CAPEWEED

Capeweed (Arctotheca calendula). Native to South Africa. Naturalized across the southern half of Australia and in New Zealand. Annual stemless or shortly stemmed, herb, 80 cm wide and 30 cm high, with a taproot and a basal rosette of leaves. Leaves are 5-25 cm long and 2-6 cm wide, on 6 cm stalks, stem-clasping, oblanceolate (backward-pointing spear-shaped) deeply lobed, and white downy or felted underneath.

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).

Widely naturalised throughout the southern, central and eastern regions of Australia. It is widespread and common in New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and the southern and western parts of Western Australia. Less common or scattered in Queensland and the southern parts of the Northern Territory. Also naturalised on Norfolk Island and in many other parts of the world, including Europe, the Azores, New Zealand and south-western USA (i.e. California). A weed of rangelands, pastures, crops, orchards, gardens, lawns, sports fields, footpaths, roadsides, waste areas, bare ground, disturbed sites and natural areas (e.g. coastal environs, grasslands and open woodlands) in the temperate, semi-arid and sub-tropical regions of Australia. It is occasionally also found growing in arid and tropical regions.

Spray FireHawk Bioherbicide Concentrate: 50 mL/L of water. Respray if required