid growth, branching and spreading habit, and dense foliage make it useful as a thick, high screen or hedge. (3) Extremely fast-growing evergreen shrub.

(1) http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Myoporum+laetum [13 Dec 2007] (2) http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=63&surveynumber=182 [13 Dec 2007] (3) Kirsten, H. 2001. Gardening with Keith Kirsten. New Holland Publishers, London.

7.01

Fruits/seeds have no mechanism for attachment.

7.02

Sold as an ornamental

http://coolexotics.com/plant-409.html

7.03

No evidence.

7.04

(1) Birds eat the fruit and carry viable myoporum seeds in their digestive tracts over long distances. (2) Drupe narrow-ovoid, ± 6-9 mm. long, pale to dark reddish purple.

(1) http://www.plantright.org/plants/invasive.php?invPlantID=25&region=none [11 Dec 2007] (2) Allan, H.H. 1982. Flora of New Zealand Volume 1: Indigenous Tracheophyta - Psilopsida, Lycopsida, Filicopsida, Gymnospermae, Dicotyledons. First electronic edition, Landcare Research, June 2004. Transcr. A.D. Wilton and I.M.L. Andres. http://FloraSeries.LandcareResearch.co.nz. [11 Dec 2007].

7.05

(1) Birds eat the fruit and carry viable myoporum seeds in their digestive tracts over long distances. (2) Drupe narrow-ovoid, ± 6-9 mm. long, pale to dark reddish purple.

(1) http://www.plantright.org/plants/invasive.php?invPlantID=25&region=none [11 Dec 2007] (2) Allan, H.H. 1982. Flora of New Zealand Volume 1: Indigenous Tracheophyta - Psilopsida, Lycopsida, Filicopsida, Gymnospermae, Dicotyledons. First electronic edition, Landcare Research, June 2004. Transcr. A.D. Wilton and I.M.L. Andres. http://FloraSeries.LandcareResearch.co.nz. [11 Dec 2007].

7.06

(1) Birds eat the fruit and carry viable myoporum seeds in their digestive tracts over long distances. (2) Drupe narrow-ovoid, ± 6-9 mm. long, pale to dark reddish purple.

(1) http://www.plantright.org/plants/invasive.php?invPlantID=25&region=none [11 Dec 2007] (2) Allan, H.H. 1982. Flora of New Zealand Volume 1: Indigenous Tracheophyta - Psilopsida, Lycopsida, Filicopsida, Gymnospermae, Dicotyledons. First electronic edition, Landcare Research, June 2004. Transcr. A.D. Wilton and I.M.L. Andres. http://FloraSeries.LandcareResearch.co.nz. [11 Dec 2007].

7.07

No mechanisms for external attachment.

7.08

(1) Ingestion by possums can result in a significant proportion of mechanical seed damage (Table 2). Nearly 80% of Sambucus seeds removed from faeces of captive possums were visibly damaged, as were 75% of Muehlenbeckia seeds. There was no obvious damage to the large, woody, nut-like seeds of Myoporum.

germination in successional vegetation, Canterbury, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 26(2): 121-128.

8.01

(1) Seed bank (no. m^-2) = 5.1

(1) Moles, A.T. and D.R. Drake. 1999. Potential contributions of the seed rain and seed bank to regeneration of native forest under plantation pine in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 37: 83–93.

8.02

(1) The seeds, thus, exhibit deep dormancy, established to differing degrees in subsets of seeds within a cohort. This enables them to germinate in the favourable spring period and to spread risk. Final germination percentages, respectively, for Melicope, Myoporum, Myrsine, and Urtica, were
77%, 90%, 92%, and 59%. No Melicope seeds germinated in the dark and soil treatments. Rapid germination occurred for Myrsine seeds in the dark and Myoporum seeds on soil. When the endocarp of Myoporum disseminules was cut to expose the seeds the germination rate was very similar to that in the standard treatment; no seeds of this species germinated when left in fruit. It is very likely that seeds of the four species,
(especially Urtica and Melicope) could form relatively long-term seed banks. As plant species with deeply dormant seeds seem to be relatively scarce in New Zealand lowland forests, the existence of this phenomenon could relate to the earlier phylogeny of the taxa which possess it. Relatives of both Urtica (in Europe) and Myoporum (in Australia) have deeply dormant seeds.

