Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


Paulownia fortunei


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

Paulownia fortunei (empress diamond)

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

n

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

1

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

n

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

y

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

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

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

y

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

3

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

y

7.05

Propagules water dispersed

y=1, n=-1

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

n

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

8.03

Well controlled by herbicides

y=-1, n=1

y

8.04

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

y=1, n=-1

y

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

No evidence

1.03

No evidence

2.01

(1)Native to China. (2)Paulownia occurs naturally in China, Taiwan, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Its natural distribution ranges from tropical through to cool temperate climates (3)Paulownia fortunei will grow in a wide range of climates, from cool temperate to tropical.

(1)http://www.toadgully.com.au/grow_future.php (2)http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/web/root/domino/infseries/infsheet.nsf/ec560317440956
e24a2568e3000bb3d9/62563bc000ed84a84a25687a00103822?OpenDocument (3)http://www.toadgully.com.au/grow_future.php

2.02

2.03

It occurs from just above sea level up to an altitude of 2,400 m. Tolerates a range of environmental conditions.

 

http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/web/root/domino/infseries/infsheet.nsf/ec560317440956
e24a2568e3000bb3d9/62563bc000ed84a84a25687a00103822?OpenDocument

2.04

(1)Native to China. (2)[genus in general]Paulownia occurs naturally in China, Taiwan, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Its natural distribution ranges from tropical through to cool temperate climates (3)P. fortunei extending into Vietnam and Laos

(1)http://www.toadgully.com.au/grow_future.php (2)http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/web/root/domino/infseries/infsheet.nsf/ec560317440956
e24a2568e3000bb3d9/62563bc000ed84a84a25687a00103822?OpenDocument (3)http://www.toadgully.com.au/paulownia.php

2.05

Introduced to Australia, the U.S. and Brazil, Japan and Korea. (3)India.

(1)http://www.toadgully.com.au/grow_future.php (2)http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/web/root/domino/infseries/infsheet.nsf/ec560317440956
e24a2568e3000bb3d9/62563bc000ed84a84a25687a00103822?OpenDocument (3) Singh-Charan . 2001. Introduction of Paulownia fortunei in agroforestry farming systems under rainfed conditions at Doon Valley, India. Indian-Forester. [print] August, 2001; 127 (8): 953-955..

3.01

No evidence

3.02

No evidence

3.03

No evidence

3.04

No evidence

3.05

Paulownia tomentosa is considered a weed in the U.S.

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/pato1.htm

4.01

No evidence

(1)http://www.toadgully.com.au/grow_future.php (2)http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/web/root/domino/infseries/infsheet.nsf/ec560317440956
e24a2568e3000bb3d9/62563bc000ed84a84a25687a00103822?OpenDocument

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

fodder enjoyed by sheep

http://www.toadgully.com.au/grow_future.php

4.05

fodder enjoyed by sheep

http://www.toadgully.com.au/grow_future.php

4.06

(1)Larvae of 6 species - Orgyia postica, Calliteara grotei, Euproctis virguncula, Euproctis fraterna, Euproctis sp. and Dasychira sp. - were recorded for the first time as pests of young cuttings of P. fortunei , causing multiple defoliation of the plants. The highest level of infestation was caused by O. postica (2)damping-off caused by Rhizoctonia solani , root and basal rot caused by Fusarium sp. and R. solani , leaf spotting and blight caused by Corynespora cassiicola, Cercospora sp. and Pseudocercospora sp., and leaf blight caused by R. solani and Phytophthora nicotianae

(1)Manoj Kumar; Mukhtar Ahmad 2000. Record of lymantriid species defoliating Paulownia fortunei in India. Indian Forester, 126, 1319-1325 (2)Mehrotra, M. D. 1997. Diseases of Paulownia and their management. Indian Forester, 123:66-72

4.07

No evidence

4.08

unlikely -- a single-trunked tree, does not grow in dense patches

4.09

Grows best in full sun.

http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/web/root/domino/infseries/infsheet.nsf/ec560317440956
e24a2568e3000bb3d9/62563bc000ed84a84a25687a00103822?OpenDocument

4.1

5.5 to 8.5 (6.5 is the optimum pH level).
well drained is best, light to heavy clay is ok.

http://www.dragontrees.com/dragonhi.html

4.11

Not a vine.

