Psoralea pinnata L.

Title: Psoralea pinnata L.

Scientific Name:

Psoralea pinnata L.

Common Names:

blue psoralea

Image via GBIF

Habitat:

Psoralea pinnata is reported to be highly invasive in heathland, woodland, drier forests, swampy and riparian areas (Muyt 2001). It is also reported to invade dry coastal vegetation, pasture, forestry plantations, roadsides and waste places (Blood 2001; Carr, Yugovic & Robinson 1992; Webb et al 1988). In the species native range, it is reported to grow in damp places, often in depressions with an open aspect at higher altitudes (Batten & Bokelmann 1966).

Distribution:

Map via GBIF

Invasiveness Assessment

ESTABLISHMENT

1. Germination requirements? Germination is reported to occur in Autumn, especially after fire or another disturbance. The seeds are not dependent on fire for germination however (Blood 2001).

2. Establishment requirements? Tolerant of partial shade, invades forest (Blood 2001).

3. How much disturbance is required? Highly invasive in heathland (Muyt 2001).

GROWTH / COMPETITIVE

4. Life form? Annual herb. In the Fabaceae family and can fix nitrogen (Blood 2001). Therefore a legume.

5. Allelopathic properties? No allelopathic properties are reported for this species.

6. Tolerates herb pressure? Tolerant of grazing, used as a fodder source (Blood 2001). Resprouts after being cut at the base (Blood 2001).

7. Normal growth rate?“Very fast growing (Blood 2001). Can grow rapidly to 1.5 m in a year (Eliovson 1960).

8. Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc? Tolerant of frost, to temperatures of -4ºC (Blood 2001). Tolerant of fire; fire stimulates germination and mature plants can reprout (Blood 2001). Tolerant of dry conditions (Blood 2001). No reported tolerance of drought however. Tolerant of waterlogging; occurs in swamps (Blood 2001). Tolerant of salt laden winds (Muyt 2001).

REPRODUCTION

9. Reproductive system? Reproduces by seed (Blood 2001).

10. Number of propagules produced? Can produce thousands of seeds annually (Muyt 2001).

11. Propagule longevity? Seeds remain viable for at least 8 years (Muyt 2001).

12. Reproductive period? Annual herb. Can live for 15 years (Muyt 2001). Being able to start flowering in its second year as reported by Blood (2001) would give a potential reproductive period of more than 10 years.

13. Time to reproductive maturity? Can start flowering after 1 year (Eliovson 1960).

DISPERSAL

14. Number of mechanisms? Dispersed by water and possibly by birds (Blood 2001). Human aided dispersal includes accidentally through machinery and contaminated soil and deliberately; still occasionally available in trade (Blood 2001; Muyt 2001).

15. How far do they disperse? Dispersal by water and possibly by birds would enable propagules to move more than 1 km. Dispersal of more than 1 km along a roadside most probably through contaminated machinery has been observed (Mitchard pers comm. 2007).

Impact Assessment

RECREATION

1. Restrict human access? A small tree growing to 4 m, reported to occur in riparian areas and able to forms dense thickets (Weber 2003). As the plant can grow to 1.5 m in one year and has a lasting seed bank, the species may need to be controlled to maintain access which would require significant works (Eliovson 1960; Muyt 2001).

2. Reduce tourism? An ornamental tree species which can form dense thickets the species may have some effect on aesthetics (Weber 2003). Unknown if the species potential to restrict access has had any impact on recreational activities.

3. Injurious to people? There is no reported evidence of this.

4. Damage to cultural sites? An ornamental tree species which can form dense thickets the species may have some effect on aesthetics (Weber 2003).

ABIOTIC

5. Impact flow? The species is reported to occur in swamps and riparian vegetation (Hussey et al 1997; Muyt 2001). There is no evidence reported of the species impacting water flow.

6. Impact water quality? The species is reported to occur in swamps and riparian vegetation (Hussey et al 1997; Muyt 2001). There is no evidence reported of the species impacting water quality.

7. Increase soil erosion? The species root system is described as being woody and branching but mostly shallow (Muyt 2001). Having a shallow root system would limit the species ability to prevent large scale erosion occurring.

8. Reduce biomass? Described as a fast-growing species which can crowd out other shrub species and shade out species of lower strata (Muyt 2001). Invasion by this species is overall likely to cause direct replacement.

9. Change fire regime? Blood (2001) reports that fire stimulates mass germination of this fast-growing species, this could increase fire frequency.The flammability of this species is not reported and therefore its effect on fire intensity can’t be speculated.

