Corky Passionfruit (Passiflora suberosa)

Present distribution

Scientific name:	Passiflora suberosa
Common name(s):	Corky Passionfruit

This weed is not known to be naturalised in Victoria

Habitat:

Native to South America. A weed of Melanesia, Hawaii, SE Asia, India, South Africa & Australia (Weeds Aust 2007). In Australia occurs in sub-coastal & coastal areas of QLD, the gulf area of NT (Swarbrick 1981) and parts of NSW, where it is present in ageing Coast Banksia woodland (Andresen 2005). In Hawaii found in dryland habitats to 600m (Smith 1985) & naturalised in grassland, shrubland, open dry forest, and diverse mesic forest, and exposed ridges (Wagner et al 1999). Found in sugar cane plantations in Mauritius (Seeruttun, Barbe & Gaungoo 2005) & Eucalyptus plantations in Brazil. On the Galapagos Islands, found among shrubs and rocks, mostly in shady areas (Wiggins & Porter 1971). In South Africa found in waste places, neglected gardens, pasture, moist shrubby gulllies (Everist 1981), forest, woodland, roadsides, riverbanks, coastal dunes (Henderson 1995).

Potential distribution

Potential distribution produced from CLIMATE modelling refined by applying suitable landuse and vegetation type overlays with CMA boundaries

Map Overlays Used

Land Use:
Forest private plantation; forest public plantation; horticulture; pasture dryland; pasture irrigation

Broad vegetation types
Coastal scrubs and grassland; coastal grassy woodland; heathy woodland; lowland forest; heath; swamp scrub; sedge rich woodland; dry foothills forest; moist foothills forest; valley grassy forest; herb-rich woodland; riverine grassy woodland; riparian forest.

Colours indicate possibility of Passiflora suberosa infesting these areas.

In the non-coloured areas the plant is unlikely to establish as the climate, soil or landuse is not presently suitable.

