Australia/New Zealand Weed Risk Assessment adapted for Data used for analysis published in: Gordon, D.R., D.A. Onderdonk, A.M. Fox, R.K. Stocker, and C. Gantz. 28. Predicting Invasive Plants in Florida using the Australian Weed Risk Assessment. Invasive Plant Science and Management : 78-95. Euphorbia pulcherrima (poinsettia) Question number Question Answer Score. Is the species highly domesticated? y -3.2 Has the species become naturalised where grown? n -.3 Does the species have weedy races? 2. Species suited to Florida's USDA climate zones (-low; -intermediate; 2-high) 2 2.2 Quality of climate match data (-low; -intermediate; 2-high) 2 2.3 Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility) n 2.4 Native or naturalized in habitats with periodic inundation 2.5 Does the species have a history of repeated introductions outside its natural y range? 3. Naturalized beyond native range n 3.2 Garden/amenity/disturbance weed n 3.3 Weed of agriculture n 3.4 Environmental weed n 3.5 Congeneric weed y 4. Produces spines, thorns or burrs n 4.2 Allelopathic n 4.3 Parasitic n 4.4 Unpalatable to grazing animals 4.5 Toxic to animals y 4.6 Host for recognised pests and pathogens 4.7 Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans y 4.8 Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems n 4.9 Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle? 4. Grows on infertile soils (oligotrophic, limerock, or excessively draining soils) y 4. Climbing or smothering growth habit n 4.2 Forms dense thickets n 5. Aquatic n -2
5.2 Grass n 5.3 Nitrogen fixing woody plant n 5.4 Geophyte n 6. Evidence of substantial reproductive failure in native habitat 6.2 Produces viable seed y 6.3 Hybridizes naturally 6.4 Self-compatible or apomictic 6.5 Requires specialist pollinators n 6.6 Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation 6.7 Minimum generative time (years) 7. Propagules likely to be dispersed unintentionally (plants growing in heavily trafficked areas) 7.2 Propagules dispersed intentionally by people y 7.3 Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant n 7.4 Propagules adapted to wind dispersal n 7.5 Propagules water dispersed n 7.6 Propagules bird dispersed 7.7 Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally) n 7.8 Propagules dispersed by other animals (internally) - - - - 8. Prolific seed production 8.2 Evidence that a persistent propagule bank is formed (> yr) 8.3 Well controlled by herbicides 8.4 Tolerates, or benefits from, mutilation or cultivation 8.5 Effective natural enemies present in Florida, or east of the continental divide Total Score -3 Outcome Accept* *Used secondary screen from: Daehler, C. C., J.L. Denslow, S. Ansari, and H. Kuo. 24. A risk assessment system for screening out harmful invasive pest plants from Hawaii s and other Pacific islands. Conserv. Biol. 8: 36-368. 2
section # questions answered satisfy minimum? A 8 yes B 9 yes C yes total 28 yes Data collected 26-27 Question number Reference Source data. heavily cultivated for centuries - selection for bract color would not make it more weedy.2 no evidence.3 2. 2.2 2.3 Whistler (2) Tropical Ornamentals: a native to western Mexico [and not naturalized elsewhere] 2.4 2.5 Whistler (2) Tropical Ornamentals: a "widely cultivated from the tropics to warm temperate regions" 3. New Zealand Plant Conservation Network (25) New Zealand Adventive Vascular Plant List. Listed as a "casual observation" in New Zealand (as opposed to fully naturalized). No evidence of naturalization elsewhere. 3.2 no evidence 3.3 no evidence 3.4 no evidence 3.5 Holm (979) A Geographical Atlas of World Weeds. John Wiley and Sons. MANY congeneric species considered serious and principal weeds of agriculture. 4. Dehgan, B. (998) Landscape Plants for no description of these traits 4.2 no evidence 4.3 Dehgan, B. (998) Landscape Plants for no description of this 4.4 4.5 Tokarnia, Armien, Peixoto, Barbosa, Brito, and Dobereiner (996) Experiments on the toxicity of some ornamental plants in cattle. Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira 6: 5-2. 4.6 4.7. Horticopia 4. 2. Missouri Botanical Garden, Kemper Center for Home Gardening (http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfin der/plant.asp?code=b553) E. pulcherrima caused severe (but nonlethal) poisoning in cattle; caused severe weakness.. "not considered poisonous" 2. "Contrary to conventional wisdom, poinsettia plants are not a poisonous plant However, the white sap can have allergic properties, especially for people 3
who have latex allergies." 4.8 no evidence 4.9. Horticopia 4.. 2. Dehgan, B. (998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of 3. Missouri Botanical Garden, Kemper Center for Home Gardening (http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfin der/plant.asp?code=b553) 4.. Dehgan, B. (998) Landscape Plants for 2. Horticopia 4. 4. Dehgan, B. (998) Landscape Plants for shrub 4.2 no evidence 5. terrestrial 5.2 Dehgan, B. (998) Landscape Plants for 5.3 Dehgan, B. (998) Landscape Plants for. exposure: partial shade or partial sun to full sun 2. "full sun for best color" 3. part shade (only). "various well-drained soils" 2. "suitable soil is sandy" Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae 5.4 Horticopia 4. "This plant's roots are fibrous." 6. 6.2 Turner (995) Euphorbias: a Gardener's 6.3 6.4 6.5 Guide. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon. Wayne's Word (http://waynesword.palomar.edu/trmar98.htm ) 6.6 6.7. Dehgan, B. (998) Landscape Plants for 2. Horticopia 4. 7. 7.2 Whistler (2) Tropical Ornamentals: a "All euphorbia species can be grown easily from seed" "In poinsettia the ovary is hidden within the cyathium, but in other species the ovary protrudes out of the cyathium at maturity. The rim of the cyathium also bears oneseveral, greenish nectar glands that are attractive to insect pollinators.". rapid growth 2. average growth rate "widely cultivated from the tropics to warm temperate regions" 7.3 no evidence; unlikely to come into contact with produce "Fruit a subglobose, deeply three-lobed schizocarp.3-2 cm long." 7.4 Whistler (2) Tropical Ornamentals: a 7.5 no evidence 7.6 7.7 no evidence of any means of attachment 7.8 8. Wagner, Herbst, and Sohmer (999) Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i. University of Hawai'i Press/Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 3 seeds per fruit 4
8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 5