Arum italicum Mill.

Title: Arum italicum Mill.

Scientific Name: Arum italicum Mill.

Common Name: arum lily, Italian lily

Source & more images (via ALA)

Habitat: Can occur in Dry coastal vegetation including under Eucalyptus globulus on sand dunes, damp sclerophyll forest and riparian vegetation (Carr, Yugovic and Robinson 1992; Mendez & Obeso 1993). It has also been reported growing in dryland crops, pastures and in vineyards (Hidalgo et al. 1990; DE Oliveira 1971; Roy et al. 1998).

Distribution:

Present Distribution - Australia (source: ALA)

Invasiveness Assessment

ESTABLISHMENT

1. Germination requirements? Seed germinates at much the same time as mature plants begin their growing season in autumn after being dormant over summer (Boyce 1993).

2. Establishment requirements? Reported to be capable of invading dry coastal vegetation to riparian vegetation and pasture (Carr, Yugovic & Robinson 1992; Roy et al. 1998). Therefore capable of establishing under a variety of light and moisture conditions.

3. How much disturbance is required? Can invade riparian vegetation (Carr, Yugovic & Robinson 1992).

GROWTH / COMPETITIVE

4. Life form? Tuberous geophyte (Carr, Yugovic & Robinson 1992).

5. Allelopathic properties? There is no evidence of this.

6. Tolerates herb pressure? All parts of the plant are poisonous; the juice is an irritant to the skin and mouth which causes arum species in general to be avoided by grazing species. Stock death has occurred after consuming arum species (Connor 1977; McBarron 1977; Shepherd 2004). Arums have are troubled by a few insect pests including aphids, red spider mite and slugs and snails, severe damage only occurs under high infestation rates therefore the plant is relatively untroubled by herbivory pressure. (Boyce 1993).

7. Normal growth rate? Anecdotal reports of the plant crowding out garden beds however this doesn’t compare with species of the same life form, presumed to be similar (Dave’s Garden 2007).

8. Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc? Drought tolerant, dies back during summer (Mendez & Obeso 1993)
Frost tolerant; rated to zone 5a (-28.8°C) (Dave’s Garden 2007).
Dieing back in summer would mean that it is unlikely to be effected by fire.
Reported growing in a coastal dune system (Mendez & Obeso 1993). Therefore may have some tolerance to salinity.
Unknown tolerance to waterlogging.

REPRODUCTION

9. Reproductive system? Reproduces sexually with seed and vegetatively with tubers (Mendez & Obeso 1993).

10. Number of propagules produced? Found to have an average seed production per inflorescence of 82.8 ± 62 with the maximum recorded as 335 (Albre, Quilichini & Gibernau 2003). Most plants produce 2-4 inflorescences which means the number of seeds produced is likely to be less than 1000 (Mendez & Diaz 2001).

11. Propagule longevity? Unknown.

12. Reproductive period? Not exactly known there are anecdotal reports of people trying to control self persisting populations for 18-30 years (Dave’s Garden 2007).

13. Time to reproductive maturity? On average it takes between 4 and 5 years for arums grown from seed to flower (Boyce 1993). Can produce independent daughter tubers in its second growing season (Mendez & Obeso 1993).

DISPERSAL

14. Number of mechanisms? Has red to orange berries which are dispersed by birds (Mendez & Obeso 1993)

15. How far do they disperse? With the aid of bird dispersal seeds could travel more than 1km, however dispersal distance for this species is not reported.

Impact Assessment

RECREATION

1. Restrict human access? Only grows to 60cm, however as contact with the sap can cause serve skin irritation this may impede individual access (Shepherd 2004).

2. Reduce tourism? It is an ornamental species and as the flowers can smell like stale urine or decaying meat, this plant could alter aesthetics (Albre, Quilichini & Gibernau 2003; Spencer 2005).

3. Injurious to people? All parts of the plant are poisonous, contact can cause serve skin irritation and if eaten, it can cause death (Shepherd 2004).

4. Damage to cultural sites? It is an ornamental species and as the flowers can smell like stale urine or decaying meat, this plant could alter aesthetics (Albre, Quilichini & Gibernau 2003; Spencer 2005).

ABIOTIC

5. Impact flow? Terrestrial species, not reported to impede water flow in any significant way even when occurring in riparian habitats.

6. Impact water quality? Terrestrial species, not reported to impact of water quality in any significant way even when occurring in riparian habitats. Its tissues do contain toxic substances which may impact on an aquatic ecosystem if released into the water (Shepherd 2004).

7. Increase soil erosion? Has a tuberous root system which would help to bind the soil , it does however die back over summer which could leave the soil surface exposed (Boyce 1993).