4.12

No evidence

5.01

A large tree in the scrophulariaceae family.

(1)http://www.toadgully.com.au/grow_future.php (2)http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/web/root/domino/infseries/infsheet.nsf/ec560317440956
e24a2568e3000bb3d9/62563bc000ed84a84a25687a00103822?OpenDocument

5.02

5.03

5.04

6.01

Produces flowers.

Singh, A. P. . 2000. Nectar feeding insects on Paulownia fortunei blossoms : evaluating potential nototribic pollinators. Indian Forester. Vol.126, No.11, pp.1179-1186, 13 ref.

6.02

Seeds germinated

Dhiman, R. C.; Thapliyal, R. C.; Jagdish Singh 2000. Capsule size and seed yield relationships in Paulownia fortunei . Indian Journal of Forestry. Vol.23, No.1, pp.12-15, 10 ref.

6.03

These results further support the hypothesis that P. taiwaniana is the natural hybrid between P. fortunei and P. kawakamii and that the maternal parent of P. taiwaniana is P. kawakamii.

Wang-W-Y {a}; Pai-R-C; Lai-C-C; Lin-T-P. 1994. Molecular evidence for the hybrid origin of Paulownia taiwaniana based on RAPD markers and RFLP of chloroplast DNA. Theoretical-and-Applied-Genetics. 89 (2-3) 271-275..

6.04

No information

6.05

'On the basis of insect morphology and size, only insects from two families (Xylocopidae and Bombidae) were determined to be potential pollinators of P. fortunei flowers, ….'

Singh, A. P. . 2000. Nectar feeding insects on Paulownia fortunei blossoms : evaluating potential nototribic pollinators. Indian Forester. Vol.126, No.11, pp.1179-1186, 13 ref.

6.06

No evidence of vegetative propagation in the wild.

6.07

Data on average height and diameter growth at 3 yr old are reported for a small number of trees (raised from seed (from the Chinese Academy of Forestry at Beijing) at the Forest Research InstituteThe trees planted in 1993 flowered in 1996

Dhiman, R. C.; Ahlawat, S. P. 1998 Observations on early performance of Paulownia fortunei in Arunachal Pradesh. Indian Forester 124:75-76

7.01

Probably not - propagules do not have any means of attachment.

7.02

forestry, horticulture (flowers)

7.03

no evidence

7.04

Winged seeds.

Kumar, PP; Rao, CD; Rajaseger, G; Rao, AN . 1999. Seed surface architecture and random amplified polymorphic DNA profiles of Paulownia fortunei, P. tomentosa and their hybrid. Annals of botany. v. 83 (2) p. 103-107

7.05

possibly

7.06

no evidence

7.07

no evidence

7.08

no evidence of consumption

8.01

based on similar capsule morphology to P. tomentosa

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/pato1.htm

8.02

No information on seed bank [this is a more tropical relative of P. tomentosa -- might not maintain seedbank]

8.03

Do not use any form of insecticide or weed-killer anywhere near your tree. Paulownia trees are highly sensitive to poisons and will die or be severely damaged if exposed to them.

http://www.dragontrees.com/dragonhi.html

8.04

Paulownia grows from coppice very well. If original plants are weak or have a crooked main stem, cutting back to ground level may allow a single straight stem to develop as a complete shoot.  

http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/web/root/domino/infseries/infsheet.nsf/ec560317440956
e24a2568e3000bb3d9/62563bc000ed84a84a25687a00103822?OpenDocument

8.05

Don’t know.


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This page updated 3 November 2005