Piper aduncum (tree, shrub)

Ecology Distribution Management Info Impact Info References and Links Contacts

Management Information Preventative measures: A Risk Assessment of Piper aduncum for Hawai‘i and other Pacific islands was prepared by Dr. Curtis Daehler (UH Botany) with funding from the Kaulunani Urban Forestry Program and US Forest Service. The alien plant screening system is derived from Pheloung et al. (1999) with minor modifications for use in Pacific islands (Daehler et al. 2004). The result is a score of 18 and a recommendation of: "Likely to cause significant ecological or economic harm in Hawai‘i and on other Pacific Islands as determined by a high WRA score, which is based on published sources describing species biology and behaviour in Hawai‘i and/or other parts of the world." Physical: Young plants can be uprooted by hand, although care must be taken to ensure that no pieces of rhizome are left behind in the soil (UF/IFAS, 2000). Chemical: Basal bark application of 20% Garlon 4, or cut stems at ground level and apply 50% Garlon 3A to the stump (UF/IFAS, 2000).              Management Resources/Links 1. Daehler, C.C; Denslow, J.S; Ansari, S and Huang-Chi, K., 2004. A Risk-Assessment System for Screening Out Invasive Pest Plants from Hawaii and Other Pacific Islands. Conservation Biology Volume 18 Issue 2 Page 360.         Summary: A study on the use of a screening system to assess proposed plant introductions to Hawaii or other Pacific Islands and to identify high-risk species used in horticulture and forestry which would greatly reduce future pest-plant problems and allow entry of most nonpests. 2. Francis, J. K. 2003. Piper aduncum fact sheet. USDA Forest Service.         Summary: A good summary of ecological information on P. aduncum. Mentions a range of benefits that this species has, but doesn't include any information on invasiveness. Available from: http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pdf/Piper%20aduncum.pdf [Accessed 15 January 2003] 3. Hartemink, Alfred E. & J.N. O’Sullivan , 2001. Leaf litter decomposition of Piper aduncum, Gliricidia sepium and Imperata cylindrica in the humid lowlands of Papua New Guinea. Plant and Soil 230: 115–124, 2001.         Summary: Impact study 4. Hartemink, Alfred E., 2001. Biomass and nutrient accumulation of Piper aduncum and Imperata cylindrica fallows in the humid lowlands of Papua New Guinea. Forest Ecology and Management 144 (2001) 19±32         Summary: Impact study 5. Hartemink, Alfred., 2005. Piper aduncum (L) The great plant invader. 6. Leps, J et al, 2002. Successful invasion of the neotropical species Piper aduncum in rain forests in Papua New Guinea. Applied Vegetation Science 5:255-262,2002         Summary: Impact. 7. PIER (Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk), 2003. Piper aduncum         Summary: Ecology, synonyms, common names, distributions (Pacific as well as global), management and impact information. Available from: http://www.hear.org/pier/species/piper_aduncum.htm [Accessed 5 February 2003]. 8. Plant Protection Service, 2001. Pest Alert: False kava. Secretariat of the Pacific Community.         Summary: Highlights the problems posed by P. aduncum to the kava industry in the Pacific Islands. Available from: http://www.spc.org.nc/pps/PestAlerts/PestAlertNo19-False_Kava.pdf [Accessed 15 January 2003]. 9. UF/IFAS. 2000. Document SP 242 - Control of Non-native Plants in Natural Areas of Florida. University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.         Summary: Has some basic information on the type of herbicides that should be used to control P. aduncum. Available from: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_WG209 [Accessed 15 January 2003].          Results Page: 1