map showing the potential distrbution of corky passionfrui

Red= Very high	Orange = Medium
Yellow = High	Green = Likely

Impact

QUESTION	COMMENTS	RATING	CONFIDENCE
Social
1. Restrict human access?	An aggressive smothering vine to 6m that grows along waterways (Henderson 1995; Smith 1985) and covers walking trails (Mugrabi-Oliveira & Moreira 1996) Likely to impede individual access along walking trails and to waterways.	ML	MH
2. Reduce tourism?	Grows along waterways (Henderson 1995) and covers walking trails (Mugrabi-Oliveira & Moreira 1996). Likely to have some impact on aesthetics and recreational activities such as hiking & fishing.	ML	H
3. Injurious to people?	‘From the analysis it is obvious that green vines or unripe fruit could yield sufficient HCN [Hydrogen cyanide] to be poisonous (Everist 1981)’. Leaves, stems and green fruits are poisonous (Weeds Aust 2007). Humans would not normally consume this plant, as it is not a Passiflora species grown for its fruit. However, if consumed, poisoning could occur. Toxic properties at most times of the year.	MH	M
4. Damage to cultural sites?	Perennial tendril climber to 6m high (Henderson 1995). Smothers shrubs, small trees and the ground layer. (Smith 1985). Its smothering and climbing growth habit is likely to have a moderate negative visual affect on cultural sites and infrastructure.	ML	M
Abiotic
5. Impact flow?	A terrestrial species, no impact on water flow.	L	H
6. Impact water quality?	A terrestrial species, no impact on water quality.	L	H
7. Increase soil erosion?	Smothers shrubs, small trees and the ground layer and in some areas it also smothers the upper canopy (Smith 1985). Its ability to smother and potentially kill large woody vegetation may lead to soil erosion. However, no information was found documented of its impact on soil erosion.	M	L
8. Reduce biomass?	Smothers shrubs, small trees and the ground layer and in some areas it also smothers the upper canopy (Smith 1985). Has the potential to increase biomass in the short term but decrease it in the longer term by smothering and killing woody vegetation. However, no information was found documented on its ability to alter biomass.	M	L
9. Change fire regime?	‘Adaptation to fire is not known (Smith 1985)’. No information was found documented on its capacity to alter the fire regime.	M	L
Community Habitat
10. Impact on composition (a) high value EVC	EVC= Damp Heathy Woodland (BCS= V); CMA= Port Phillip; Bioreg= Gippsland Plain; CLIMATE potential= L. Replaces indigenous vegetation (Wells et al 1986). It smothers shrubs, small trees and the ground layer and in some areas also the upper canopy (Smith 1985). Major displacement of some dominant species within different layers.	MH	M
(b) medium value EVC	EVC= Heathy Herb-rich Woodland (BCS= D); CMA= Glenelg Hopkins; Bioreg= Glenelg Plain; CLIMATE potential= L. Replaces indigenous vegetation (Wells et al 1986). It smothers shrubs, small trees and the ground layer and in some areas also the upper canopy (Smith 1985). Major displacement of some dominant species within different layers.	MH	M
(c) low value EVC	EVC= Banksia Woodland (BCS= LC); CMA= Port Phillip; Bioreg= Gippsland Plain; CLIMATE potential= L. Replaces indigenous vegetation (Wells et al 1986). It smothers shrubs, small trees and the ground layer and in some areas also the upper canopy (Smith 1985). Major displacement of some dominant species within different layers.	MH	M
11. Impact on structure?	In the subcanopy layers it smothers shrubs, small trees and the ground layer. In some areas it also smothers the upper canopy layer (Smith 1985). Replaces indigenous vegetation (Wells et al 1986). Likely to have at least a minor affect on >60% of the floral strata and major affect on some strata.	MH	MH
12. Effect on threatened flora?	In the subcanopy layers it smothers shrubs, small trees and the ground layer. In some areas it also smothers the upper canopy layer (Smith 1985). No specific information was found documented of its impact on threatened flora.	MH	L
Fauna
13. Effect on threatened fauna?	Replaces indigenous vegetation (Wells et al 1986). A reduction in indigenous vegetation is likely to impact on fauna but no specific information was found documented.	MH	L
14. Effect on non-threatened fauna?	Replaces indigenous vegetation (Wells et al 1986). A reduction in indigenous vegetation is likely to impact on fauna but no specific information was found documented.	M	L
15. Benefits fauna?	Fruits are known to be consumed by fruit bats in Guam (Passiflora 2007) and generally readily eaten by birds (NRW 2006). Fruits likely to be consumed by some native bird and fruit bat species. Provides some assistance in providing a food source.	MH	M
16. Injurious to fauna?	‘…suspected on reasonable field evidence of poisoning cattle and ducks in Queensland. From the analysis it is obvious that green vines or unripe fruit could yield sufficient HCN [Hydrogen cyanide] to be poisonous (Everist 1981). Leaves, stems and green fruits are poisonous (Weeds Aust 2007). Contains toxic properties.	H	M
Pest Animal
17. Food source to pests?	The seeds are dispersed by alien frugivorous birds (Smith 1985). Provides food source to minor pest species, eg. Exotic birds.	ML	MH
18. Provides harbor?	Potential to provide increased cover for pest species due to smothering habit (Smith 1985) but no specific information was found documented.	M	L
Agriculture
19. Impact yield?	Recorded as a weed of sugar cane plantations in Mauritius (Seeruttun, Barbe & Gaungoo 2005) and silviculture in South Africa (Wells et al 1986). However, no information was found documented on its impact on agricultural yield.	M	L
20. Impact quality?	Recorded as a weed of sugar cane plantations in Mauritius (Seeruttun, Barbe & Gaungoo 2005) and silviculture in South Africa (Wells et al 1986). However, no information was found documented on its impact on agricultural quality.	M	L
21. Affect land value?	Unlikely to affect land value, as can be controlled under normal agricultural management practices.	L	M
22. Change land use?	Unlikely to change land use, as can be controlled under normal agricultural management practices.	L	M
23. Increase harvest costs?	Recorded as a weed of sugar cane plantations in Mauritius (Seeruttun, Barbe & Gaungoo 2005) and silviculture in South Africa (Wells et al 1986). However, no information was found documented on its capacity to increase harvest costs.	M	L
24. Disease host/vector?	Host of Passiflora latent carlavirus (PLV) a disease affecting commercial passionfruit plantings (Pares et al 1997). Utilised by the fruit fly, Bactrocera papayae (Hancock et al 2000). Host of major agricultural pest.	H	M

