Bomarea multiflora

Present distribution

Scientific name:	Bomarea multiflora (L.f.) Mirb.
Common name(s):

This weed is not known to be naturalised in Victoria

Habitat:

Native to Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela (Spencer 2005) where it occurs on high mountains, in hedges and edges of woods and cloud forests (Lyshede 2002). A garden escape in New Zealand, occurring in scrub on a roadside (Webb et al. 1988). Invades remnant forest and shrubland interiors (Schmechel 2007).

Potential distribution

Potential distribution produced from CLIMATE modelling refined by applying suitable landuse and vegetation type overlays with CMA boundaries

Map Overlays Used

Land Use:
Forestry; horticulture perennial.

Ecological Vegetation Divisions
Heathland, grassy/heathy dry forest; lowland forest; foothills forest; forby forest; damp forest, wet forest; rainforest; high altitude shrubland/woodland; rocky outcrop shrubland; western plains woodland; alluvial plains grassland; semi-arid woodland; alluvial plains woodland; ironbark/box; riverine woodland/forest; chenopod shrubland; chenopod mallee; hummock-grass mallee; lowan mallee; broombush whipstick

Colours indicate possibility of Bomarea multiflora infesting these areas.

In the non-coloured areas the plant is unlikely to establish as the climate, soil or landuse is not presently suitable.