8. Reduce biomass? A low growing herbaceous species, not reported to impact significantly on vegetation structure. It is likely that there would be direct replacement.

9. Change fire regime? Dies back in summer (Boyce 1993). This could alter fuel loads and there is less biomass during the fire season and therefore alter fire intensities.

COMMUNITY HABITAT

10(a) Impact on composition of high value EVC? EVC= Riparian Forest (V); CMA= Corangamite ; Bioreg= Otway Plain ; VH CLIMATE potential. Anecdotally this species has been reported to crowd out garden beds and even displacing crabgrass (Dave’s Garden 2007). Therefore at least some minor displacement in a natural ecosystem is predicted.

10(b) Impact on medium value EVC? EVC= Sedgy Riparian Woodland (D); CMA= Corangamite ; Bioreg= Otway Plain ; VH CLIMATE potential. Anecdotally this species has been reported to crowd out garden beds and even displacing crabgrass (Dave’s Garden 2007). Therefore at least some minor displacement in a natural ecosystem is predicted.

10(c) Impact on low value EVC? EVC= Lowland Forest (LC); CMA= Glenelg Hopkins; Bioreg= Victorian Volcanic Plain; VH CLIMATE potential. Anecdotally this species has been reported to crowd out garden beds and even displacing crabgrass (Dave’s Garden 2007). Therefore at least some minor displacement in a natural ecosystem is predicted.

11. Impact on structure? Anecdotally this species has been reported to crowd out garden beds and even displacing crabgrass (Dave’s Garden 2007). Therefore at least some minor displacement in the lower strata of a natural ecosystem is predicted, this would still not realistically impact on more than 20% of the total vegetation community.

12. Effect on threatened flora? Unknown, there is no evidence reported.

FAUNA

13. Effect on threatened fauna? Unknown, there is no evidence reported.

14. Effect on non-threatened fauna? Not exactly known, unlikely, however, to significantly alter the habitat.

15. Benefits fauna? Provides fruit for bird species, but only invertebrates such as aphids and slugs and snails are reported to eat the leaves (Boyce 1993).

16. Injurious to fauna? May cause skin irritation, illness and death (Connor 1977; McBarron 1977; Shepherd 2004).

PEST ANIMAL

17. Food source to pests? Eaten by slugs snails and aphids (Boyce 1993).

18. Provides harbor? Only 60cm high and contact can cause irritation, unlikely to provide significant harbour (Shepherd 2004).

AGRICULTURE

19. Impact yield? Only a very minor weed of crops (Hidalgo, Saavedra & Garcia-Torres 1990).
Can cause poisoning and death in stock (Connor 1977; McBarron 1977). Significant stock losses have not been reported.

20. Impact quality? Unknown.

21. Affect land values? Anecdotally people have moved house, due to frustration of trying to control this species (Dave’s Garden 2007).

22. Change land use? Unknown.

23. Increase harvest costs? May require stock to be restricted and moved more regularly to prevent poisoning and deaths.

24. Disease host/vector? Can be effected by aphids and slugs and snails (Boyce 1993).

Feedback

Do you have additional information about this plant that will improve the quality of the assessment? If so, we would value your contribution.

Assessment ratings originally made by the Victorian Department of Primary Industries.

The entry of this assessment was made possible through the generous support of The Weed's Network.

Attachments:

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referenced by (2)

wra1004: Common Name - I (via Italian lily)wra702: Common Name - A (via arum lily)

Article: wra2961 (permalink)
Categories: :wra:a, :wra:inv1, :wra:invmh, :wra:inv2, :wra:inv3, :wra:inv4, :wra:invml, :wra:inv5, :wra:invl, :wra:inv6, :wra:invh, :wra:inv7, :wra:invm, :wra:inv8, :wra:inv9, :wra:inv10, :wra:inv11, :wra:inv12, :wra:inv13, :wra:inv14, :wra:inv15, :wra:imp1, :wra:impml, :wra:imp2, :wra:imp3, :wra:imph, :wra:imp4, :wra:imp5, :wra:impl, :wra:imp6, :wra:imp7, :wra:imp8, :wra:imp9, :wra:imp10a, :wra:imp10b, :wra:imp10c, :wra:imp11, :wra:imp12, :wra:impmh, :wra:imp13, :wra:imp14, :wra:imp15, :wra:imp16, :wra:imp17, :wra:imp18, :wra:imp19, :wra:imp20, :wra:impm, :wra:imp21, :wra:imp22, :wra:imp23, :wra:imp24
Date: 27 October 2009; 10:38:55 AM AEDT

Author Name: Fariba Moslih
Author ID: moslih