Plant Assessment Form

Cytisus striatus

Synonyms: Cytisus patens L., Cytisus pendulinus, Cytisus welwitschii, Genista striata, Sarthamnus eriocarpus, Sarothamnus patens sensu Webb

Common Names: Portuguese broom; hairy-fruited broom

Evaluated on: 18-Mar-05

List committee review date: 08/07/2005

Re-evaluation date:

Evaluator(s)

Carla Bossard
St. Mary's College of California
401 Del Oro Av, Davis CA
(925) 631-4032
cbossard@stmarys-ca.edu
Elizabeth Brusati
California Invasive Plant Council
1442-A Walnut St. #462, Berkeley, CA 94709
(510) 843-3902
edbrusati@cal-ipc.org

List committee members

Carla Bossard
John Randall
Carri Pirosko
Dan Gluesenkamp
Gina Skurka
Brianna Richardson

General Comments

No general comments for this species

Table 2. Criteria, Section, and Overall Scores

Overall Score? Moderate
Alert Status? No Alert
Documentation? 2.5 out of 5
Score Documentation
1.1 ?Impact on abiotic ecosystem processes B. Moderate Other Published Material
Impact?
Four-part score BACD Total Score
B
1.2 ?Impact on plant community A. Severe Other Published Material
1.3 ?Impact on higher trophic levels C. Minor Other Published Material
1.4 ?Impact on genetic integrity D. None Other Published Material
2.1 ?Role of anthropogenic and natural disturbance in establishment B. Moderate Other Published Material
Invasiveness?
Total Points
11 Total Score B
2.2 ?Local rate of spread with no management B. Increases less rapidly Observational
2.3 ?Recent trend in total area infested within state C. Stable Observational
2.4 ?Innate reproductive potential
(see Worksheet A)
B. Moderate Other Published Material
2.5 ?Potential for human-caused dispersal B. Moderate Other Published Material
2.6 ? Potential for natural long-distance dispersal C. Rare Other Published Material
2.7 ?Other regions invaded C. Already invaded Observational
3.1 ?Ecological amplitude/Range
(see Worksheet C)
A. Widespread Other Published Material
Distribution?
Total Score B
3.2 ?Distribution/Peak frequency
(see Worksheet C)
D. Very low Observational

Table 3. Documentation

Scores are explained in the "Criteria for Categorizing Invasive Non-Native Plants that Threaten Wildlands".

Section 1: Impact
Question 1.1 Impact on abiotic ecosystem processes? B Other Published Material
Identify ecosystem processes impacted:

Soil N content increased somewhat not as nodulated as some other brooms. Can carry fire to the tree canopy.


Sources of information:

1. Alvarez, M. 2000. Cytisus striatus. pp. 150-154 in Bossard, C., J. Randall, and M. Hochovsky. Invasive Plants of California's Wildlands. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA.


Question 1.2 Impact on plant community composition,
structure, and interactions?
A Other Published Material
Identify type of impact or alteration:

Displaces native species and forms monospecific stands of one mature shurb per two square meters. Native communities are not monospecific


Sources of information:

1. Alvarez, M. 2000. Cytisus striatus. pp. 150-154 in Bossard, C., J. Randall, and M. Hochovsky. Invasive Plants of California's Wildlands. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA.


Question 1.3 Impact on higher trophic levels? C Other Published Material
Identify type of impact or alteration:

Displaces forage species; toxic to ungulates. Not as widely distributed as C. scoparius so does not have the same impact. Less food for native species of animals


Sources of information:

Alvarez 2000


Question 1.4 Impact on genetic integrity? D Other Published Material

none No native Cytisus species.


Sources of information:

Hickman, J. C. (ed.) 1993. The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California. University of California Press. Berkeley, CA


Section 2: Invasiveness
Question 2.1 Role of anthropogenic and natural disturbance
in establishment?
B Observational
Describe role of disturbance:

Soil disturbance from road and home construction; timber harvest; road side machinery These increase establishment of brooms


Sources of information:

LeBlanc, ANR Publication 8049,bossard et al. 2000


Question 2.2 Local rate of spread with no management? B Observational
Describe rate of spread:

Can spread, but not at the rate of Scotch broom.


