Invasiveness Assessment - Subterranean cape sedge (Trianoptiles solitaria) 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 Subterranean cape sedge.
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 - 1026 KB)
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Common Name: Subterranean cape sedge
Scientific Name: Trianoptiles solitaria
| Question | Comments | Rating | Confidence |
| Establishment | |||
| Germination requirements? | Leafy tufted annual, flowers in spring (Walsh & Entwisle 1994). Specific data on germination requirements lacking. Assume annual germination cycle due to seasonal conditions. | MH | MH |
| Establishment requirements? | In Koonung Creek, Balwyn, Victoria (the only known site where the plant has naturalised) it grows on a steep, grassed area. The grass (Pennisetum clandestinum) is dense and lush growth obscures the presence of T. solitaria (Hansford pers coms). In spite of this the herb persists. Likely to establish under moderate canopy or litter cover. | MH | M |
| How much disturbance is required? | When first found in Melbourne the site was considered degraded (Stajsic & Albrecht 1992). The infestation persists, but there is no evidence that it has spread into undisturbed areas or moved beyond the site (Hansford pers coms). Consider that some degree of disturbance may be required. | ML | MH |
| Growth/Competitive | |||
| Life form? | Annual sedge from the Cyperaceae family. “…some of their fruits are formed and ripen underground; they are the “tubers” of the Flora Capensis,” (Riley 1963). Consider a geophyte. | ML | MH |
| Allelopathic properties? | None described. | L | L |
| Tolerates herb pressure? | No data available. | M | L |
| Normal growth rate? | No data available. | M | L |
| Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc? | Within its native range it is most commonly found in ‘damp flats’ (Bond & Goldblatt 1984). Response to stressors not documented. | L | L |
| Reproduction | |||
| Reproductive system | Annual. Sexual reproduction only (Phillips 1951). No data on selfing, however, the plant produces both bisexual aerial and female basal spikelets. Assume the basal spikelets are fertile > clonal. | ML | MH |
| Number of propagules produced? | No data available. From figure in Stajsic & Albrecht (1992) assume <1000 propagules per plant. | ML | MH |
| Propagule longevity? | No data available. | M | L |
| Reproductive period? | No data available. | M | L |
| Time to reproductive maturity? | Small tufted annual (Phillips 1951). Reaches maturity in < one year. | H | MH |
| Dispersal | |||
| Number of mechanisms? | “…there is undoubtedly [sic] great potential for the fruit to be dispersed [sic] beyond this site if attached to machinery or footwear,” (Stajsic & Albrecht 1992) Such dispersal has not been demonstrated yet. The aerial fruits are described as ‘plumose’ (feather-like hairs branching from a central stem). Such fruits may attach to humans or animals. | ML | MH |
| How far do they disperse? | No data available. Attached to humans or animals, possibly 200 metres, but potential much greater. | M | L |
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