Invasive

QUESTION	COMMENTS	RATING	CONFIDENCE
Establishment
1. Germination requirements?	Germinates naturally in gardens from bird dispersed or discarded seeds and very easy to propagate from seed. (Dave’s Garden 2006; Gardenweb 2005). Information is limited, but it appears to germinate readily with no additional requirements, indicating normal seasonal disturbances are most likely necessary for germination.	MH	ML
2. Establishment requirements?	Invades forest and woodland (Henderson 1995). Mostly found in shady areas (Wiggins & Porter 1971). Likely to establish under moderate canopy cover.	MH	MH
3. How much disturbance is required?	Invades forest, woodland, riverbanks and coastal dunes (Henderson 1995). In NSW, present in ageing coast banksia woodland (Andresen 2005). Establishes in relatively intact or minor disturbed ecosystems.	MH	MH
Growth/Competitive
4. Life form?	Perennial tendril climber to 6m high (Henderson 1995). Lifeform: climber/ creeper	ML	MH
5. Allelopathic properties?	Other species of the Passiflora genus are known to be allelopathic (Khanh et al. 2006). No information was found documented regarding allelopathic properties of Passiflora suberosa.	M	L
6. Tolerates herb pressure?	Consumed by larva of Heliconius spp. (Mugrabi-Oliveira & Moreira 1996). Leaves are consumed by one insect genus but mostly it appears to be avoided, probably due to the presence of toxins in leaves and stems (Weeds Aust 2007). There is no indication that herbivory reduces flowering.	MH	M
7. Normal growth rate?	Described as an aggressive weed (PIER 2005), and as having a fast growth rate (SFWMD 2003). “It will come up through a hedge to the top and then proceed to spread quickly across the top of the hedge depriving the hedge of sunlight (Dave’s Garden 2006)”. Information suggests it can spread and grow rapidly, however, it was insufficient to determine growth rate compared to other species of the same life form.	M	ML
8. Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc?	Drought tolerant and moderately frost and salt tolerant (SFWMD 2006; SFWMD 2003; Dave’s Garden 2006). Tolerant to one stress and moderately tolerant to two.	ML	M
Reproduction
9. Reproductive system	Spread by seed and via trailing stems (Weeds Aust 2007). Both vegetative & sexual reproduction.	H	MH
10. Number of propagules produced?	Fruit contains numerous seeds (Weeds Aust 2007) No additional information was found documented on the specific number of propagules produced.	M	L
11. Propagule longevity?	No information found documented regarding propagule longevity.	M	L
12. Reproductive period?	No information found documented on length of reproductive period.	M	L
13. Time to reproductive maturity?	No information found documented on time taken to reach reproductive maturity.	M	L
Dispersal
14. Number of mechanisms?	The seeds are dispersed by frugivorous birds (Smith 1985).	H	MH
15. How far do they disperse?	Through bird dispersal (Smith 1985) it is likely that many seeds will reach at least 200m.	MH	M

References

Andresen LW 2005, ‘Successional recovery of Littoral Rainforest in Banksia regrowth after sandmining: A comment on implications of applying Endangered Ecological Community Determinations’, Ecological Management & Restoration, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 212-214.

Australian Weeds Committee 2007 (Weeds Aust), Weeds Australia - Weed Identification: Corky Passionfruit, Australian Weeds Committee, viewed: 5th January 2007, http://www.weeds.org.au/cgi-bin/weedident.cgi?tpl=plant.tpl&ibra=all&card=V18

Dave’s Garden 2006, Dave’s Garden-Plant Files: Passiflora suberosa, 17th November 2006, http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/1197/index.html

Everist SL 1981, Poisonous Plants of Australia, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Australia.