Sources of information:

DiTomaso, observational.


Question 2.3 Recent trend in total area infested within state? C Observational
Describe trend:

Possibly slightly spreading, but may be static or outcompeted by other brooms. Other brooms have occupied best sites for this broom


Sources of information:

Carla Bossard, St. Mary's College of California. Personal observation.


Question 2.4 Innate reproductive potential? B Other Published Material
Describe key reproductive characteristics:

Long-lived shrub that can survive 12 years in California. Becomes reproductive at two to three years of age. Flowers March through May on the coast, producing copious seeds that mature in June and July. Can repsrout from root crown when cut. Number of seeds variable, usually several per pod.


Sources of information:

Alvarez 2000


Question 2.5 Potential for human-caused dispersal? B Other Published Material
Identify dispersal mechanisms:

Escaped from ornamental plantings in Marin County. Can be dispersed by road equipment.


Sources of information:

Alvarez 2000


Question 2.6 Potential for natural long-distance dispersal? C Other Published Material
Identify dispersal mechanisms:

Ballistic and rainwash dispersal for short distances.


Sources of information:

Alvarez 2000


Question 2.7 Other regions invaded? C Observational
Identify other regions:

Native to Mediterranean. Other areas of invasion not known.


Sources of information:

Alvarez 2000


Section 3: Distribution
Question 3.1 Ecological amplitude/Range? A Other Published Material

Present in the Marin Headlands, Marin County. Found occasionally in other parts of the Bay Area. Reported from Mendocino and San Diego counties. Can invade coastal prairies, coastal scrub, oak savannah, and open-canopy woodlands. In Bay Area is particularly common on non-calcareous soils.


Sources of information:

Alvarez 2000.


Question 3.2 Distribution/Peak frequency? D Observational
Describe distribution:

Scored as D based on Carla Bossard's information. Not a widespread species.


Sources of information:

Worksheet A - Innate reproductive potential

Reaches reproductive maturity in 2 years or less No
Dense infestations produce >1,000 viable seed per square meter Unknown
Populations of this species produce seeds every year. Yes
Seed production sustained over 3 or more months within a population annually No
Seeds remain viable in soil for three or more years Yes
Viable seed produced with both self-pollination and cross-pollination No
Has quickly spreading vegetative structures (rhizomes, roots, etc.) that may root at nodes No
Fragments easily and fragments can become established elsewhere No
Resprouts readily when cut, grazed, or burned Yes
Total points: 4
Total unknowns: 1
Total score: B?

Related traits:

Worksheet B - Arizona Ecological Types is not included here

Worksheet C - California Ecological Types

(sensu Holland 1986)
Major Ecological Types Minor Ecological Types Code?
Marine Systemsmarine systems
Freshwater and Estuarine lakes, ponds, reservoirs
Aquatic Systemsrivers, streams, canals
estuaries
Dunescoastal
desert
interior
Scrub and Chaparralcoastal bluff scrub
coastal scrubD, < 5%
Sonoran desert scrub
Mojavean desert scrub (incl. Joshua tree woodland)
Great Basin scrub
chenopod scrub
montane dwarf scrub
Upper Sonoran subshrub scrub
chaparral
Grasslands, Vernal Pools, Meadows, and other Herb Communitiescoastal prairieD, < 5%
valley and foothill grassland
Great Basin grassland
vernal pool
meadow and seep
alkali playa
pebble plain
Bog and Marshbog and fen
marsh and swamp
Riparian and Bottomland habitatriparian forest
riparian woodland
riparian scrub (incl.desert washes)
Woodlandcismontane woodlandD, < 5%
piñon and juniper woodland
Sonoran thorn woodland
Forestbroadleaved upland forest
North Coast coniferous forest
closed cone coniferous forest
lower montane coniferous forest
upper montane coniferous forest
subalpine coniferous forest
Alpine Habitatsalpine boulder and rock field
alpine dwarf scrub
Amplitude (breadth): B
Distribution (highest score): D

Infested Jepson Regions

Click here for a map of Jepson regions

  • Central West
  • Northwest
  • Southwest
  • Sonoran Desert