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

Sesbania punicea (Sesbania tripetii, Daubentonia punicea, Daubentonia tripetii, rattlebox, rattle pod, purple sesbane, false poinciana, scarlet wisteria, Chinese rattlebox, red sesbania)

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

1

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

n

2.04

Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates

y=1, n=0

n

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

y

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

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

y

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

y

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

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

y

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

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

1

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

y

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

n

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

y

8.04

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

y=1, n=-1

n

8.05

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

y=-1, n=1

Total score:

9.5

Notes

Source

1.01

No evidence

1.02

(1)"In the United States, S. punicea was introduced as a garden ornamental. It escaped cultivation and formed dense thickets along river banks, ditch banks and disturbed areas from Florida to eastern Texas. Similarly, it was planted in gardens in South Africa and soon became naturalized. Over a period of 20 years, the plant invaded the Natal coastal belt, the Natal midlands, northern Natal near ladysmith, the Transvaal highlands, the eastern Transvaal, and several areas of the Cape Province. Throughout these areas the plant has become an invasive weed, principally on river banks and in wetlands, where it has excluded native plants." ... Spreading rapidly in Mauritius following introduction in the 1980s. (2)It is considered an invasive weed in California and Florida.

(1)http://www.hear.org/pier/species/sesbania_punicea.htm (2)http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Fabaceae/Sesbania_punicea.html

1.03

No evidence

2.01

(1)Origin - South America. (2)Origin: South America (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) [mainly warm temperate but braod ranging]

(1)http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/Sesbapu.htm (2)http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Fabaceae/Sesbania_punicea.html

2.02

2.03

(1)USDA: 8b-11 (2)It is commonly found along rivers and in areas that are frequently inundated with water. In South Africa the only apparent factor limiting the plant's spread is its preference for high rainfall areas or damp habitats.It is commonly found along rivers and in areas that are frequently inundated with water. In South Africa the only apparent factor limiting the plant's spread is its preference for high rainfall areas or damp habitats.[restricted to wet habitats]

(1)http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Fabaceae/Sesbania_punicea.html (2)http://www.ecoport.org/

2.04

(1)from northen Florida to eastern Texas it has invaded river banks, ditch banks and waste areas (2) frequent in central and northern Florida (3)Not listed as naturalized in flora tropical of South Florida [native and naturalized in warm temperate regions or Mediteranean climate]

(1)http://www.ecoport.org/ (2)http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/sespun.html (3)Long and Lakela. 1971. A flora of tropical Florida. University of Maimi Press, Coral Gables.

2.05

Introduced to the U.S., Africa and Mauritius.

http://www.hear.org/pier/species/sesbania_punicea.htm

3.01

(1)"In the United States, S. punicea was introduced as a garden ornamental. It escaped cultivation and formed dense thickets along river banks, ditch banks and disturbed areas from Florida to eastern Texas. Similarly, it was planted in gardens in South Africa and soon became naturalized. Over a period of 20 years, the plant invaded the Natal coastal belt, the Natal midlands, northern Natal near ladysmith, the Transvaal highlands, the eastern Transvaal, and several areas of the Cape Province. Throughout these areas the plant has become an invasive weed, principally on river banks and in wetlands, where it has excluded native plants." ... Spreading rapidly in Mauritius following introduction in the 1980s. (2)It is considered an invasive weed in California and Florida.

(1)http://www.hear.org/pier/species/sesbania_punicea.htm (2)http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Fabaceae/Sesbania_punicea.html

3.02

'These dense stands of scarlet wisteria can decrease water flow and quality and decrease access to the river for fishing, boating and other recreational activities. '

http://www.riverparkway.org/html/invasiveses.html

3.03

No evidence

3.04

(1)"In the United States, S. punicea was introduced as a garden ornamental. It escaped cultivation and formed dense thickets along river banks, ditch banks and disturbed areas from Florida to eastern Texas. Similarly, it was planted in gardens in South Africa and soon became naturalized. Over a period of 20 years, the plant invaded the Natal coastal belt, the Natal midlands, northern Natal near ladysmith, the Transvaal highlands, the eastern Transvaal, and several areas of the Cape Province. Throughout these areas the plant has become an invasive weed, principally on river banks and in wetlands, where it has excluded native plants." ... Spreading rapidly in Mauritius following introduction in the 1980s. (2)It is considered an invasive weed in California and Florida.