map showing the potential distribution of bomarea multiflora

Red= Very high	Orange = Medium
Yellow = High	Green = Likely

Impact

QUESTION	COMMENTS	RATING	CONFIDENCE
Social
1. Restrict human access?	Annual, climbing to 4m (Spencer 2005) with masses of wiry, twining stems that form a dense screen…but usually die back in winter (Bodkin 1986). May restrict human access at some times of the year.	MH	M
2. Reduce tourism?	Annual, climbing to 4m (Spencer 2005) with masses of wiry, twining stems that form a dense screen…but usually die back in winter (Bodkin 1986). Would be obvious to most visitors and could interfere with recreation, eg. Bushwalking, at some times of the year.	MH	M
3. Injurious to people?	Members of the genus contain a substance that causes contact dermatitis that presents with prominent erythema, scaling and peeling of the skin (Guin & Franks 2001). A major component in allergies.	MH	H
4. Damage to cultural sites?	Unknown if this plant has the ability to climb on built structures.	M	L
Abiotic
5. Impact flow?	Occurs in hedges and edges of woods and cloud forests (Lyshede 2002), in scrub on a roadside (Webb et al. 1988) and in remnant forest and shrubland interiors (Schmechel 2007). Requires well-drained soil (Bodkin 1986). Terrestrial species. Unlikely to impact flow.	L	MH
6. Impact water quality?	Annual, climbing to 4m (Spencer 2005) with masses of wiry, twining stems that form a dense screen…but usually die back in winter (Bodkin 1986). If able to grow close to waterways, deciduous leaves and stems may provide a large nutrient load. More information needed.	M	L
7. Increase soil erosion?	“Can smother and eventually destroy other plants. Form large masses which overtop and smother the supporting trees…Seedlings creep along the ground, strangling saplings and smother low growing species…Has the potential to seriously damage forests” (Environment Canterbury 2007). May kill native vegetation and prevent its regrowth. When it dies back in winter (Spencer 2005) it may leave large areas of soil open to erosion.	M	MH
8. Reduce biomass?	“Can smother and eventually destroy other plants. Form large masses which overtop and smother the supporting trees…Seedlings creep along the ground, strangling saplings and smother low growing species…Has the potential to seriously damage forests” (Environment Canterbury 2007). May kill trees and prevent their re-establishment, replacing trees with a more open community.	H	M
9. Change fire regime?	Unknown.	M	L
Community Habitat
10. Impact on composition (a) high value EVC	EVC = Lowland Forest (V); CMA = Port Phillip and Westernport; Bioregion = Gippsland Plain; M CLIMATE potential Minor displacement of some dominant or indicator spp. within any one strata layer	ML	H
(b) medium value EVC	EVC = Heathy Herb-rich Woodland (D); CMA = Glenelg Hopkins; Bioregion = Glenelg Plain; M CLIMATE potential Minor displacement of some dominant or indicator spp. within any one strata layer	ML	H
(c) low value EVC	EVC = Lowland Forest (LC); CMA = Glenelg Hopkins; Bioregion = Glenelg Plain; M CLIMATE potential Minor displacement of some dominant or indicator spp. within any one strata layer	ML	H
11. Impact on structure?	Annual, climbing to 4m (Spencer 2005) with masses of wiry, twining stems that form a dense screen…but usually die back in winter (Bodkin 1986). Rhizomatous perennial with root tubers (Hofreiter & Lyshede 2006). Large infestations in the canopy can alter light levels, kill mature trees and prevent seedlings from establishing (Environment Southland 2005). Grows up through the bush canopy, blocking light to the host tree (ORC 2006). Can smother and eventually destroy favourite plants in your garden. (Schmechel 2007). “Can smother and eventually destroy other plants. Form large masses which overtop and smother the supporting trees…Seedlings creep along the ground, strangling saplings and smother low growing species…Has the potential to seriously damage forests” (Environment Canterbury 2007). May have a major effect on all layers.	H	M
12. Effect on threatened flora?	“Can smother and eventually destroy other plants. Form large masses which overtop and smother the supporting trees…Seedlings creep along the ground, strangling saplings and smother low growing species…Has the potential to seriously damage forests” (Environment Canterbury 2007). May reduce the habitat of threatened species, but no specific information found.	MH	M
Fauna
13. Effect on threatened fauna?	“Can smother and eventually destroy other plants. Form large masses which overtop and smother the supporting trees…Seedlings creep along the ground, strangling saplings and smother low growing species…Has the potential to seriously damage forests” (Environment Canterbury 2007). May reduce the habitat of threatened species, but no specific information found.	MH	M
14. Effect on non-threatened fauna?	“Can smother and eventually destroy other plants. Form large masses which overtop and smother the supporting trees…Seedlings creep along the ground, strangling saplings and smother low growing species…Has the potential to seriously damage forests” (Environment Canterbury 2007). May seriously reduce available habitat for non-threatened fauna species.	MH	M
15. Benefits fauna?	Bright orange/red fleshy seeds (Environment Southland 2005). Seed spread by birds (Tripp 2007). Can be dispersed by birds over large distances (Environment Southland 2005). May provide some food for native birds.	MH	M
16. Injurious to fauna?	Members of the genus contain a substance that causes contact dermatitis that presents with prominent erythema, scaling and peeling of the skin (Guin & Franks 2001) in humans, however no information was found on other animals.	M	L
Pest Animal
17. Food source to pests?	Bright orange/red fleshy seeds (Environment Southland 2005). Seed spread by birds (Tripp 2007). Can be dispersed by birds over large distances (Environment Southland 2005). May provide some food for pest birds.	ML	M
18. Provides harbor?	Annual, climbing to 4m (Spencer 2005) with masses of wiry, twining stems that form a dense screen…but usually die back in winter (Bodkin 1986). May provide temporary harbour for foxes and rabbits.	MH	M
Agriculture
19. Impact yield?	Control of Bomarea is difficult and re-growth can occur from any root fragments left in the ground (Environment Southland 2005). Large infestations in the canopy can alter light levels, kill mature trees and prevent seedlings from establishing (Environment Southland 2005). Grows up through the bush canopy, blocking light to the host tree (ORC 2006). “Can smother and eventually destroy other plants. Form large masses which overtop and smother the supporting trees…Seedlings creep along the ground, strangling saplings and smother low growing species…Has the potential to seriously damage forests” (Environment Canterbury 2007). May have a serious impact on forestry, potentially making it unviable to grow trees due to the difficulty controlling this weed successfully.	H	M
20. Impact quality?	Not known to be a weed of agriculture (forestry aside). Not likely to impact quality.	L	ML
21. Affect land value?	Not known to be a weed of agriculture (forestry aside). Not likely reduce land value.	L	ML
22. Change land use?	Not known to be a weed of agriculture (forestry aside). Not likely to change land use.	L	ML
23. Increase harvest costs?	Not known to be a weed of agriculture (forestry aside). Not likely increase harvest costs.	L	ML
24. Disease host/vector?	Unknown.	M	L

