Abstract
Background: Clusia rosea is an ornamental plant that has been cultivated in South Africa since the late 19th century. Ornamental plant species are known to be a source of invasive plants.Objectives: To document the current distribution of C. rosea in South Africa and its naturalisation status.Method: Reports of C. rosea were verified in the field and herbarium vouchers were collected. Coordinates were taken for each plant, their reproductive status was assessed and heights were measured. In addition, the Southern African Plant Invaders Atlas database and five herbaria were checked for records.Results: A total of 284 plants were found outside of cultivation, mostly in the KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Belt Grassland. Clusia rosea appears to be reproducing through apomixis. No records of naturalisation could be found elsewhere in Africa.Conclusion: It is recommended that C. rosea be added to the Species Under Surveillance – Possible Eradication or Containment Targets (SUSPECT) list to investigate whether it requires formal legal listing.
Highlights
Clusia rosea Jacq. is an evergreen shrub to large tree that is indigenous to the neotropics from the Yucatan province, Mexico, south of Colombia and the Guiana Shield (Berry et al 2007; Maguire 1976)
Known as the pitch-apple, cupey or autograph tree [Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) 2013], C. rosea often grows as an epiphytic strangler (Wright 1868)
It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant in the tropics (Gargiullo, Magnuson & Kimball 2008) and the earliest record found for South Africa was a tree planted in the Durban Botanic Gardens (DBG) in 1894 (Wood 1897)
Summary
Clusia rosea Jacq. is an evergreen shrub to large tree that is indigenous to the neotropics from the Yucatan province, Mexico, south of Colombia and the Guiana Shield (Berry et al 2007; Maguire 1976). The yellow-white, resinous latex, which has been reported as poisonous (Gilman & Watson 1993), is used as pitch to decorate and caulk the seams of boats in the Caribbean (Saunders 1872; Starr, Starr & Loope 2003). It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant in the tropics (Gargiullo, Magnuson & Kimball 2008) and the earliest record found for South Africa was a tree planted in the Durban Botanic Gardens (DBG) in 1894 (Wood 1897). Ornamental plant species are known to be a source of invasive plants
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