Report to the Republic of Palau: 2008 update on Invasive Plant ...
Report to the Republic of Palau: 2008 update on Invasive Plant ...
Report to the Republic of Palau: 2008 update on Invasive Plant ...
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• Pennisetum setaceum (fountain grass) was present at <strong>on</strong>ly a few locati<strong>on</strong>s in 2002 and was<br />
not observed in this survey. While <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> specimens noted previously were planted as<br />
ornamentals, if this species escaped in<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> wildlands it would c<strong>on</strong>tribute <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> risk and<br />
intensity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> wildfires (it has wind-dispersed seed). A good precauti<strong>on</strong>ary measure would be<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> eliminate any examples found and prohibit fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r importati<strong>on</strong> (it is comm<strong>on</strong>ly used in<br />
landscaping).<br />
• The single specimen <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pereskia aculeata (Barbados gooseberry, leafy cactus) <strong>on</strong> Ngercheu<br />
(Carp) Island should be eliminated before it spreads.<br />
• Pistia stratiotes (duckweed, water lettuce) was seen in cultivati<strong>on</strong> at a house in Airai. The<br />
source is unknown. The extent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this species in <str<strong>on</strong>g>Palau</str<strong>on</strong>g> should be immediately determined<br />
and, if feasible, it should be eradicated. Unless it is already widespread, import and sale <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
this species should be prohibited as it poses a grave danger <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Palau</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s rivers and reservoirs.<br />
• Pi<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>cellobium dulce (kamatsíri, opiuma, Madras thorn), was seen <strong>on</strong>ly in cultivati<strong>on</strong> in Airai<br />
although o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r cultivated specimens may exist. Since this species appears <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> be present <strong>on</strong>ly<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> a limited extent it should be a candidate for eradicati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
• Both Pluchea carolinensis (sour bush) and P. indica (Indian fleabane) have apparently been<br />
<strong>on</strong> Angaur and Peleliu for a l<strong>on</strong>g time without becoming a serious problem. However, since<br />
Pluchea carolinensis has a bad reputati<strong>on</strong> as an invasive species elsewhere and is not<br />
widespread, it could possibly be eliminated at low cost, but this would not be high priority. It<br />
is a serious pest <strong>on</strong> some o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r Pacific islands and eradicati<strong>on</strong> would prevent its possible<br />
movement <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>Palau</str<strong>on</strong>g>an islands where c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s might prove more suitable for its<br />
spread.<br />
• The principal infestati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Solanum <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>rvum (prickly solanum, devil’s fig) seems <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> be in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Nekken area <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Babeldaob. It should be surveyed and mapped for extent and evaluated for<br />
c<strong>on</strong>trol measures (eradicati<strong>on</strong> if feasible). Individual plants in wildland areas should be<br />
eliminated whenever <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are found. Since this species is most likely <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> occur in farm fields<br />
and grazed areas, landowners should be encouraged and provided advice and assistance <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
remove plants <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir land. A biological c<strong>on</strong>trol agent, Leptinotarsa undecimlineata, is<br />
reportedly available, but may not be appropriate as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> infestati<strong>on</strong> appears <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> be scattered.<br />
• There is <strong>on</strong>ly <strong>on</strong>e known remaining infestati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>sisting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> several trees <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Spathodea<br />
campanulata, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs having been eliminated in an eradicati<strong>on</strong> program. Hopefully this<br />
last infestati<strong>on</strong> can be removed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> near future.<br />
• Sphagneticola [=Wedelia] trilobata (ngesil ra ngebard, Singapore daisy) is planted as an<br />
ornamental and it can be a problem al<strong>on</strong>g roadsides, in gardens and fields, or any o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r open,<br />
disturbed areas. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r planting should be discouraged and advice should be made available<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> landowners and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public <strong>on</strong> how <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>trol it outside <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultivati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
• Tecoma stans (yellow bells, yellow-elder, yellow trumpetbush) is quite comm<strong>on</strong>, mostly in<br />
cultivati<strong>on</strong>. It should be m<strong>on</strong>i<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>red for spread as it has wind-dispersed seed and is a problem<br />
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