COMMUNITY HABITAT

10(a) Impact on composition of high value EVC? EVC= Wet Heathland (V); CMA= Glenelg Hopkins; Bioreg= Greater Grampians; VH CLIMATE potential. P. pinnata is a small tree species, which can form dense thickets, shading out species of the lower strata, crowd out shrub species and impede the regeneration of overstorey species (Muyt 2001; Weber 2003). It can also fix nitrogen which can change the soil fertility and affect indigenous species persistence in the long term (Muyt 2001). Therefore, the species is capable of causing major displacement within layers.

10(b) Impact on medium value EVC? EVC= Damp Heathland (D); CMA= Glenelg Hopkins; Bioreg= Glenelg Plain; VH CLIMATE potential. P. pinnata is a small tree species, which can form dense thickets, shading out species of the lower strata, crowd out shrub species and impede the regeneration of overstorey species (Muyt 2001; Weber 2003). It can also fix nitrogen which can change the soil fertility and affect indigenous species persistence in the long term (Muyt 2001). Therefore, the species is capable of causing major displacement within layers.

10(c) Impact on low value EVC? EVC= Wet Heathland (LC); CMA= Glenelg Hopkins; Bioreg= Glenelg Plain; VH CLIMATE potential. P. pinnata is a small tree species, which can form dense thickets, shading out species of the lower strata, crowd out shrub species and impede the regeneration of overstorey species (Muyt 2001; Weber 2003). It can also fix nitrogen which can change the soil fertility and affect indigenous species persistence in the long term (Muyt 2001). Therefore, the species is capable of causing major displacement within layers.

11. Impact on structure? P. pinnata is a small tree species, which can form dense thickets, shading out species of the lower strata, crowd out shrub species and impede the regeneration of overstorey species (Muyt 2001; Weber 2003). It can also fix nitrogen which can change the soil fertility and affect indigenous species persistence in the long term (Muyt 2001). Therefore, the species has potential to have a major impact on the middle to lower strata through direct competition and a minor impact through impeding regeneration and alteration of soil chemistry.

12. Effect on threatened flora? Listed as threatening competitor to Villarsia calthifolia a rare species in Western Australia (Gilfillan & Barrett 2004). There is no data reported however of this species impacting a species threatened in Victoria.

FAUNA

13. Effect on threatened fauna? There is no data of this occurring.

14. Effect on non-threatened fauna? Is managed as a threat to the Southern Emu-wren Stipiturus malachurus (Maguire & Mulder 2004).

15. Benefits fauna? Observed as a food source of the New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae (Lepschi 1997). Is reported to be used by the Southern Emu-wren Stipiturus malachurus (Maguire 2005).

16. Injurious to fauna? There is no evidence of this occurring.

PEST ANIMAL

17. Food source to pests? Introduced as a nectar source for bees (Blood 2001).

18. Provides harbor? Reported to forms thickets (Weber 2003). There is potential therefore for the species to harbour species such as rabbits and foxes. There is no evidence of this occurring however.

AGRICULTURE

19. Impact yield? Reported to be becoming a problem in forestry (Blood 2001). The species impact is unknown however.

20. Impact quality? Reported to be becoming a problem in forestry (Blood 2001). The species impact is unknown however.

21. Affect land values? Reported to be becoming a problem in forestry (Blood 2001). The species impact is unknown however.

22. Change land use? See above. Reported to be becoming a problem in forestry (Blood 2001). The species impact is unknown however.

23. Increase harvest costs? Reported to be becoming a problem in forestry (Blood 2001). The species impact is unknown however.

24. Disease host/vector? Phakopsora pachyrhizae has been identified on the plant and other Phakopsora species are reported to infect a range of legume species (Mennicken & Oberwinkler 2004). Therefore, this species may be an alternate host for rusts that effect legume crops, at this stage however there is no direct evidence.

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.

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Attachments:

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referenced by (1)

wra825: Common Name - B (via blue psoralea)

Article: wra8549 (permalink)
Categories: :wra:p, :wra:inv1, :wra:invmh, :wra:inv2, :wra:inv3, :wra:invh, :wra:inv4, :wra:inv5, :wra:invl, :wra:inv6, :wra:inv7, :wra:inv8, :wra:inv9, :wra:invml, :wra:inv10, :wra:inv11, :wra:inv12, :wra:inv13, :wra:inv14, :wra:inv15, :wra:imp1, :wra:imph, :wra:imp2, :wra:impm, :wra:imp3, :wra:impl, :wra:imp4, :wra:impml, :wra:imp5, :wra:imp6, :wra:imp7, :wra:imp8, :wra:imp9, :wra:imp10a, :wra:impmh, :wra:imp10c, :wra:imp11, :wra:imp12, :wra:imp13, :wra:imp14, :wra:imp15, :wra:imp16, :wra:imp17, :wra:imp18, :wra:imp19, :wra:imp20, :wra:imp21, :wra:imp22, :wra:imp23, :wra:imp24
Date: 18 February 2023; 12:52:15 PM AEDT

Author Name: David Low
Author ID: adminDavid