Glory lily
Gloriosa superba
family
Colchicaceae
origin
Exotic
declaration
Council Pest Vegetation (BCC Natural Asset Local Law)
Council Pest Vegetation (BCC Natural Asset Local Law)
Common names
Glory lily, Climbing lily, Creeping lily, Fire lily, Flame lily, Gloriosa, Gloriosa lily, Rhodesian flame lily.
A scrambling or climbing plant with stems growing up to 4 m long. Its shiny bright green leaves are alternately arranged, stalkless, and usually have short tendrils (1-2 cm long) at their tips. Its showy flowers have six large 'petals' (5-8 cm long) that are usually bright red or orange with yellow markings. Their 'petals' have wavy edges and are strongly turned backwards. Its fruit are fleshy capsules (3-10 cm long and 1-2 cm wide) containing many large (4-5 mm long), round, reddish seeds. All parts of this plant are toxic to humans and animals if ingested especially the fleshy tubers.
Impact
Impact
Glory lily (Gloriosa superba) is regarded as a significant environmental weed in New South Wales and Queensland, and as a potential environmental weed or sleeper weed in other parts of Australia. It is currently of most concern in south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales, and is listed as a priority environmental weed in three Natural Resource Management regions in these areas.Glory lily (Gloriosa superba) forms dense understorey carpets in coastal dune systems and replaces native flora in these areas. It also invades nearby areas of coastal dry sclerophyll forest and littoral rainforest and readily colonises bare soil. Its persistent tubers re-shoot even when the foliage has been removed and these tubers have been recorded in densities of 70-100 per square metre in heavily infested areas.In south-eastern Queensland, glory lily (Gloriosa superba) was first recorded as being naturalised at Caloundra in 1950. It is now a serious weed on Moreton Island and Fraser Island, and is present all along the south-east Queensland coast. It appears prominently on local environmental weed lists and during a recent study it was ranked among the top 100 most invasive plants in south-eastern Queensland.This species has also become one of the most serious environmental weeds along the north coast of New South Wales. It is mainly found along the coast north from Hat Head and also appears on several local environmental weed lists in this region (e.g. in Byron, Coffs Harbour and Lismore Shires). Glory lily (Gloriosa superba) is of most concern in this region because it is affecting the integrity of endangered littoral rainforest communities. For example, severe infestations of this species are present in littoral rainforest in Bongil Bongil National Park, south of Coffs Harbour. It is also becoming a concern on the central coast of New South Wales, and is regarded as an "alert weed" in the northern Sydney region.Glory lily (Gloriosa superba) is also regarded as being invasive on several Pacific islands (e.g. in the Cook Islands, French Polynesia, the Solomon Islands and Kiribati) and is a declared noxious weed on Lord Howe Island.
Location
Location
Characteristics
Characteristics
Similar Species
Similar Species
Glory lily (Gloriosa superba) is regarded as a significant environmental weed in New South Wales and Queensland, and as a potential environmental weed or sleeper weed in other parts of Australia. It is currently of most concern in south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales, and is listed as a priority environmental weed in three Natural Resource Management regions in these areas.Glory lily (Gloriosa superba) forms dense understorey carpets in coastal dune systems and replaces native flora in these areas. It also invades nearby areas of coastal dry sclerophyll forest and littoral rainforest and readily colonises bare soil. Its persistent tubers re-shoot even when the foliage has been removed and these tubers have been recorded in densities of 70-100 per square metre in heavily infested areas.In south-eastern Queensland, glory lily (Gloriosa superba) was first recorded as being naturalised at Caloundra in 1950. It is now a serious weed on Moreton Island and Fraser Island, and is present all along the south-east Queensland coast. It appears prominently on local environmental weed lists and during a recent study it was ranked among the top 100 most invasive plants in south-eastern Queensland.This species has also become one of the most serious environmental weeds along the north coast of New South Wales. It is mainly found along the coast north from Hat Head and also appears on several local environmental weed lists in this region (e.g. in Byron, Coffs Harbour and Lismore Shires). Glory lily (Gloriosa superba) is of most concern in this region because it is affecting the integrity of endangered littoral rainforest communities. For example, severe infestations of this species are present in littoral rainforest in Bongil Bongil National Park, south of Coffs Harbour. It is also becoming a concern on the central coast of New South Wales, and is regarded as an "alert weed" in the northern Sydney region.Glory lily (Gloriosa superba) is also regarded as being invasive on several Pacific islands (e.g. in the Cook Islands, French Polynesia, the Solomon Islands and Kiribati) and is a declared noxious weed on Lord Howe Island.