(1)http://www.hear.org/pier/species/sesbania_punicea.htm (2)http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Fabaceae/Sesbania_punicea.html

3.05

'AB: Neodiplogrammus quadrivittatus (Oliver) and Trichapion lativentre (Beguin-Billecoeq) are 2 South American weevils successfully used for the biological control of Sesbania punicea (Cavanille) Benth. in South Africa. The potential of these insects as control agents for the weeds Sesbania exaltata (Raf.) Rydb. and S. drummondii (Rydb.) Cory in the United States was studied in Argentina. Estimation of adult consumption, the food preference of adult insects on 5 species of Sesbania (3 native hosts and the 2 weeds mentioned above), the capacity of the insects to complete their life cycle on the weeds, and the weed infestation by wild populations in the laboratory garden were studied. The consumption of N. quadrivitattus on both north American weeds did not differ from that on native hosts. Similar consumption was observed for T. lativentre feeding on S. drummondii. S. exaltata showed the lowest consumption. The feeding preference of N. quadrivittatus was similar to that of its natural host

4.01

No evidence of such structures.

4.02

'AB: Sesbanimide and extracts made from ground powders of whole Sesbania punicea and S. bispinosa seeds and isolated embryos and testae of S. punicea inhibited the germination of vegetable, grass and weed seeds. This inhibition was more noticeable on seedling growth than on germination. The inhibitory effect was not transitory but was manifested even after transplanting the seedlings. In all cases, the roots were more sensitive than the shoots and their growth was severely retarded. The inhibitory effect was also detected if the test seeds were soaked in extracts prior to sowing. Embryo and testa extracts of S. punicea gave an inhibitory response. The former was the most inhibitory. This inhibition may partly explain why S.punicea forms dense, uniform stands when invading natural vegetation. There appears to be a strong allelopathic effect expressed by the seed extracts. This warrants further investigation. [lab only]

TI: The effect of sesbanimide and Sesbania seed extracts on germination and seedling growth of a number of plant species.
AU: Van-Staden-J {a}; Grobbelaar-N
SO: Environmental-and-Experimental-Botany. 1995; 35 (3) 321-329..

4.03

No evidence

4.04

Apparently eaten at least sometimes as indicated by livestock poisonings in 4.05

4.05

(1) 'All parts of the plant, particularly the seeds, are poisonous to mammals, birds and reptiles.' (2)Toxicity: The seeds contain a saponin that is quite toxic to poultry, cattle, sheep, goats, and humans.  As few as nine seeds per bird can be fatal. Sheep can be killed by consuming as little as 50 grams per 100 pounds of body weight. Poisoning usually occurs in the fall when other forage is scarce.
Symptoms: Animals appear severely depressed and have a rapid pulse and diarrhea. (3)Animals poisoned: Sheep, poultry, pigeons, and cattle.

(1)http://www.riverparkway.org/html/invasiveses.html (2)http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-0975/Sesbania.pdf (3)http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/botany/ncsc/Poisonplants/Vascular_plants.htm

4.06

[a recognized pathogen specialized on legume hosts] The following 2 fungi were found to be associated with S. punicea.
Erysiphe pisi: South Africa - 7190
Erysiphe pisi var. pisi: South Africa - 34234 [an economic pest of peas; http://www.mtvernon.wsu.edu/path_team/diseasegallery.htm]

http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/all/FindRecOneFungusFrame.cfm

4.07

(1)Mode Ingestion.
Poisonous Part  Seeds.
Symptoms Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weakness, depression, respiratory failure; may be fatal.
Toxic Principle Saponic glycosides.
Severity HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN! (2) 'All parts of the plant, particularly the seeds, are poisonous to mammals, birds and reptiles.'