Invasive

QUESTION	COMMENTS	RATING	CONFIDENCE
Establishment
1. Germination requirements?	Propagation by seed or division in early spring (Page & Olds 1988). Requires seasonal disturbance.	MH	M
2. Establishment requirements?	Sometimes grown in gardens in full sun to semi-shade (Spencer 2005). Grows under moderate canopy cover.	MH	M
3. How much disturbance is required?	Occurs on high mountains, in hedges and edges of woods and cloud forests (Lyshede 2002). A garden escape in New Zealand, occurring in scrub on a roadside (Webb et al. 1988). Invades remnant forest and shrubland interiors (Schmechel 2007). Establishes in highly disturbed natural ecosystems.	ML	MH
Growth/Competitive
4. Life form?	Annual, climbing to 4m (Spencer 2005). Rhizomatous perennial with root tubers (Hofreiter & Lyshede 2006). Geophytic climber.	ML	H
5. Allelopathic properties?	No information.	M	L
6. Tolerates herb pressure?	No information.	M	L
7. Normal growth rate?	Spreads rapidly (Tripp 2007). “Can smother and eventually destroy other plants. Form large masses which overtop and smother the supporting trees…Seedlings creep along the ground, strangling saplings and smother low growing species” (Environment Canterbury 2007). Rapid growth rate that outcompetes most other species.	H	M
8. Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc?	Well-drained soil, ample light, does not tolerate freezing soil, however will grow in cooler climates if roots are mulched (Bodkin 1986). Native to Venezuela where it occurs on high mountains (Lyshede 2002). The high mountain [Bomarea] species must be adapted to fierce winds, harsh sunlight and temperature differences as high as 40^oC within 24 hours (Hofreiter & Lyshede 2006). Low frost and waterlogging tolerance. Tolerance of drought, salinity and fire unknown.	M	L
Reproduction
9. Reproductive system	Propagate by seed or division (Bodkin 1986). Grows from small tubers (Tripp 2007).	H	M
10. Number of propagules produced?	Umbels of as many as 40 flowers (Chiltern Seeds 2008). Fruits are mostly many-seeded (Bayer 1998). Image (Ray Brown’s Gardening 2008) shows at least 20 fruits per umbel and at least 26 umbels in an area approx 10 x 10cm. A plant that climbs to 4m (Spencer 2005) with masses of wiry, twining stems that form a dense screen (Bodkin 1986) could be expected to bear at least 2000 seeds per flowering event.	H	M
11. Propagule longevity?	Unknown.	M	L
12. Reproductive period?	Unknown.	M	L
13. Time to reproductive maturity?	Unknown.	M	L
Dispersal
14. Number of mechanisms?	Bright orange/red fleshy seeds (Environment Southland 2005). Seed spread by birds (Tripp 2007). Can be dispersed by birds over large distances (Environment Southland 2005).	H	M
15. How far do they disperse?	Can be dispersed by birds over large distances (Environment Southland 2005). Very likely that at least one propagules will disperse greater than 1 km.	H	M

References

Bayer E. (1998) Alstromeriaceae in Kubitzki, K. (Ed.) The families and genera of vascular plants III : flowering plants, Monocotyledons, Liliacae (except Orchidaceae). Springer, Berlin.

Bodkin F. (1986) Encyclopaedia Botanica: The Essential Reference Guide to Native and Exotic Plants in Australia. Angus & Robertson.

Chiltern Seeds (2008) Bomarea caldasii, Available at www.edirectory.co.uk/chilternseeds (verified 13/6/08).

Environment Canterbury (2007) Latin vine creeps northward. In Living Here, Available at http://www.ecan.govt.nz/About+Us/Living+Here.htm (verified 13/6/08).

Environment Southland (2005) Weed of the month – July 2005 – Bomarea. Available at www.es.govt.nz/Departments/biosecurity/WOM/documents/July%202005%20-%20Bomarea.htm (verified 4/06/08).

Guin J.D. and Franks H. (2001) Fingertip dermatitis in a retail florist. Cutis 67(4): 328-330.

Hofreiter A. and Lyshede O.B. (2006) Functional leaf anatomy of Bomarea Mirb. (Alstroemeriaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 152: 73-90.

Lyshede O.B. (2002) comparative and functional leaf anatomy of selected Alstroemeriaceae of mainly Chilean origin. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 140: 261-272.

Otago Regional council (ORC) (2006) Pest Management Strategy for Otago. Available at www.orc.govt.nz/Documents/ContentDocuments/publications/pest_strategy/2006/intro.pdf (verified 13/6/08).

Page S and Olds M. (Eds.) (1998) Botanica 2nd Ed. Random House, Milsons Point, NSW, Australia

Ray Brown’s Gardening (2008) Climber seeds. Available at www.raybrowns.co.uk/climber-seeds.htm (verified 13/06/08).

Schmechel (2007) All posts in the topic gorgeous weed info - Bomarea multiflora – and DOC weed led program, Available at http://biodiversity.onlinegroups.net (verified 5/3/08).

Spencer R. (Ed.) (2005) Horticultural Flora of South-Eastern Australia Volume 5. Flowering Plants Monocotyledons. UNSW Press.

Tripp, S. (2007) All posts in the topic Bomarea multiflora, Available at http://biodiversity.onlinegroups.net (verified 5/3/08).

Webb CJ, Sykes WR and Garnock-Jones PJ. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4. Botany Division, Department of Scientific & Industrial Research, New Zealand. Available online at http://floraseries.landcareresearch.co.nz/pages/index.aspx

Global present distribution data references

Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (2008) Global biodiversity information facility, Available at http://www.gbif.org/ (verified 12/6/08).

Missouri Botanical Gardens (MBG) (2008) w³TROPICOS, Missouri Botanical Gardens Database, Available at http://mobot.mobot.org/W3T/Search/vast.html (viewed 12/6/08).

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