{"id":3380,"date":"2017-02-22T16:58:12","date_gmt":"2017-02-23T00:58:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?p=3380"},"modified":"2022-04-29T15:34:56","modified_gmt":"2022-04-29T22:34:56","slug":"west-indian-woodnettle-laportea-aestuans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?p=3380","title":{"rendered":"West Indian woodnettle | Laportea aestuans"},"content":{"rendered":"
California Pest Rating for<\/strong><\/h5>\n
West Indian Woodnettle\u00a0 |\u00a0 Laportea aestuans<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n
Family: \u00a0Urticaceae<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Pest Rating: C \u00a0| \u00a0<\/strong>Proposed Seed Rating: N\/A<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n
PEST RATING PROFILE<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Initiating Event: <\/strong><\/h5>\n

Laportea aestuans <\/em>currently has a Z rating, and was recently found in San Luis Obispo County. \u00a0A permanent pest rating proposal is required to support an official pest rating.<\/p>\n

History & Status:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Background<\/u>: Laportea aestuans\u00a0<\/em>is an annual herb belongs to the nettle family growing up to 1 m tall. It has fleshy and slightly woody stem with both stinging and nonstinging hairs. Leaves are alternate and broadly oval with serrated margins; petiole is reddish in color. The tiny flowers are greenish yellow in color and occur in clusters on a 4-10 cm long peduncle2<\/sup>. This plant can grow from sea level up to 1300 m altitude. It occurs along roads and in other disturbed locations in forest or woodland areas. It grows in partial shade and sometimes in rock crevices1<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Laportea aestuans <\/em>is native to\u00a0tropical Africa. It is widely distributed throughout the western and eastern hemisphere tropics and subtropics, including Central America, the West Indies, India, Sumatra and Java. In the US, it can be found in California and Florida1<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Laportea aestuans\u00a0<\/em>is considered an agricultural weed because of its invasive characteristics, but it is used as food source and in traditional medicine in Africa. <\/em>It hosts root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.)<\/em>, a pest of banana plantations which is \u201cA\u201d rated and a quarantine pest in California. It is a known host of African cassava mosaic virus, an important pest of the major African food crop Cassava (Manihot esculenta) 1, 2<\/sup>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Worldwide Distribution<\/u>:<\/strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Laportea aestuans<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>is widely distributed in tropical Africa, from Senegal eastward to Eritrea and southward to Angola, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, and in Madagascar. It also reported in tropical Asia and tropical America2<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Official Control<\/u>:<\/strong> Laportea aestuans\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>is not declared or considered noxious by any\u00a0State government authorities5<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

California Distribution<\/strong><\/u>: It was introduced to\u00a0California\u00a0and collected as greenhouse weed in San Bernardino and Riverside counties3<\/sup>. It was also growing in the UC Riverside Botanical Garden in 1995.<\/p>\n

California Interceptions<\/u><\/strong>: Laportea aestuans\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>was intercepted three times between January, 1990 up to December, 2016. One specimen recently was collected in San Luis Obispo county on January 6, 2017 through regulatory pathways (Pest and Damage Report Database, CA Department of Food and Agriculture)4<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Consequences of Introduction:<\/strong><\/h5>\n

1) Climate\/Host Interaction<\/strong>: Laportea aestuans<\/em>was collected in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. It may remain a weed of greenhouses. \u00a0Therefore, Laportea aestuans\u00a0<\/strong>receives<\/em> a Low (1)<\/span><\/strong> in this category.<\/p>\n

Evaluate if the pest would have suitable hosts and climate to establish in California:<\/p>\n

– Low (1)<\/strong> Not likely to establish in California; or likely to establish in very limited areas.<\/span><\/p>\n

– Medium (2)<\/strong> may be able to establish in a larger but limited part of California.<\/p>\n

– High (3)<\/strong> likely to establish a widespread distribution in California.<\/p>\n

2) Known Pest Host Range<\/strong> Laportea aestuans\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>do not require any one host, but grows wherever ecological conditions are favorable. It receives a High(3)<\/strong><\/span> in this category.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Evaluate the host range of the pest.<\/p>\n