(1)http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/Sesbapu.htm (2)http://www.riverparkway.org/html/invasiveses.html

4.08

(1)Deciduous shrub. [forms dense stands but is limited to wet areas]

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/Sesbapu.htm

4.09

Sun Exposure: Full sun

http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Fabaceae/Sesbania_punicea.html

4.1

(1)Salt tolerant

(1)http://www.green-seeds.com/PDF/landscape_pt.pdf

4.11

Non-climbing.

http://www.ildis.org/LegumeWeb/6.00/taxa/1551.shtml

4.12

It often forms dense thickets.

http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/Syllabus2/spunicea.htm

5.01

"found in tidal marshes and disturbed sites." [not a true aquatic plant]

http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/sespun.html

5.02

A small tree with a spreading open crown reaching 6 to 8 feet in height.

http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/Syllabus2/spunicea.htm

5.03

AB: "Rhizobium sp. SIN-1, isolated in India from root nodules on the tropical legume Sesbania aculeata , also induces nitrogen fixing nodules on roots of S. macrocarpa , S. speciosa , S. procumbens , S. punicea , S. rostrata , and Vigna unguiculata . "

Rana, D.; Krishnan, H. B. (1995) A new root-nodulating symbiont of the tropical legume Sesbania , Rhizobium sp. SIN-1, is closely related to R. galegae , a special that nodulates temperature legumes. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 1995, Vol.134, No.1, pp.19-25, 30 ref.

5.04

A small tree with a spreading open crown reaching 6 to 8 feet in height.

http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/Syllabus2/spunicea.htm

6.01

No evidence

6.02

The seeds have a very high germination rate, so many new plants sprout annually.

http://www.riverparkway.org/html/invasiveses.html

6.03

No evidence

6.04

No evidence

6.05

No evidence

6.06

Propagation: Seed

http://www.hear.org/pier/species/sesbania_punicea.htm

6.07

(1)The plant matures in one year and can produce thousands of seeds per year. (2)Three-month-old seedlings may flower and produce seeds, but it appears more normal for plants to begin to flower as they enter their second year of growth.

(1)http://www.riverparkway.org/html/invasiveses.html (2)http://www.ecoport.org/

7.01

Probably not - no evidence that the propagules have any means of attachment.

7.02

Probably yes - 'Flower: Very attractive orange-red pea-like flowers in hanging clusters appearing in late spring and early summer. '

http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/Syllabus2/spunicea.htm

7.03

Probably not - relatively large seeds. (1)Fruit: Dark brown legume ending in a sharp point, 3 to 4 inches long with 4 conspicuous longitudinal wings, appear in early summer and ripen by fall. (2)The ribbed seed pod is 6-8 cm long and may contain 4-10 se

(1)http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/Syllabus2/spunicea.htm (2)http://www.hear.org/pier/species/sesbania_punicea.htm (3)http://www.riverparkway.org/html/invasiveses.html

7.04

The winged seedpods drop off of the plant into nearby water and then travel downstream to fertile ground. '

http://www.riverparkway.org/html/invasiveses.html

7.05

(1)'The winged seedpods drop off of the plant into nearby water and then travel downstream to fertile ground. ' (2) 'Areas like forests which have streams or rivers runnning through them;can easily become infested as waterways are the main routes by which the seeds of sesbania are dispersed.'

(1)http://www.riverparkway.org/html/invasiveses.html (2)South African Journal of Botany 1986 (136) 31-33.