Gardenweb 2005, Garden Web: Passiflora Forum, viewed: 5th January 2007, http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/passiflora/msg0620312330049.html?3

Hancock DL, Osborne R, Broughton S & Gleeson P 2000, Eradication of Bactrocera papayae (Diptera: Tephritidae) by male annihilation and protein baiting in Queensland, Australia: joint proceedings of the International conference on area-wide control of insect pests &
5th International Symposium on fruit flies of economic importance, Malaysia, 1998, pp. 381-388

Henderson, L 1995, Plant Invaders of Southern Africa, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria.

Khanh TD, Chung IM, Tawata S & Xuan TD 2006, ‘Weed suppression by Passiflora edulis and its potential allelochemicals’, European Weed Research Society, vol. 46, pp. 296-303.

Natural Resources & Water (NRW) 2006, Facts Pest Series: Passiflora suberosa, Land Protection, NRW, Queensland Government, viewed: 17th November 2006, http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/factsheets/pdf/pest/pp75.pdf

Mugrabi-Oliveira E & Moreira GRP 1996, ‘Size of and damage on shoots of Passiflora suberosa (Passifloraceae) influence oviposition site selection of Heliconius erato Phyllis (Fabricius)’, Revista Brasileira de Zoologia, vol. 13, no. 4, pp, 939-953.

Pacific Island Ecosystem at Risk (PIER) 2005,Hawaii Ecosystem at Risk, viewed: 28 December 2006, http://www.hear.org/pier/species/passiflora_suberosa.htm

Pares RD, Gunn LV, Keskula EN, Martin AB and Teakle DS 1997, ‘Occurrence of Passiflora latent carlavirus in cultivated and wild Passiflora species in Australia’, Plant Disease, vol. 81, no. 4, pp. 348-350.

Passiflora Online (Passiflora) 2007, Passiflora: Nectar Feeding bats, viewed: 3rd January 2007, http://www.passionflow.co.uk/bats11.htm.

Seeruttun S, Barbe C & Gaungoo A 2005, ‘Vine weeds in sugarcane: fluroxypyr provides cost-effective post-emergence control in Mauritius’, Sugar cane International, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 3-5.

Smith CW 1985, ‘Impact of Alien Plants on Hawaii’s Native Biota’, in Hawaii’s terrestrial ecosystems: preservation and Management, eds. CP Stone & JM Scott. Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit, University of Hawaii, Manoa, http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/cw_smith/impact.htm.

South Florida Water Management District 2006 (SFWMD 2006) Xerosacpe: How to save water through water-smart landscaping, SFWMD, viewed: 5th January 2007, http://my.sfwmd.gov/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/PG_GRP_SFWMD_WATERSUPPLY/PG_SFWMD_WATERSUPPLY_WATERCONSERV2/SPLXERIS.PDF

South Florida Water Management District 2003 (SFWMD 2003) "WaterWise: South Florida Landscapes - Plant Guide: ‘Vines’, SFWMD, viewed: 5th January 2007, http://www.sfwmd.gov/images/pdfs/ww6_vines.pdf

Swarbrick JT 1981, ‘Weeds of Australia. 3. Passifloraceae - the passion flowers’, Australian Weeds, vol. 1, pp. 2, 20-22, 25.

Wagner WL, Herbst DR & Sohmer SH 1999, Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii, Revised Edition, Bernice P. Bishop Museum special publication, University of Hawaii Press/ Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu.

Wells MJ, Balsinhas AA, Joffe H, Engelbrecht VM, Harding G & Stirton CH 1986, ‘A catalogue of problem plants in southern Africa incorporating the National weed list of south Africa’, Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa, vol. 53, pp. 399.

Wiggins IL & Porter DM 1971, Flora of the Galapagos Islands, Stanford University Press.

Global present distribution data references

Australian National Herbarium (ANH) 2006, Australia’s Virtual Herbarium, Australian National Herbarium, Centre for Plant Diversity and Research, viewed: 2nd January 2007, http://www.anbg.gov.au/avh/

Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) 2006, Global biodiversity information facility: Prototype data portal, viewed: 2nd January 2007, http://www.gbif.org/

Pacific Island Ecosystem at Risk (PIER) 2005, Hawaii Ecosystem at Risk, viewed: 28 December 2006, http://www.hear.org/pier/species/passiflora_suberosa.htm

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