– Low (1) has a very limited host range.<\/p>\n

– Medium (2) has a moderate host range.<\/p>\n

– High (3)<\/strong> has a wide host range.<\/span><\/p>\n

3) Pest Dispersal Potential<\/strong>: Laportea aestuans\u00a0<\/em>reproduces only by seed.\u00a0 Seeds are dispersed by animals, water runoff and by the movement of contaminated agricultural tools. It receives at Medium (2)<\/strong><\/span> in this category.<\/p>\n

Evaluate the natural and artificial dispersal potential of the pest.<\/p>\n

– Low (1)<\/strong> does not have high reproductive or dispersal potential.<\/p>\n

– Medium (2)<\/strong> has either high reproductive or dispersal potential.<\/span><\/p>\n

– High (3)<\/strong> has both high reproduction and dispersal potential.<\/p>\n

4) Economic Impact:<\/strong> Laportea aestuans <\/em>had not yet had an impact on agricultural lands and future possible impacts are unknown. It could possibly effect the normal cultural practices by growing in dense stands. It\u00a0receives a\u00a0Low <\/strong>(1)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>in this category.<\/p>\n

Evaluate the economic impact of the pest to California using the criteria below.<\/p>\n

Economic Impact: \u00a0D<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

A. The pest could lower crop yield.<\/p>\n

B. The pest could lower crop value (includes increasing crop production costs).<\/p>\n

C. The pest could trigger the loss of markets (includes quarantines).<\/p>\n

D<\/strong>. The pest could negatively change normal cultural practices.<\/span><\/p>\n

E. The pest can vector, or is vectored, by another pestiferous organism.<\/p>\n

F. The organism is injurious or poisonous to agriculturally important animals.<\/p>\n

G. The organism can interfere with the delivery or supply of water for agricultural uses.<\/p>\n

Economic Impact Score:\u00a01<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

– Low (1)<\/strong> causes 0 or 1 of these impacts.<\/span><\/p>\n

– Medium (2)<\/strong> causes 2 of these impacts.<\/p>\n

– High (3)<\/strong> causes 3 or more of these impacts.<\/p>\n

5) Environmental Impact: <\/strong>Laportea aestuans<\/em> had not spread widely only found in greenhouse situation in California. If it does spread, it might trigger new treatments by land managers. \u00a0It\u00a0receives a\u00a0Medium<\/strong> (2)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>in this category.<\/p>\n

Evaluate the environmental impact of the pest on California using the criteria below.<\/p>\n

Environmental Impact: \u00a0D<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

A. The pest could have a significant environmental impact such as lowering biodiversity, disrupting natural communities, or changing ecosystem processes.<\/p>\n

B. The pest could directly affect threatened or endangered species.<\/p>\n

C. The pest could impact threatened or endangered species by disrupting critical habitats.<\/p>\n

D<\/strong>. The pest could trigger additional official or private treatment programs.<\/span><\/p>\n

E. The pest significantly impacts cultural practices, home\/urban gardening or ornamental plantings.<\/p>\n

Environmental Impact: Score: 2<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

– Low (1)<\/strong> causes none of the above to occur.<\/p>\n

– Medium (2)<\/strong> causes one of the above to occur.<\/span><\/p>\n

– High (3)<\/strong> causes two or more of the above to occur.<\/p>\n

Consequences of Introduction to California for Laportea aestuans \u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(<\/strong>West Indian woodnettle)<\/strong>: Medium (9)<\/strong><\/h5>\n

–Low<\/strong> = 5-8 points<\/p>\n

–Medium<\/strong> = 9-12 points<\/span><\/p>\n

–High<\/strong> = 13-15 points<\/p>\n

6) Post Entry Distribution and Survey Information:<\/strong> Laportea aestuans <\/em>has been reported only in greenhouses in San Bernardino and Riverside counties3<\/sup>. It receives a Low (-1)<\/strong><\/span> in this category.<\/p>\n

Evaluate the known distribution in California. Only official records identified by a taxonomic expert and supported by voucher specimens deposited in natural history collections should be considered. Pest incursions that have been eradicated, are under eradication, or have been delimited with no further detections should not be included:<\/p>\n

Score: -1<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

-Not established (0) Pest never detected in California, or known only from incursions.<\/p>\n