7.06

no evidence

7.07

no evidence

7.08

No evidence of ingestion

8.01

(1)Fruit: Dark brown legume ending in a sharp point, 3 to 4 inches long with 4 conspicuous longitudinal wings, appear in early summer and ripen by fall. (2)The ribbed seed pod is 6-8 cm long and may contain 4-10 seeds. (3)Produces thousands of seeds per year. [Probably not - relatively large seeds and few seeds per pod]

(1)http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/Syllabus2/spunicea.htm (2)http://www.hear.org/pier/species/sesbania_punicea.htm (3)http://www.riverparkway.org/html/invasiveses.html

8.02

(1)AB: Seeds of Sesbania punicea (Cav.) Benth. are largely impermeable, and the naturel, low percentage which germinate are permeable at the lens. Scarifying seed in acid stimulates germination and causes various types of damage to the testa, including the lens. Placing seeds in boiling water stimulates germination by rendering the seeds permeable at the lens. Seeds were mechanically scarified at precise sites on the testa to assess influence of the site and degree of damage on germination. Results indicate that both the site of initial water entry and the rate of water entry are important in determining seed and seedling vigour. Damaging the lens is more effective in stimulating germination and reducing seedling abnormalities than complete excision of the lens. This effect can be reversed if seeds from which the lens was excised are allowed to imbibe gradually in inert osmotica. The leguminous lens thus acts as the site of initial water entry and regulates the rate of water uptake, thereby increasing seed an

(1)TI: THE ROLE OF THE LENS IN SEED IMBIBITION AND SEEDLING VIGOR OF SESBANIA-PUNICEA CAV. BENTH. LEGUMINOSAE PAPILIONOIDEAE.
AU: MANNING-J-C {a}; VAN-STADEN-J
SO: Annals-of-Botany-London. 1987; 59 (6): 705-714.. (2)TI: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STORAGE CONDITIONS AND SEED GERMINATION IN TWO SPECIES OF SESBANIA.
AU: GRAAFF-J-L {a}; VAN-STADEN-J
SO: South-African-Journal-of-Botany. 1987; 53 (2): 143-146..

8.03

'Two herbicides glyphosate (Roundup) and dicamba +2,4,5 -T (Bandit) are currently registered for sesbania control. 'Glyphosate is registered for use as a foliar spray while dicamba +2,4,5-T is registered for use as a foliar or basal stem application. ... A new chemical triclopyr (Garlon) is being investigated and may be registered shortly for use against sesbania.' ... 'Mature sesbania growing at two sites were treated with a number of herbicides applied as both cut stem and foliar regrowth treatements. All herbicides proved effective, the least effective treatment being glyphosate applied as a cut stem cut-stem treatment and resulting in a kill of between 70-80%'

South African Journal of Botany. 1986. (136): 31-33

8.04

(1)"The only successful means of removal we've identified is hand-pulling; the plant does not appear to resprout from its roots. Fortunately, once the large shrubs are removed, it's not too difficult to maintian a site as the new seedlings are easily pulled." (2)The root system is not very large [implies little regrowth ability]

(1)http://www.riverparkway.org/html/newsses.html (2)http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/alert/alrtsesb.html

8.05

AB: This paper contributes to the relatively sparse literature on the effects of insect herbivory on the population dynamics of plants and is probably unique in that it reports the long-term effects of  combinations of three insect herbivore species on the population densities of a moderately long-lived tree species. The tree is Sesbania punicea, a leguminous perennial from South America that has been the target of a biological control programme in South Africa for almost 20 years. Sixteen infestations of the weed have been monitored for periods of up to 10 years to determine changes in the density of the mature, reproductive plants under the influence of different combinations of three biological control agents (i.e. with one, two or three of the agent species present in the weed infestation). The three biological control agents, all weevil species, include Trichapion lativentre, which primarily destroys the flower-buds, Rhyssomatus marginatus, which destroys the developing seeds, and Neodiplogr

TI: The population dynamics of an introduced tree, Sesbania punicea, in South Africa, in response to long-term damage caused by different combinations of three species of biological control agents.
AU: Hoffmann-J-H {a}; Moran-V-C
SO: Oecologia-Berlin. April, 1998; 114 (3) 343-348..