Invasiveness Assessment - Tufted honeyflower (Melianthus comosus) in Victoria (Nox)
Back | Table | Feedback
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 Tufted honeyflower.
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)
To view the information PDF requires the use of a PDF reader. This can be installed for free from the Adobe website (external link).
Common Name: Tufted honeyflower
Scientific name: Melianthus comosus
| Question | Comments | Reference | Rating |
| Establishment | |||
| Germination requirements? | “Seeds germinate at any time of the year if moisture is available”. | P & C (1992) | H |
| Establishment requirements? | Habitats appear to be ‘open’. (See picture P & C 1992 p.251). | P & C (1992) | ML |
| How much disturbance is required? | “It grows mainly in disturbed situations or degraded pasture”. | Everist (1981) | ML |
| Growth/Competitive | |||
| Life form? | Erect , much branched shrub. Other. | P & C (1992) | L |
| Allelopathic properties? | None described. |  | L |
| Tolerates herb pressure? | “The objectionable odour deters grazing animals and the plant is rarely eaten”. | P & C (1992) | MH |
| Normal growth rate? | “A rapid spreader which can quickly take over on arable land and seriously reduce production”. (Anon.) | Blood (n.d.) | MH |
| Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc? | Tolerant of water logging (occurs in permanent and seasonal streams). | Shearing & Van Heerdon (1994) | L |
| Reproduction | |||
| Reproductive system | Reproducing by seed and from the crown. | P & C (1992) | H |
| Number of propagules produced? | Fruit contains up to 8 seeds. | P & C (1992) | M |
| Propagule longevity? | ? | | M |
| Reproductive period? | Form “very dense clumps”. (See P & C 1992 p. 521). Monocultures. | P & C (1992) | H |
| Time to reproductive maturity? | “Flowers are not produced until plants are at least 2 years old”. | P & C (1992) | ML |
| Dispersal | |||
| Number of mechanisms? | Wind, water, contaminated agricultural produce, vehicles , > 200 m etc. | P & C (1992) | MH |
| How far do they disperse? | “Wind and water play important roles in dispersal because the bladder – like capsule containing seeds is light enough to be blown long distances and to float on water”. (P & C 1992). | P & C (1992) | MH |
Feedback
Do you have additional information about this plant that will improve the quality of the assessment?
If so, we would value your contribution. Click on the link to go to the feedback form.
© State of Victoria (Agriculture Victoria) 1996 - .
This work, Victorian Resources Online, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. You are free to re-use the work under that licence, on the condition that you credit the State of Victoria (Agriculture Victoria) as author, indicate if changes were made and comply with the other licence terms.
The licence does not apply to ‘branding’ or some ‘images or photographs’ that may be owned by third parties. We ask you to seek prior approval to use images using the VRO feedback form. Access to higher quality images can also be provided on request.
This page was last updated on .