(1) (1) Burrows, C.J. 1996. Germination behaviour of seeds of the New Zealand woody species Melicope simplex, Myoporum laetum, Myrsine divaricata, and Urtica ferox. New Zealand Journal of Botany 34: 205-213.

8.03

(1) Chemical control: Trunks should be cut at ground level and saturated with concentrated glyphosate. Leaving any amount of stump may allow resprouting. Cut surfaces must be monitored and retreated as needed. Contact a certified herbicide applicator for additional information on any newly registered herbicides that may be appropriate and approved for this species. [Not evidence that species is well controlled].

(1) http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=63&surveynumber=182 [11 Dec 2007]

8.04

(1) Mechanical removal: Seedlings can be pulled, but they have long, strong taproots, and pulling must be done when the soil is moist and the plant is small. If the root remains in the ground the plant will resprout with vigor. Seedling removal with cut-stump treatment produces the best results. Prescribed burning: No information is available about the efficacy of prescribed burning in infested areas. However, specimens have resprouted after wildland fires, and post-fire seedling recruitment competes with native plants for reestablishment. (2) Its small white flowers and purple fruits are not striking, but its speed of growth, ease of propagation, resistance to both drought and coastal conditions, acceptance of shearing, however severe, and its attractive dark green shiny foliage are qualities very much in its favour.

(1) http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=63&surveynumber=182 [11 Dec 2007] (2) Latymer, H. 2001. The Mediterranean Gardener. Frances Lincoln Limited, London.

8.05

Don't know, but native Hawaiian Myoporum sandwicensis could have natural enemies that attack M. laetum (1) Technical Abstract: The lantana lace bug, Teleonemia scrupulosa, was introduced into Hawaii to control the invasive weed Lantana camara around 1900. The insect is common on lantana throughout the Hawaiian Islands and is an important factor reducing lantana in wetter parts of the islands. A brief note of this insect feeding and reproducing on a native Hawaiian plant (naio, Myoporum sandwicensis) not closely related to lantana was suggested in the mid-1960's. The objective of this study was to follow-up on this claim and to quantitatively evaluate this potential host range expansion with surveys and controlled rearing studies. Naio along the coast of Oahu may be a different species of Myoporum from naio on Hawaii, at least a different variety. Target plants (lantana) and non-target plants (Hawaiian naio) were surveyed on two islands; Oahu and Hawaii. Field surveys verified the use of naio on Oahu but not on Hawaii. Reproducing populations of lace bugs (adults and nymphs) were found on Oahu naio, Oahu lantana, and Hawaii lantana. No lace bugs were found on Hawaii naio even though insects were present on adjacent lantana plants. This represents the broadest host shift recorded for a classical weed biological control agent, i.e. onto a family in a different order. Preliminary greenhouse rearing experiments showed that lantana collected lace bugs survived poorly and failed to reproduce on the naio from Hawaii, although they did well on lantana. Oahu naio-feeding lace bugs survived on lantana but performed poorly on Hawaii naio. Rearing studies are being repeated and will include insect populations from Oahu naio, Oahu lantana, and Hawaii lantana on 4 different host plants (Oahu naio, Oahu lantana, Hawaii naio, and Hawaii lantana).

(1) Hight, S.D., Pemberton, R.W., Conant, P., Johnson, T. 2004. Attack on and use of a native Hawaiian plant by a biological control agent (Teleonemia scrupulosa) introduced against Lantana camara, p. 350, In Proceedings of the XI International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds. Symposium held April 27- May 2, 2003, Canberra, Australia. 2004.