Invasiveness Assessment - Flax-leaved broom (Genista linifolia) in Victoria (Nox)
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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 Flax-leaved broom.
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: Flax-Leaved broom
Scientific name: Genista linifolia
| Question | Comments | Reference | Rating |
| Establishment | |||
| Germination requirements? | Seeds germinate in autumn and spring. | P & C (1992) | MH |
| Establishment requirements? | Can establish under moderate canopy cover understorey shrub in many vegetation formations. | Carr et al (1992) Qarro & Hracherrass (1995) | MH |
| How much disturbance is required? | Establishes in minor disturbed natural ecosystems/healthy natural ecosystems, e.g. heathland, dry and damp sclerophyll forest and riparian vegetation. | Carr et al (1992) | H |
| Growth/Competitive | |||
| Life form? | Erect evergreen leguminous shrub. | P & C (1992) | MH |
| Allelopathic properties? | None described. |  | L |
| Tolerates herb pressure? | “Little grazed” consumed but not preferred. | P & C (1992) | MH |
| Normal growth rate? | “Plants develop slowly during the first year. They do not flower until at least two years old”. “A rapid” spreader which can crowd out pasture”. (Dept. Crown Lands and Survey. Vic. 1982). | P & C (1992) | MH |
| Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc? | Tolerant of drought, water logging? (Occurs in riparian vegetation): fire (regenerates prolifically from soil-stored seed after fire). | Gonzalez & Ortiz (1996) Carr et al (1992) RPPSWG (1991) | ML |
| Reproduction | |||
| Reproductive system | Reproducing by seed. | P & C (1992) | ML |
| Number of propagules produced? | Bush contains > 2000 flowers (see pic. P & C 1992 p. 476 & 477). Therefore > 2000 seeds. | P & C (1992) | H |
| Propagule longevity? | ? | | M |
| Reproductive period? | Forms impenetrable thickets (not really monocultures though). However, as it is a shrub it is likely to produce propagules for between 3-> 10 years. | P & C (1992) | MH |
| Time to reproductive maturity? | Plants do not flower until at least two years old. | P & C (1992) | ML |
| Dispersal | |||
| Number of mechanisms? | Seeds are ejected some distance from pods in summer. Seeds are spread by vehicles, could disperse > 200 m, produce, mud, etc. | P & C (1992) | MH |
| How far do they disperse? | Most seeds would be ejected < 20 m. | | MH |
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