Climate Matching Map
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| ClimateMatch_WA_Paulownia_tomentosa.pdf (1.16 MB) | 1.16 MB |
1. Question 1
Yes
1
Very High
P. tomentosa is native to central and western China. Many sources document reproduction outside of cultivation in Europe and in eastern North America (Essl 2007, USDA Plants Database, Innes 2009). In the Pacific Northwest the species has been documented as adventive in 10 locations from Multonomah and Yamhill Counties, OR, to King County, WA (WTU 2022).
No references cited.
2. Question 2
Yes
2
High
The PlantRight climate match tool indicates that P. tomentosa's distribution in western Oregon and in the Appalachian Mountains from New England to Alabama, and most of the species' distribution in Europe is a match with the climate of Washington.
No references cited.
3. Question 3
Yes
2
Very High
P. tomentosa is recognized as an invader across many of the mid-Atlantic and midwestern states of the U.S. (Kuppinger 2010, Rebbeck 2012).
No references cited.
4. Question 4
Yes
3
High
The PlantRight climate match tool indicates that P. tomentosa's distribution in the Appalachian Mountains from New England to Alabama, and most of the species distribution in Europe is a match with the climate of Washington. P. tomentosa is invasive in several Appalachian states. In Tennessee, where P. tomentosa competes with native plants on rocky cliffs and in scoured riparian zones, the species is listed as an ‘Established Threat’ in natural areas. In Connecticut the species is “prohibited from importation, movement, sale, purchase, transplanting, cultivation and distribution.”
No references cited.
5. Question 5
No
0
Very High
P. tomentosa belongs to the monogeneric family Paulowniaceae. Neither the Flora of North America nor the Invasive Plant Atlas lists any other Paulownia species in North America. None of the other literature reviewed for this report suggested that there was another invasive Paulownia species elsewhere.
No references cited.
6. Question 6
No
0
High
Extensive portions of P. tomentosa’s introduced range along the eastern seaboard and midwestern U.S, in the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions, and the species’ native range do not match Washington’s climate.
No references cited.
7. Question 7
Yes
1
Very High
The species has the capacity to compete with and replace native species in communities that are naturally open, such as open woodlands, ridgelines, rocky soils, and streambanks (Williams 1993)
No references cited.
8. Question 8
No
0
High
While P. tomentosa responds positively to fire, its wood is light, porous, and of low combustibility
No references cited.
9. Question 9
No
0
Low
Rationale: None of the considerable amount of literature available on P. tomentosa suggests that it presents any health risk to humans or animals.
No references cited.
10. Question 10
No
0
Low
None of the considerable amount of literature available on P. tomentosa suggests that that it forms thickets or in any way impedes movement.
No references cited.
11. Question 11
Yes
1
Very High
P. tomentosa sprouts prolifically from adventitious buds on lateral roots. Vertical stems from lateral roots can grow as much as 15 feet in their first season.
No references cited.
12. Question 12
No
0
Low
None of the available literature mention this as an important avenue of spread for P. tomentosa.
No references cited.
13. Question 13
Yes
1
Very High
Laboratory studies have found germination rates in P. tomentosa seeds as high as 98%. Rates varied depending on treatment (pH, stratification, storage conditions) but were generally highest in treatments that most closely resembled average field conditions.
No references cited.
14. Question 14
Yes
1
High
A single capsule may contain more than 2,000 seeds (Bonner 2008); a large tree may produce millions of seeds annually.
No references cited.
15. Question 15
Yes
1
High
Observation of P. tomentosa establishing in undisturbed sites is rare. In most environments P. tomentosa requires fire or another large-scale disturbance to provide enough light to stimulate germination and facilitate establishment. (Longbrake 2001, Kuppinger et al. 2010). Given the high rates of germination in laboratory studies (up to 98%; Carpenter & Smith 1979, Turner et al 1988, and others) and the enormous quantity of seeds produced by mature individuals, seed germination would not be expected to be limiting given suitable conditions (i.e., sunny w/ bare soil; Longbrake 2001, Kuppinger et al. 2010).
No references cited.
16. Question 16
Yes
1
High
Rebbeck (2012) reports seed production in P. tomentosa within 3-5 years.
No references cited.
17. Question 17
No
0
Medium
Flora of North America identifies the flowering period of P. tomentosa as lasting just three months, April-June, from which, in the absence of more specific information, it is inferred that seed production also lasts that long.
No references cited.
18. Question 18
No
0
Low
None of the available literature suggests that animals are an important vector for P. tomentosa seed dispersal.
No references cited.
19. Question 19
Yes
1
High
P. tomentosa has light (6200 seed/g) winged seeds adapted for wind dispersal (Bonner 2008). Seeds disperse up to 3.7 km from the parent plant (Kuppinger et al. 2006).
No references cited.
20. Question 20
No
0
Low
None of the available literature suggests that these vectors are important for P. tomentosa seed dispersal.
No references cited.
Total PRE Score
15
20
75
