Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)
RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS: High risk, score: 18
|
Australian/New Zealand Weed Risk Assessment adapted for Hawai‘i. Information on Risk Assessments Original risk assessment |
| Rubus ellipticus (Yellow Himalayan raspberry, yellow raspberry, cheeseberry) Synonyms: Rubus ellipticus var. obcordatus (Franch.) Focke, Rubus flavus Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don, Rubus gowreephul Roxb. Family - Rosaceae | Answer | Score | |
| 1.01 | Is the species highly domesticated? | 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” | 0 | |
| 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 |
| 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 | y | 1 |
| 3.02 | Garden/amenity/disturbance weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2) | ||
| 3.03 | Agricultural/forestry/horticultural weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2) | y | 2 |
| 3.04 | Environmental weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2) | y | 2 |
| 3.05 | Congeneric weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2) | y | 1 |
| 4.01 | Produces spines, thorns or burrs | y | 1 |
| 4.02 | Allelopathic | n | 0 |
| 4.03 | Parasitic | n | 0 |
| 4.04 | Unpalatable to grazing animals | n | -1 |
| 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) | 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 | y | 1 |
| 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 | y | 1 |
| 6.07 | Minimum generative time (years) 1 year = 1, 2 or 3 years = 0, 4+ years = -1 | 2 | 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 | y | 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) | y | 1 |
| 8.02 | Evidence that a persistent propagule bank is formed (>1 yr) | y | 1 |
| 8.03 | Well controlled by herbicides | y | -1 |
| 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: | 18 | ||
Supporting data:
| Notes | Reference | |
| 1.01 | No evidence. | |
| 1.02 | ||
| 1.03 | ||
| 2.01 |
(1)Native: ASIA-TEMPERATE China: China - Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, Xizang [s.], Yunnan ASIA-TROPICAL Indian Subcontinent: Bhutan; India; Nepal; Pakistan; Sri Lanka Indo-China: Myanmar; Thailand [n.]; Vietnam Malesia: Philippines - Luzon (2)"Seed - requires stratification and is best sown in early autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed requires one month stratification at about 3°c and is best sown as early as possible in the year." [The seeds of this species require cold stratification] |
http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl |
| 2.02 | naturalized in tropical Africa, tropical Southern America, West Indies, & Hawaii | http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl |
| 2.03 | "Shrubberies and open hillsides, to 2300 metres in the Himalayas. … It is hardy to zone 8." | http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Rubus+ellipticus |
| 2.04 | (1)naturalized in tropical Africa, tropical Southern America, West Indies, & Hawaii (2)"Rubus ellipticus is naturalized in Hawai'i and elsewhere in the tropics." | (1)http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl (2)http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/reports/html/rubus_ellipticus.htm |
| 2.05 | (1)It has been introduced to several places, including Hawaii, Southern USA and the UK, and is grown in cultivation for its edible fruits. (2)naturalized in tropical Africa, tropical Southern America, West Indies, & Hawaii | (1)http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=79&fr=1&sts= (2)http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl |
| 3.01 | (1)naturalized in tropical Africa, tropical Southern America, West Indies, & Hawaii (2)"Rubus ellipticus is naturalized in Hawai'i and elsewhere in the tropics." | (1)http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl (2)http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/reports/html/rubus_ellipticus.htm |
| 3.02 | "Today, it is well established in disturbed wet forests, 1,800-5,580 ft (700-1,700 m) elevation, and thrives in sunny open pastures as well as deep rain forests." "This species has spread from cultivation and has become a pest in wet disturbed forests of Hawai'i. R. ellipticus forms impenetrable thickets and crowds out native species in moist to wet disturbed areas of Hawai'i from 2,270-5,580 ft (700-1,700 m) elevation." | http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/reports/html/rubus_ellipticus.htm |
| 3.03 | (1)Invades pasture land. (2)Occurs in: agricultural areas, disturbed areas, natural forests, range/grasslands | (1)http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/gardner/biocontrol/Rubus%20spp/rubusell.htm AND http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/reports/html/rubus_ellipticus.htm (2)http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=79&fr=1&sts= |
| 3.04 | (1)"This species has spread from cultivation and has become a pest in wet disturbed forests of Hawai'i. R. ellipticus forms impenetrable thickets and crowds out native species in moist to wet disturbed areas of Hawai'i from 2,270-5,580 ft (700-1,700 m) elevation." "Rubus ellipticus is a noxious weed in Hawai'i." (2)"This extremely thorny plant forms impenetrable thickets where it has become established, threatening native ecosystems (Jacobi and Warshauer 1986). In Hawaii this pest forms impenetrable thickets, threatening native lowland wet forests and displacing native plant species, including the native Hawaiian raspberry species Rubus hawaiiensis (Benton 1997)." | (1)http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/reports/html/rubus_ellipticus.htm (2)http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=79&fr=1&sts= |
| 3.05 | Rubus argutus: (1) an extremely serious weed naturalized in a variety of disturbed habitats, including mesic to wet forest and subalpine grassland, 200-2,300 m " (2)The major threats to Alsinidendron obovatum are competition from the aggressive nonnative plant species...Rubus argutus (3)Alsinidendron lychnoides (kuawawaenohu) -- The major threats to this species are competition from the aggressive nonnative plant species Rubus argutus (prickly Florida blackberry) (4)This thorny scrambler is a noxious weed which rapidly invades disturbed areas between 1,000-2,300 m.It forms impenetrable thickets (5)Hawaii Noxious weed (6)Exocarpos luteolus -- Aggressive alien taxa degrading this plant's habitat include Acacia mearnsii (black wattle), Corynocarpus laevigatus (karakanut), Myrica faya (firetree), and Rubus argutus | (1)Wagner, W.L., D.R. Herbst and S.H. Sohmer. 1999. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i. University of Hawai'i Press, Honolulu. pp. 1107, 1890. (2)http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-11156.htm (3)http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-2840.htm (4)http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/rub_arg.htm (5)http://www.hawaii.edu/ehso/bio/weedlist.pdf |
| 4.01 | "Rubus ellipticus is a thorny shrub that originates from southern Asia." | http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=79&fr=1&sts= |
| 4.02 | No evidence | |
| 4.03 | No evidence | |
| 4.04 | "Cattle find the thorny raspberry canes indigestible." |