Invasiveness assessment - Caper spurge (Euphorbia lathyris) in Victoria
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Plant invasiveness is determined by evaluating a plant’s biological and ecological characteristics against criteria that encompass establishment requirements, growth rate and competitive ability, methods of reproduction, and dispersal mechanisms.
| Each characteristic, or criterion, is assessed against a list of intensity ratings. Depending upon information found, a rating of Low, Medium Low, Medium High or High is assigned to that criterion. Where no data is available to answer a criterion, a rating of medium (M) is applied. A description of the invasiveness criteria and intensity ratings used in this process can be viewed here. |
The following table provides information on the invasiveness of Caper spurge.
A more detailed description of the methodology of the Victorian Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) method can be viewed below:
Victorian Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) method (PDF - 630 KB)
Victorian Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) method (DOC - 1 MB)
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Common Name: Caper Spurge
Scientific name: Euphorbia lathyris
| Question | Comments | Rating | Confidence |
| Establishment | |||
| Germination requirements? | Can germinate from autumn to early summer with most germinating in spring (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2001). | MH | MH |
| Establishment requirements? | Reported to invade warm temperate rainforest (Carr, Yugovic & Robinson 1992). The species is largely reported in disturbed areas such as gardens and roadsides; it is also however reported to have a preference for riparian areas (Butcher 1961; Parsons & Cuthbertson 2001; Webb, Sykes & Garnock-Jones 1988). Therefore the species can establish under shade but may however have a moisture requirement. | MH | MH |
| How much disturbance is required? | Commonly reported to occur in waste places and disturbed areas, it is reported to invade riparian vegetation and warm temperate rainforest (Butcher 1961; Carr, Yugovic & Robinson 1992; Parsons & Cuthbertson 2001; Webb, Sykes & Garnock-Jones 1988). | MH | MH |
| Growth/Competitive | |||
| Life form? | Other. The species is a “biennial semi-herbaceous ruderal plant” (Häring & Körner 2004). | L | H |
| Allelopathic properties? | Unknown; another species of the genus E. esula is reported to display minor allelopathic properties (Steenhagen. & Zimdahl. 1979). | M | L |
| Tolerates herb pressure? | While toxic to most species, it is reportedly eaten by goats (Fuller & McClintock 1986; Parsons & Cuthbertson 2001). | MH | MH |
| Normal growth rate? | Growth fairly rapid (Bayley 1941) Reported to be a poor competitor against weeds when cultivated when investigated as a potential biomass crop (Garcia-Baudin et al 1985). It is not completely understood why the species was a poor competitor in cultivation however with a report of having rapid growth the species is considered to have a growth rate comparative with most other species of the same life form. | M | MH |
| Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc? | Reported to be tolerant to salinity (Kingsolver 1982). Reported to be tolerant of temperatures of -25ºC (Dave’s garden 2007) Is not a xerophytic species adapted to arid conditions (Kingsolver 1982). Therefore the species is not considered tolerant of drought. Therefore the species is highly tolerant of one, tolerant of another, susceptible to another and unknown tolerance to fire and waterlogging. | M | MH |
| Reproduction | |||
| Reproductive system | The species reproduces sexually, producing seed (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2001). The species’ flowers can be self- or crosspollinated (von der Ohe 1991). | ML | H |
| Number of propagules produced? | Each fruit contains three seeds (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2001). A plant has been observed with more than 30 fruits (Hondelmann & Strauss 1990). Therefore the species is capable of producing more than 50 seeds, but is unlikely to produce more than 1000 seeds. | ML | MH |
| Propagule longevity? | Unknown; Seeds can be successfully stored for one year. Mechanical damage (e.g. scarification) to the seed coat can make the seed unviable (Kingsolver 1982). | M | L |
| Reproductive period? | There is some conflicting evidence on the lifespan of the species. Parsons & Cuthbertson (2001) report that after flowering the plants will die the following autumn or winter. Carr et al (1992) and Spencer (2002) report the species to be perennial. Most however report the species to be an annual or biennial. | L | MH |
| Time to reproductive maturity? | Plants that have germinated in autumn and spring can flower by the summer (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2001). | H | MH |
| Dispersal | |||
| Number of mechanisms? | The species has an initial explosive release of the seeds which then may be dispersed in water or in mud which is externally transported by animals or on or in vehicles (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2001). | MH | MH |
| How far do they disperse? | Unknown. | M | L |
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