–Low (-1)<\/strong> Pest has a localized distribution in California, or is established in one suitable climate\/host area (region).<\/span><\/p>\n

-Medium (-2) Pest is widespread in California but not fully established in the endangered area, or pest established in two contiguous suitable climate\/host areas.<\/p>\n

-High (-3) Pest has fully established in the endangered area, or pest is reported in more than two contiguous or non-contiguous suitable climate\/host areas.<\/p>\n

Final Score:<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The final score is<\/strong> the consequences of introduction score minus the post entry distribution and survey information score: Low (8) <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Uncertainty: <\/strong><\/h5>\n

Laportea aestuans <\/em>entered California and appeared in greenhouses habitat. So, there is low uncertainty.<\/p>\n

Conclusion and Rating Justification: <\/strong><\/h5>\n

Conclusions of the harm(s) associated with this pest to California using all of the evidence presented above: Proposed Rating: based on the score listed above the pest is a low risk. A\u00a0\u201cC<\/strong>\u201d rating<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>is recommended.<\/p>\n

References: <\/strong><\/h5>\n
    \n
  1. Brink, M., 2009.\u00a0Laportea aestuans<\/em>\u00a0(L.) Chew. Record from PROTA4U. Brink, M. & Achigan-Dako, E.G. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa), Wageningen, Netherlands. \u00a0 Accessed January 19, 2017 http:\/\/www.prota4u.org\/protav8.asp?p=Laportea+aestuans<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
    1. Derek Arakaki and Christopher Lao. 2012. Pest advisory No. 12-02.\u00a0Dept. of Agriculture Hawaii.\u00a0 Accessed January 19, 2017 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 https:\/\/hdoa.hawaii.gov\/pi\/files\/2013\/01\/Laportea-aestuans-NPA.pdf<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n
      1. Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation,\u00a0with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals, including the\u00a0Consortium of California Herbaria.\u00a0 2016. Berkeley, California. Accessed January 19, 2017 \u00a0https:\/\/www.calflora.org\/cgi-bin\/species_query.cgi?w\u00a0 here-calrecnum=8755<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          \n
        1. Pest and Damage Record Database, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services. Accessed 1-19-2017. http:\/\/phpps.cdfa.ca.gov\/user\/frmLogon2.asp<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          USDA Phytosanitary Certificate Issuance & Tracking System (PCIT) Phytosanitary Export Database (PExD). Accessed January 19, 2017 \u00a0\u00a0https:\/\/pcit.aphis.usda.gov\/pcit\/<\/a><\/p>\n

          \n
          Responsible Party:<\/strong><\/h5>\n

          Javaid Iqbal,\u00a0 California Department of Food and Agriculture; 1220 N Street,\u00a0Sacramento, CA 95814; Tel. (916) 403-6695; plant.health[@]cdfa.ca.gov.<\/p>\n

          \n

          Pest Rating: C \u00a0| \u00a0<\/strong>Proposed Seed Rating: N\/A<\/strong><\/h3>\n
          \n

