Pictured above: One-leaf Cape tulip
One-leaf Cape tulip: declared pest
One-leaf Cape tulip (Moraea flaccida, previously Homeria flaccida) is a native of South Africa and declared in WA.
Appearance
Perennial herb to 70 centimetres high, distinguished by fibrous-sheathed corm at the base of the plant, orange to salmon pink flowers that are yellow in the centre; single leaves and presence of seeds in capsules. Corms one to four centimetres wide, developing new corms each year. Spread by seed and movement of corms. Often found in hay cut from infested paddocks.
Leaves: leaf folded, ribbed, linear, to one metre long, extended and drooping above the flowers.
Flowers: borne on branched stems, orange to salmon-pink, occasionally yellow. Flowers with six petals, each 2.6–4 centimetres long, not joined to each other. Flowers in spring when two or three years old.
Seeds: angular red brown seeds, about two millimetres long, in narrow-cylindrical capsules 2.5–5 centimetres long, splitting from the apex into three parts.
Originally introduced as a garden plant in the 19th century. Seeds germinate in autumn and plants regrow from corms at the same time. Poisonous to stock but generally avoided by them. Young stock may be affected if there is no alternative grazing available.
One leaf Cape tulip is very distinctive when flowering but can be confused with two leaf Cape tulip. As its name suggests, one leaf Cape tulip plants only have a single leaf, one to two centimetres wide and up to one metre long. The flowers have a yellow centre and six orange petals up to four centimetres long. Occasionally plants with plain yellow flowers are found. One leaf Cape tulip produces seeds in narrow capsules (seed pods) 2.5-5 centimetres long. The corms (bulbs) are up to four centimetres across and have a fibrous brown covering.
This weed will be controlled on roadside reserves or in public bushland as part of the declared weed spraying program coordinated via the Landcare Office. Spraying will be carried out towards the end of September. A plea also to past residents who may be aware of previous infested sites, your information will be well appreciated. Phone 9863 4225 after 1st September.
Can you PLEASE report to Claudia any known sites where this weed is growing, and every effort will be made to get it sprayed? You can text a photo with location details to 0429 612 447 or email details to landcare@dumbleyung.wa.gov.au. after 1st September.
One-leaf Cape tulip (Moraea flaccida, previously Homeria flaccida) is a native of South Africa and declared in WA.
Appearance
Perennial herb to 70 centimetres high, distinguished by fibrous-sheathed corm at the base of the plant, orange to salmon pink flowers that are yellow in the centre; single leaves and presence of seeds in capsules. Corms one to four centimetres wide, developing new corms each year. Spread by seed and movement of corms. Often found in hay cut from infested paddocks.
Leaves: leaf folded, ribbed, linear, to one metre long, extended and drooping above the flowers.
Flowers: borne on branched stems, orange to salmon-pink, occasionally yellow. Flowers with six petals, each 2.6–4 centimetres long, not joined to each other. Flowers in spring when two or three years old.
Seeds: angular red brown seeds, about two millimetres long, in narrow-cylindrical capsules 2.5–5 centimetres long, splitting from the apex into three parts.
Originally introduced as a garden plant in the 19th century. Seeds germinate in autumn and plants regrow from corms at the same time. Poisonous to stock but generally avoided by them. Young stock may be affected if there is no alternative grazing available.
One leaf Cape tulip is very distinctive when flowering but can be confused with two leaf Cape tulip. As its name suggests, one leaf Cape tulip plants only have a single leaf, one to two centimetres wide and up to one metre long. The flowers have a yellow centre and six orange petals up to four centimetres long. Occasionally plants with plain yellow flowers are found. One leaf Cape tulip produces seeds in narrow capsules (seed pods) 2.5-5 centimetres long. The corms (bulbs) are up to four centimetres across and have a fibrous brown covering.
This weed will be controlled on roadside reserves or in public bushland as part of the declared weed spraying program coordinated via the Landcare Office. Spraying will be carried out towards the end of September. A plea also to past residents who may be aware of previous infested sites, your information will be well appreciated. Phone 9863 4225 after 1st September.
Can you PLEASE report to Claudia any known sites where this weed is growing, and every effort will be made to get it sprayed? You can text a photo with location details to 0429 612 447 or email details to landcare@dumbleyung.wa.gov.au. after 1st September.
RSS Feed
