Carthamus lanatus L.

Title: Carthamus lanatus L.

Scientific Name:

Carthamus lanatus L.

Common Name:

saffron thistle, woolly distaff thistle

Source and more images (via ALA)

Distribution:

Original source via GBIF

Invasiveness Assessment

ESTABLISHMENT

1. Germination requirements? Seeds germinate in autumn & early winter.(Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)

2. Establishment requirements? Occurs in mostly ‘open’ areas e.g. paddocks, grasslands. (Carr et al., 1992; Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)

3. How much disturbance is required? Weed in cultivated paddocks. Invades lowland grassland & grassy woodland. (Carr et al., 1992; Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)

GROWTH / COMPETITIVE

4. Life form? Annual herb → Other. (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)

5. Allelopathic properties? Allelopathic properties not described.

6. Tolerates herb pressure? Has little fodder value although it is eaten to some extent when very young and later as the stem emerges from the rosette. (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992)

7. Normal growth rate? In crops, competition reduces yield…does not invade perennial pastures nor does it withstand competition from improved annual pastures. (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992)

8. Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc? Tolerance to frost & drought (See Australian distribution). (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992)

REPRODUCTION

9. Reproductive system Reproducing by seed. (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992)

10. Number of propagules produced? Individual seed heads can produce 10-16 seeds. 8 seed heads/plant x 16 seeds/head = 128 seeds/plant. (Groves et al., 1995)

11. Propagule longevity? Some survived for up to 8 years but most seemed to be destroyed by bacteria, fungi or termites. (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)

12. Reproductive period? Annual herb. Forms dense infestations (see pick p.196) yet doesn’t appear to be a monoculture. (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)

13. Time to reproductive maturity? Annual herb. (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)

DISPERSAL

14. Number of mechanisms? Seed spread by clothing, bags, wool, fur, mud stuck to implements & vehicles, ‘tumbleweed’ effect & the flow of water along channels. (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)

15. How far do they disperse? The dried seed heads tangle in wool & the whole plant breaking off at the base, acts as a ‘tumbleweed’ spreading the seed over long distances. (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)

Impact Assessment

RECREATION

1. Restrict human access? An erect annual herb commonly 40 to 90 cm high. Saffron thistle grows on disturbed sites of low fertility and, “often grows in dense patches which restrict stock movement.” Patches may inhibit direct access. (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)

2. Reduce tourism? The flower stems are rigid and the leaves are reflexed and rigid, and armed with stout spines. Dense patches may restrict some recreational activities. (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)

3. Injurious to people? The flower stems are rigid and the leaves are reflexed and rigid, and armed with stout spines. Spines are present for most of the year. (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)

4. Damage to cultural sites? Dense patches would create a negative visual impact the spiny nature of the plant would seriously affect the aesthetics of a cultural site. An annual herb, the root system would not cause structural damage.

ABIOTIC

5. Impact flow? Terrestrial species. (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)

6. Impact water quality? Terrestrial species. (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)

7. Increase soil erosion? “In the Western Plains of New South Wales, C. lanatus helped to provide ground cover and prevent erosion.” (Groves et al., 1995)

8. Reduce biomass? Direct replacement of biomass by invader.

9. Change fire regime? When the plant dies it leaves very little fuel to establish or support fire.

COMMUNITY HABITAT

10(a) Impact on composition of high value EVC EVC=Plains grassy woodland (E); CMA=Glenelg Hopkins; Bioreg=Victorian Volcanic Plain; VH CLIMATE potential. “Saffron thistle often occurs in dense patches. [However, it] does not invade perennial pastures.” In Victoria, it occurs in small populations. Minor impact on grasses/forbs. (Carr et al., 1992; Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)

10(b) medium value EVC EVC=Plains sedgy woodland (E); CMA=Glenelg Hopkins; Bioreg=Dundas Tablelands; VH CLIMATE potential. Impact as in 10(a) above. (Carr et al., 1992; Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)

10(c) low value EVC Does not appear likely to occur in low value EVCs in Victoria.

11. Impact on structure? C. lanatus is widespread across Victoria in small populations. It is found in lowland grassland and grassy woodland. It establishes on disturbed sites competing for moisture, light and soil nutrients. Minor effect <60% of the floral strata.

12. Effect on threatened flora?

FAUNA

13. Effect on threatened fauna?

14. Effect on non-threatened fauna? Competes with perennial grasses and, as the stout spines discourage grazing, it would reduce the food source for native species. (Groves et al., 1995)

15. Benefits fauna? “Several reports from New South Wales and South Australia have indicated that C. lanatus have some feed value.” (Groves et al., 1995)

16. Injurious to fauna? “Causes or predisposes the livestock to eye and mouth injury.” Potential to injure fauna. (Groves et al., 1995)

PEST ANIMAL

17. Food source to pests? Not known as a food source to pests

18. Provides harbor? Not known to provide harbor.

AGRICULTURE

19. Impact yield? “Restricts or eliminates pasture growth in low fertility soils, thereby reducing carrying capacity and preventing livestock grazing. Reduces grain yield by 50–70%.” Serious impact on agricultural yield. (Groves et al., 1995)

20. Impact quality? “Seeds and broken plant parts contaminate wheat, leading to dockage by the Australian Wheat Board. It also causes vegetable fault in wool.” “Produce such as hay or seed which contains seeds of any noxious weed is usually prohibited from sale.” (Groves et al., 1995; Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)

21. Affect land values? “Decreases property values and potential income.” (Groves et al., 1995

22. Change land use? “A persistent approach [to control] is necessary. One effective program combines cropping and pasture establishment.” Change to land use in grazing situations. Alternatively, goats can be used to control infestations. (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)

23. Increase harvest costs? “…the hard stems increase wear and tear on harvesting machinery.” (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)

24. Disease host/vector? “There is veterinary evidence that the spiny leaves and bracts are involved in transmitting virus diseases in grazing animals.” (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)

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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:

saffron_thistle_mature.jpg
saffron thistle via ala.JPG
Capture.JPG

referenced by (2)

wra1040: Common Name - W (via woolly distaff thistle)wra1033: Common Name - S (via saffron thistle)

Article: wra5 (permalink)
Categories: :wra:c, :wra:inv1, :wra:invmh, :wra:inv2, :wra:invml, :wra:inv3, :wra:inv4, :wra:invl, :wra:inv5, :wra:inv6, :wra:inv7, :wra:inv8, :wra:invm, :wra:inv9, :wra:inv10, :wra:inv11, :wra:inv12, :wra:inv13, :wra:invh, :wra:inv14, :wra:inv15, :wra:imp1, :wra:impml, :wra:imp2, :wra:impmh, :wra:imp3, :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:impm, :wra:imp13, :wra:imp14, :wra:imp15, :wra:imp16, :wra:imph, :wra:imp17, :wra:imp18, :wra:imp19, :wra:imp20, :wra:imp21, :wra:imp22, :wra:imp23, :wra:imp24
Date: 13 May 2009; 3:03:37 PM AEST

Author Name: David Low
Author ID: adminDavid