Plant Assessment Form

Ononis alopecuroides

Common Names: foxtail restharrow

Evaluated on: 1-Aug-03

List committee review date: 01/08/2003

Re-evaluation date:

Evaluator(s)

Joe DiTomaso
UC Davis
Weed Science Program, Robbins Hall, Univ. California, Davis CA 95616
530-754-8715
DiTomaso@vegmail.ucdavis.edu

List committee members

Jake Sigg
Peter Warner
Doug Johnson
Joe DiTomaso
Brianna Richardson

General Comments

No general comments for this species

Table 2. Criteria, Section, and Overall Scores

Overall Score? Limited
Alert Status? No Alert
Documentation? 2.5 out of 5
Score Documentation
1.1 ?Impact on abiotic ecosystem processes U. Unknown Reviewed Scientific Publication
Impact?
Four-part score UBUD Total Score
C
1.2 ?Impact on plant community B. Moderate Other Published Material
1.3 ?Impact on higher trophic levels U. Unknown
1.4 ?Impact on genetic integrity D. None Observational
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 A. Increases rapidly Other Published Material
2.3 ?Recent trend in total area infested within state D. Declining Observational
2.4 ?Innate reproductive potential
(see Worksheet A)
A. High Other Published Material
2.5 ?Potential for human-caused dispersal C. Low Observational
2.6 ? Potential for natural long-distance dispersal C. Rare Observational
2.7 ?Other regions invaded C. Already invaded Other Published Material
3.1 ?Ecological amplitude/Range
(see Worksheet C)
B. Moderate Other Published Material
Distribution?
Total Score C
3.2 ?Distribution/Peak frequency
(see Worksheet C)
D. Very low Other Published Material

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? U Reviewed Scientific Publication
Identify ecosystem processes impacted:

Unknown


Sources of information:

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

Forms dense stands that are capable of excluding other vegetation.


Sources of information:

Tu, M. 2002. Ononis alopecuroides. The Nature Conservancy. Weed Alert! http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/alert/alrtonon.html


Question 1.3 Impact on higher trophic levels? U
Identify type of impact or alteration:

Unpalatable to horses and burros. No information on wildlife palatability.


Sources of information:

Tu, M. 2002. Ononis alopecuroides. The Nature Conservancy. Weed Alert! http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/alert/alrtonon.html


Question 1.4 Impact on genetic integrity? D Observational

Probably none. No other species of Ononis in California.


Sources of information:

Section 2: Invasiveness
Question 2.1 Role of anthropogenic and natural disturbance
in establishment?
A Other Published Material
Describe role of disturbance:

Can move into disturbed areas but also expands into adjacent grassland and dry rocky areas. Weed of agricultural areas and disturbed fields.


Sources of information:

Tu, M. 2002. Ononis alopecuroides. The Nature Conservancy. Weed Alert! http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/alert/alrtonon.html; DiTomaso, J.M. and E. A. Healy. 2005. Weeds of California. Div. Nat. Agr. Res. Univ. California (in press)


Question 2.2 Local rate of spread with no management? A Other Published Material
Describe rate of spread:

Spreads rapidly when established. San Luis Obispo County reported rapid spread with led to Q listing by CDFA.


Sources of information:

Tu, M. 2002. Ononis alopecuroides. The Nature Conservancy. Weed Alert! http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/alert/alrtonon.html; DiTomaso, J.M. and E. A. Healy. 2005. Weeds of California. Div. Nat. Agr. Res. Univ. California (in press)


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

Nearly eradicated from state due to County and CDFA control efforts.


Sources of information:

Tu, M. 2002. Ononis alopecuroides. The Nature Conservancy. Weed Alert! http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/alert/alrtonon.html; SLO County reports


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

Tu, M. 2002. Ononis alopecuroides. The Nature Conservancy. Weed Alert! http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/alert/alrtonon.html; DiTomaso, J.M. and E. A. Healy. 2005. Weeds of California. Div. Nat. Agr. Res. Univ. California (in press)


Sources of information:

Probably seed contaminant in pasture species, presumably Trifolium seed.


Question 2.5 Potential for human-caused dispersal? C Observational
Identify dispersal mechanisms:

Probably seed contaminant in pasture species, presumably Trifolium seed.


Sources of information:

Tu, M. 2002. Ononis alopecuroides. The Nature Conservancy. Weed Alert! http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/alert/alrtonon.html; SLO County report


Question 2.6 Potential for natural long-distance dispersal? C Observational
Identify dispersal mechanisms:

Does not seem to have a well developed long distance dispersal mechanism.


Sources of information:

Observational, DiTomaso


Question 2.7 Other regions invaded? C Other Published Material
Identify other regions:

Also weedy in northern and central Europe.


Sources of information:

Tu, M. 2002. Ononis alopecuroides. The Nature Conservancy. Weed Alert! http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/alert/alrtonon.html


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

First introduced in about the 1990s. Only found in grasslands and woodland-savannas of San Luis Obispo County.


Sources of information:

Tu, M. 2002. Ononis alopecuroides. The Nature Conservancy. Weed Alert! http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/alert/alrtonon.html; DiTomaso, J.M. and E. A. Healy. 2005. Weeds of California. Div. Nat. Agr. Res. Univ. California (in press)


Question 3.2 Distribution/Peak frequency? D Other Published Material
Describe distribution:

Very uncommon, close to eradicated.


Sources of information:

DiTomaso, J.M. and E. A. Healy. 2005. Weeds of California. Div. Nat. Agr. Res. Univ. California (in press); observational by CDFA and SLO County


Worksheet A - Innate reproductive potential

Reaches reproductive maturity in 2 years or less Yes
Dense infestations produce >1,000 viable seed per square meter Yes
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 Yes
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 No
Total points: 7
Total unknowns: 0
Total score: A?

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 scrub
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)D, < 5%
Woodlandcismontane woodland
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