Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


Tillandsia cyanea


RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS: Low risk, score: -5


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

Tillandsia cyanea Linden (pink quill )

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

2

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

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

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

y

4.1

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

y=1, n=0

n

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

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

y=1, n=-1

n

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

y=-1, n=0

y

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

8.02

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

y=1, n=-1

n

8.03

Well controlled by herbicides

y=-1, n=1

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:

-5

Supporting data:

Notes

Source

1.01

No evidence

1.02

No evidence

1.03

No evidence

2.01

(1)Pink Quill is an epiphyte from Ecuador. (2)Native to the forest of Ecuador, where it grows on tops of trees or shrubs that receive direct sun and high temperatures usually at altitudes of 1,000 to 3,500 feet.

(1)http://www.plantoftheweek.org/week050.shtml (2)http://www.alcjr.com/tillandsias/cyanea.html

2.02

2.03

(1)Hardiness Range: 10A - 11 (2)grows on tops of trees or shrubs that receive direct sun and high temperatures usually at altitudes of 1,000 to 3,500 feet.

(1)http://www.horticopia.com/hortpix/html/pc5271.htm (2)http://www.alcjr.com/tillandsias/cyanea.html

2.04

(1)Pink Quill is an epiphyte from Ecuador. (2)Native to the forest of Ecuador, where it grows on tops of trees or shrubs that receive direct sun and high temperatures usually at altitudes of 1,000 to 3,500 feet.

(1)http://www.plantoftheweek.org/week050.shtml (2)http://www.alcjr.com/tillandsias/cyanea.html

2.05

(1)This plant is sold online in the U.S. (2)Australia (3)New Zealand

(1)http://www.tropiflora.com/creport/cr14-2/p4b.html (2)http://www.collectorscorner.com.au/Tillandsias/Tillandsia%20sales.htm (3)http://www.bromeliads.co.nz/epiphyte-2.html

3.01

No evidence

3.02

No evidence

3.03

No evidence

3.04

No evidence

3.05

Tillandsia recurvata is considered as a weed and subjected to control

Holcomb, G. E. (2000) Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) controls ball moss [Tillandsia recurvata]. Louisiana Agriculture, 2000, Vol. 43, No. 3, pp. 27

4.01

No evidence regarding such structures.

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

Probably not - it is an epiphyte.

4.05

No evidence

4.06

No evidence regarding associated pathogens.

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

4.07

No evidence

4.08

an epiphyte - needs wet habitat

(1)http://www.horticopia.com/hortpix/html/pc5271.htm (2)http://www.alcjr.com/tillandsias/cyanea.html

4.09

(1)Tillandsia cyanea do best in bright indirect sunlight. (2)prefers partial shade or partial sun to full sun (3)shade

(1)http://www.plantoftheweek.org/week050.shtml (2)http://www.horticopia.com/hortpix/html/pc5271.htm (3)http://www.houstongardening.info/plantlist.htm

4.1

(1)soil should be moist (2) an epiphyte (3)Most Tillandsias will not grow their roots into soil. Therefor, give them a different medium, one that gives them moisture, light and fresh-air.

(1)http://www.horticopia.com/hortpix/html/pc5271.htm (2)http://www.alcjr.com/tillandsias/cyanea.html (3)http://www.cloudjungle.com/epibook/Nidum.html

4.11

No evidence

4.12

No evidence

5.01

Bromeliad

5.02

Bromeliad

5.03

Bromeliad

5.04

An epiphyte

(1)http://www.plantoftheweek.org/week050.shtml (2)http://www.alcjr.com/tillandsias/cyanea.html

6.01

No evidence

6.02

Seeds are germinated on peat moss with temperatures of 65 degrees. Seeds need light to germinate.

http://www.plantoftheweek.org/week050.shtml

6.03

cyanea x platyrhachis [hybrids for sale but don't know if natural]

http://www.birdrocktropicals.com/Tilli_hybrids.asp

6.04

Homomorphic gametophytic self-incompatibility is proposed for A. chantinii and for Tillandsia cyanea.

TI: Flower biology of six cultivars of the Bromeliaceae II. Pollination and Fertilization. AU: Vervaeke,-I [Author,-Reprint-Author]; Delen,-R [Author]; Wouters,-J [Author]; Deroose,-R [Author]; De-Proft,-M-P [Author] SO: Selbyana-. 2003; 24(1): 87-94.

6.05

When the pistil and stamens are very short and are far down in a slender corolla of the flower they cannot be seen without carefully removing the sepals and petals so as to expose these reproductory organs. This is the condition in the flowers of Tillandsia lindenii or T. cyanea. [specialized floral structure]

http://d3684183.u30.infinology.com/articles/foster.htm

6.06

Tillandsia cyanea are propagated by division or seed. [No evidence regarding vegetative spread in the wild].

http://www.plantoftheweek.org/week050.shtml

6.07

it will take about 3 years for a flower to be produced.

http://www.vermeers.ca/faq.html

7.01

No evidence

7.02

Probably yes - an ornamental plant.

(1)http://www.horticopia.com/hortpix/html/pc5271.htm (2)http://www.tropiflora.com/creport/cr14-2/p4b.html

7.03

No evidence.

7.04

p.284 "Tillansioideae disperse among arboreal and lithic substrate via small. Wind-transported seeds structure according to a single aerodynamic design. Most notable is the coma, which consists of numerous hairs extending from both ends of the integument, or just its base."

David H. Benzing ; with contributions by B. Bennett ... [et al.]. (2000) Bromeliaceae : profile of an adaptive radiation
Publisher: Cambridge, UK ; New York, NY, USA : Cambridge University Press, 2000. 690p.

7.05

[Wet habitats - small seeds may be carried by water]

7.06

No evidence.

7.07

No evidence.

7.08

No evidence of ingestion

8.01

No evidence regarding seeds per capsule

8.02

When the seed capsule from many Tillandsias is ripe, it should be opened, and the seed sown immediately as it often loses its viability within a few weeks.

http://www.cloudjungle.com/epibook/Nidum.html

8.03

No evidence that the species is being controlled for.

8.04

Nearly all tillandsias are air plants, which means that they take in moisture and nutrients through their leaves, rather than their roots as most plants do. They have a very small root system, and its purpose is to support the plant rather than to feed it. [mutilation is poorly tolerated compared to "normal" plants]

http://starbulletin.com/97/09/16/features/evergreen.html

8.05

Don’t know


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