          Posted by ls\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          California Pest Rating for West Indian Woodnettle\u00a0 |\u00a0 Laportea aestuans Family: \u00a0Urticaceae Pest Rating: C \u00a0| \u00a0Proposed Seed Rating: N\/A PEST RATING PROFILE Initiating Event: Laportea aestuans currently has a Z rating, and was recently found in San Luis Obispo County. \u00a0A permanent pest rating proposal is required to support an official pest rating. History … Continue reading West Indian woodnettle | Laportea aestuans<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":129,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[7],"tags":[522,85,523],"class_list":["post-3380","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-plants","tag-laportea-aestuans","tag-weeds","tag-west-indian-woodnettle"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5l8vQ-Sw","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3851,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?p=3851","url_meta":{"origin":3380,"position":0},"title":"Laportea canadensis","author":"Dean Kelch","date":"July 18, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Canadian wood-nettle (Laportea canadensis), photographed at Brooklyn Botanic Garden (New York) in September. Photo By: Raffi Kojian (http:\/\/Gardenology.org) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons California Pest Rating for Laportea canadensis) Pest Rating: D |\u00a0Proposed Seed Rating: N\/A PEST RATING PROFILE Initiating Event: This plant has been rated as \u201cQ\u201d by\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Weeds"","block_context":{"text":"Weeds","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"Canadian wood-nettle (Laportea canadensis), photographed at Brooklyn Botanic Garden (New York) in September","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Gardenology.org-IMG_1442_bbg09-wikimedia-e1500412668536.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Gardenology.org-IMG_1442_bbg09-wikimedia-e1500412668536.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Gardenology.org-IMG_1442_bbg09-wikimedia-e1500412668536.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Gardenology.org-IMG_1442_bbg09-wikimedia-e1500412668536.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1958,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?p=1958","url_meta":{"origin":3380,"position":1},"title":"Weeds","author":"Admin","date":"May 13, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Weeds are simply an unwanted plant in the wrong place, at the right time.\u00a0 The weeds can directly and indirectly impact agricultural crops and are just as costly to the environment as any other unwanted species. Weeds are simply an unwanted plant in the wrong place, at the right\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ratings"","block_context":{"text":"Ratings","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?cat=333"},"img":{"alt_text":"Weeds montage","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/weeds-featured-image1.jpg?fit=1038%2C588&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/weeds-featured-image1.jpg?fit=1038%2C588&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/weeds-featured-image1.jpg?fit=1038%2C588&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/weeds-featured-image1.jpg?fit=1038%2C588&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7858,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?p=7858","url_meta":{"origin":3380,"position":2},"title":"Limnophila indica (L.) Druce, Indian marshweed","author":"Admin","date":"December 10, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"California Pest Rating Profile for Limnophila indica (L.) Druce, Indian marshweedPest Rating: B DOWNLOAD PEST RATING Profile *NOTE You must be registered and logged in to post a comment. If you have registered and have not received the registration confirmation, please contact us at permits[@]cdfa.ca.gov. Posted by ta","rel":"","context":"In "B-Rated"","block_context":{"text":"B-Rated","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?cat=670"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":6084,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?p=6084","url_meta":{"origin":3380,"position":3},"title":"Hygrophila polysperma (Roxb.) T. Anderson","author":"Raj Randhawa","date":"April 10, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"California Pest Rating Profile for Hygrophila polysperma (Roxb.) T. Anderson: Indian swampweed Lamiales- AcanthaceaePest Rating: A | Proposed Seed Rating: P DOWNLOAD PEST RATING profile \u00a0 Author: Raj Randhawa, 1220 \u2018N\u2019 Street, Room 221, Sacramento CA 95814, (916) 654-0317, plant.health[@]cdfa.ca.gov. Responsible Party: Dean G. Kelch, Primary Botanist; California Department of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A-Rated"","block_context":{"text":"A-Rated","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?cat=669"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":13820,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?p=13820","url_meta":{"origin":3380,"position":4},"title":"Cryptotermes brevis (Walker): West Indian drywood termite","author":"Kyle Beucke","date":"April 7, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"California Pest Rating Profile for Cryptotermes brevis (Walker): West Indian drywood termitePest Rating: A \u00a0 Download Pest Rating Proposal *NOTE You must be registered and logged in to post a comment. If you have registered and have not received the registration confirmation, please contact us at permits[@]cdfa.ca.gov. Posted by tn\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A-Rated"","block_context":{"text":"A-Rated","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?cat=669"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":6101,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?p=6101","url_meta":{"origin":3380,"position":5},"title":"Gypsophila paniculata L. (Baby\u2019s breath)","author":"Karen Olmstead","date":"April 22, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"California Pest Rating Profile for Gypsophila paniculata L. (Baby\u2019s breath) Synonym: Saponaria paniculata (L.) H. Neumayer Family: CaryophyllaceaePest Rating: B | Seed Rating: Not Rated DOWNLOAD PEST RATING Profile Author: Karen Olmstead, Environmental Scientist; California Department of Food and Agriculture; 1220 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814; Tel. (916) 403-6879; plant.health[@]cdfa.ca.gov\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "B-Rated"","block_context":{"text":"B-Rated","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?cat=670"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3380","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/129"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3380"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3380\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10186,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3380\/revisions\/10186"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3380"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3380"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3380"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}