EPPO Technical Document No. 1084. Pest risk analysis for Celastrus orbiculatus.

Abstract

In the USA, Celastrus orbiculatus is considered a significant weed where it negatively impacts native species, natural vegetation succession and forest regeneration (Fike & Niering, 2009). In the EPPO region Celastrus orbiculatus was first observed in in 1863 in horticulture in the Netherlands. The first records of the species in the natural environment were recorded in Germany in the 1950’s (Stadler & Walther, 1970). It is now recorded as established in 15 EPPO countries (EPPO, 2020). In the EPPO region, C. orbiculatus has shown an increase in occurrence in the last 30 years where it is recorded as occurring in the natural environment (Gudžinskas et al., 2020; Alberternst & Nawrath, 2018). Tanner et al. (2017) prioritised 37 alien plant species including C. orbiculatus for risk assessment in the European Union (EU). The conclusion was that C. orbiculatus was a priority for a risk assessment (RA) based on the high spread potential, potential for establishment (up to 77 % of the EU) and potential for negative impacts (high potential for impacts on native plant species and a potential medium impact on ecosystem functions and services). The Netherlands conducted a RA on the species for the EU where the total risk score was medium (Beringen et al., 2017). In 2020, the EPPO Panel on Invasive Alien Plants prioritised C. orbiculatus for an EPPO pest risk analysis (PRA). The Panel considered that C. orbiculatus has the potential for further spread within the EPPO region, and therefore there is potential for wider impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services. The Panel also noted that C. orbiculatus remains available for sale within the EPPO region.

Citation

Brundu, Giuseppe; Chapman, Daniel; Fallak, Swen; Gudzinskas, Zigmantas; Huebner, Cynthia; Macleod, Alan; Starfinger, Uwe; Van Valkenburg, Johan; Tanner, Rob, comps. 2021. EPPO Technical Document No. 1084. Pest risk analysis for Celastrus orbiculatus. 73 p. https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/CELOR/documents (accessed June 18, 2025).