Capeweed
Arctotheca calendula
family
Asteraceae
origin
Exotic
declaration
Council Pest Vegetation (BCC Natural Asset Local Law)
Council Pest Vegetation (BCC Natural Asset Local Law)
Common names
Capeweed, Cape weed, Cape daisy, Cape dandelion, Cape marigold, Marigold, South African Capeweed, Silver spreader.
A low-growing short-lived plant with semi-upright flowering stems up to 30 cm tall. Its leaves (5-25 cm long and 2-6 cm wide) are somewhat elongated in shape with toothed to deeply lobed margins these leaves have hairless or slightly hairy upper surfaces and whitish, felty undersides. Its flower-heads (2-6 cm across) have dark-purplish coloured centres and numerous yellow 'petals' (1-2.5 cm long). Its 'seeds' (2-2.5 mm long) and densely covered in a brownish or pinkish coloured fluffy wool.
Impact
Impact
Though it is widely known as a very common weed of habitation (i.e. gardens and lawns) and agricultural areas (i.e. crops and pastures) in temperate Australia, it is also increasingly becoming a problem in natural areas (particularly in coastal environs and in semi-arid and arid regions).In Western Australia populations of Capeweed (Arctotheca calendula) are increasing rapidly in the arid zone, and they are displacing ephemeral native species in these areas. It is also a significant problem in the rangelands of southern Australia, where it replaces more palatable native species, especially in areas that are overgrazed. Capeweed (Arctotheca calendula) is also present in numerous conservation areas (e.g. Swallow Lagoon Nature Conservation Reserve and Kinglake National Park in Victoria, Hale Conservation Park and Coffin Bay National Park in South Australia, Weddin Mountains National Park and Tumblong State Conservation Area in New South Wales, Fitzgerald River National Park in Western Australia and Tasman National Park in Tasmania) and it often poses a threat to the integrity of plant communities and the survival of threatened species in these sites.For example, weed competition from this and other weed species is seen as one of the main threats to the vulnerable red darling pea (Swainsona plagiotropis) in the upper Murray River valley in southern New South Wales. It is also present in areas where the remaining known populations of Irwin's conostylis (Conostylis dielsii subsp. teres) are located east of Dongara in the Geraldton region in Western Australia (and is of particular concern to populations located in road reserves where weeds are more abundant). The mountain villarsia (Villarsia calthifolia), which is limited to the Porongurup Range in south-western Western Australia, is also under threat from several weed species, including Capeweed (Arctotheca calendula).Capeweed (Arctotheca calendula) is also a common coastal weed in the Gulf St. Vincent area near Adelaide in south-eastern South Australia. It forms mats of vegetation in heavy soils in reardunes and also harbours pests that are a threat to native seedlings (e.g. red spider mite). It has also been reported as a weed of coastal sites in other parts of Australia (e.g. at Greens Beach Reserve in Tasmania and in coastal foreshores at Joondalup in Western Australia).
Location
Location
Characteristics
Characteristics
Similar Species
Similar Species
Though it is widely known as a very common weed of habitation (i.e. gardens and lawns) and agricultural areas (i.e. crops and pastures) in temperate Australia, it is also increasingly becoming a problem in natural areas (particularly in coastal environs and in semi-arid and arid regions).In Western Australia populations of Capeweed (Arctotheca calendula) are increasing rapidly in the arid zone, and they are displacing ephemeral native species in these areas. It is also a significant problem in the rangelands of southern Australia, where it replaces more palatable native species, especially in areas that are overgrazed. Capeweed (Arctotheca calendula) is also present in numerous conservation areas (e.g. Swallow Lagoon Nature Conservation Reserve and Kinglake National Park in Victoria, Hale Conservation Park and Coffin Bay National Park in South Australia, Weddin Mountains National Park and Tumblong State Conservation Area in New South Wales, Fitzgerald River National Park in Western Australia and Tasman National Park in Tasmania) and it often poses a threat to the integrity of plant communities and the survival of threatened species in these sites.For example, weed competition from this and other weed species is seen as one of the main threats to the vulnerable red darling pea (Swainsona plagiotropis) in the upper Murray River valley in southern New South Wales. It is also present in areas where the remaining known populations of Irwin's conostylis (Conostylis dielsii subsp. teres) are located east of Dongara in the Geraldton region in Western Australia (and is of particular concern to populations located in road reserves where weeds are more abundant). The mountain villarsia (Villarsia calthifolia), which is limited to the Porongurup Range in south-western Western Australia, is also under threat from several weed species, including Capeweed (Arctotheca calendula).Capeweed (Arctotheca calendula) is also a common coastal weed in the Gulf St. Vincent area near Adelaide in south-eastern South Australia. It forms mats of vegetation in heavy soils in reardunes and also harbours pests that are a threat to native seedlings (e.g. red spider mite). It has also been reported as a weed of coastal sites in other parts of Australia (e.g. at Greens Beach Reserve in Tasmania and in coastal foreshores at Joondalup in Western Australia).
