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New plant specific weediness evaluation methodology
Check Species, Genus, Family names and synonyms
Check genus in Plant Assessment Database
Check for recorded presence in Australia
Check weed history
Check horticultural references
Carry out Weed Risk Assessment
Collect more information if needed
Forward result of assessment to Plant Operations
Add species to Plant Assessment Database
Collate species for gazettal
References
Minute from AQIS Plant Operations
AQIS barrier staff receive request from importer to import a plant species or cultivar.
- Species checked in ICON (AQIS Import Conditions database) - if not found considered a new species.
- Taxa is then referred to AQIS plant operations staff in Canberra
- Importer is contacted by Operations staff and letter set outlining the reason for assessment and a questionnaire to help provide information for the assessment and record keeping.
- Operations staff start an assessment file record number (hard copies of text).
- On receipt of information from the importer a request for assessment is then forwarded to Plant Biosecurity - Biosecurity Australia.
Check Species, Genus, Family names and synonyms
Carry out a literature survey using the following references (see appendices for full reference )
- Mabberley (1990) - good for all species
- Index Kewensis CD - records of over 1 million taxa
- Internet databases
- Brako, Rossman & Farr (1995) - useful for species in North America
- Published Floras
ACTION TAKEN -
Check the correct name of proposed plant,
Add any synonyms found in reply to Plant Operations
If species, genus or family not found - contact Plant Operations to request more information from importer. Assessment is placed on hold until the idenitifcation of the species is clarified.
Check genus in Plant Assessment Database
Check Plant Assessment Database (PAD) for previous evaluations in genus. If a member of the genus has been assessed it can help with the assessment of the new taxa.
(This database runs under Access 7 and was created to allow automatic updates following WRA evaluations. The result of the WRA system is linked with species entries within the database.)
Check for recorded presence in Australia
Taxa can not prohibited introduction if they do not fit the definition of a quarantine pest as outlined by the FAO standards. At this stage the relevant component of this definition is that the species is either not present or if present is of limited distribution and under official control.
Carry out a literature survey using the following references
- Hnatiuk (1990) - Is either genus or species naturalised?
- Bodkin (1991) - Is the plant grown in Australia?
- Seed industry species list
- Mulvaney (1991) - Has the plant been introduced to east coast?
- Greenlife Database - Is the plant for sale in Australia?
ACTION TAKEN
If species is recorded in Australia. Document evidence of distribution, check for evidence of control.
If clearly present in Australia and not under control contact Plant Operations and permit introduction as non-quarantine pest.
Check weed history
- Check prohibited species list.
- Check genus for previous weed history- see reference list
- Check species for previous weed history
- Check country weed lists - NZ, USA, United Kingdom, Oceania
- Check NZ weediness index - ranking generated by family weed history.
- Check climate match using Climate package.
Check horticultural references
- Check for history of cultivation
- Check references for evidence of establishment outside of native range.
- Check the biological characteristics of the species.
- Document noxious characters; spines, burrs, poisonous, climbing or spreading habit.
- Check references on seed production: seed set, seed banks, dispersal, pollinators.
- Consult internet discussion groups, databases and specialist sites.
- Consult specialist floras or with plant experts if needed.
Carry out Weed Risk Assessment
Input data collected into WRA system - Assess likely behaviour of the species under Australian conditions
ACTION TAKEN
Outcomes - Reject , Accept, Further Assess or More information
Collect more information if needed
Collect data and reassess species using WRA system if "More information" is the result of WRA assessment.
Forward result of assessment to Plant Operations
Standard format reply to Plant Operations with recommendation.
ACTION TAKEN -
Operations add species (with synonyms ) to ICON update list.
Add species to Plant Assessment Database
ACTION TAKEN -
Add species and collected information onto PAD.
Collate species for gazettal
ACTION TAKEN -
Appropriate lists developed for updating of quarantine Proclamations.
Annual report to Environment Australia: number, types of species assessed, conditions added.
References
General References
Mabberley DJ (1990) The Plant-Book. Cambridge University Press
Brako L, Rossman AY & Farr DF (1995) Scientific and Common Names of 7000 plants in the United States. American Phytopathological Society Press, St Paul Minnesota.
Greuter W (1994) International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (Tokyo Code). Koeltz Scientific Books, Konigstein Germany.
Hnatiuk RJ (1990) Census of Australian Vascular Plants. AGPS Press Canberra
Bodkin F (1991) Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk Publishing, Sydney.
Mulvaney (1991)Far from the garden path: An identikit picture of woody ornamental plants invading south-eastern Australian bushland. PhD thesis ANU
Bailey LH and Bailey EZ(1976) Hortus Third. Macmillian Publ, New York.
Huxley A. (1992) The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillian Publ. London.
Court (1981) Succulent flora of Southern Africa. A.A. Balkema Press Rotterdam.
Kew Gardens (1984) Forage and browse species for arid and semi-arid Africa. IBPGR Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.
Thiselton-Dyer (1904) Flora Capensis. Lovell Reeve +Co Publ. London
Romanowski N (1993) Grasses, Bamboos and related plants in Australia. Lothian
Tewari DN (1990) A monograph on bamboo. International book distributors India.
Sainty GR & Jacobs SWL (1994) Waterplants in Australia. 3rd Edition. CSIRO
Weed References
Holm L. Pancho J.V., Herberger J.P. & Plucknett D.L.(1979) A geographic atlas of world weeds. John Wiley & Sons. New York
Parsons WT & CuthbertsonEG (1993) Noxious weeds of Australia. Inkata Press. Sydney
Geigy (1968) Geigy weed tables.
Reed CF (1977) Economically Important Foreign Weeds. United States Department of Agriculture No. 498.
Stroud A (1989) A weed identification guide for Ethiopia. FAO Rome
Gunn CR & Ritchie CA (1988) Identification of disseminules listed in the Noxious Weed Act. United States Department of Agriculture No. 1719.
Lorenzi & Jeffery ( 1987) Weeds of the United States and their control. Van Nostrad Reinhold Company.
Auld BA and Medd RW (1987) Weeds. Inkata Press
Lamp C & Collett F (1989) Field Guide to weeds in Australia. Inkata Press
Agricultural Research Service (1971) Common weeds of the United States. Dover Publications Inc, New York.
Holm L, Plucknett DL, Pancho JV & Herberger JP (1977) The world's worst weeds. Uni Press of Hawaii
Waterhouse DE (1993) The major arthropod pests and weeds of importance in southeast Asia. ACIAR
Waterhouse DE (1997) The major invertebrate pests and weeds of agriculture and plantation forestry in the Southern and Western Pacific. ACIAR
Wells, Balsinhas, Joffe, Engelbrecht, Hoarding & Stirton (1986) A catalogue of problem plants in southern Africa. Botanical Research Institute
Clement EJ & Foster MC (1994) Alien Plants of the British Isles. Botanical Society of the British Isles, London.
Internet references
Plants - Plants Database, USDA (http://plants.usda.gov)
Australian National Botanic Gardens - http://www.anbg.gov.au/anbg/index.html
Kew Gardens - http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/web.dbs/index.html
Aquatic plants- http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/
Cacti - http://www.succulent-plant.com/home.html
Herbarium lists - http://www.tau.ac.il/botany/