Invasiveness Assessment - Cape tulip (two leaf) (Moraea miniata) 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 Cape tulip (two leaf).
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: Cape tulip (one leaf)
Scientific name: Moraea miniata
| Question | Comments | Reference | Rating |
| Establishment | |||
| Germination requirements? | Life cycle of H. miniata is much the same as H. flaccida, though H. miniata does not produce viable seed. Reproduction is from corms only. “…corms germinate after autumn rains.” | Parsons & Cuthbertson (2001) | MH |
| Establishment requirements? | “It does not establish well on shaded sites,” but as a weed of grazing it does establish in pastures. | Parsons & Cuthbertson (2001) | MH |
| How much disturbance is required? | “Occurs in semi-arid and sub-humid subtropical scrublands.” Establishes in grazed pastures where there is ample light and little competition. Disturbed situation. | Parsons & Cuthbertson (2001) | ML |
| Growth/Competitive | |||
| Life form? | Perennial herb reproducing from corms. Geophyte | Parsons & Cuthbertson (2001) | ML |
| Allelopathic properties? | No allelopathic properties described. |  | L |
| Tolerates herb pressure? | “…the weed is generally avoided by grazing animals. This avoidance… encourages the weed to persist.” Consumed but not preferred. | Parsons & Cuthbertson (2001) | MH |
| Normal growth rate? | “Patches can be very dense with almost 7,000 corms per square metre recorded in some areas.” With such dense infestations, the plant would take advantage of moisture and nutrients to the detriment of other species, retarding their growth. Growth rate possibly equal to similar species. | Parsons & Cuthbertson (2001) | MH |
| Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc? | A recommended method of control is to use fire to clear debris from the infested area. This will maximise the amount of rainfall taken up by the soil and stimulate germination. Additionally, it is thought that burning has some direct stimulation on germination. Corms survive low intensity (grass) fires. In ornamental situations, it is recommended to protect bulbs from frost. | Parsons & Cuthbertson (2001) ABC Flora | L |
| Reproduction | |||
| Reproductive system | Reproduces by cormils that are produced in leaf axils, and around the main corm at the base of the plant. Vegetative reproduction only. | Parsons & Cuthbertson (2001) | MH |
| Number of propagules produced? | “It is estimated that in an established patch of two-leaf cape tulip there can be up to 200,000 cormils per square metre.” Plants produce large numbers of propagules, possibly more than 2,000 per plant. | Parsons & Cuthbertson (2001) | H |
| Propagule longevity? | “The cormils of two-leaf cape tulip live longer than the seed of the one-leaf species, and may remain dormant in soil for at least 8 years.” Long-lived propagules. | Parsons & Cuthbertson (2001) | ML |
| Reproductive period? | Plants are 2 to 3 years old before they flower and produce seeds. (Two-leaf cape tulip produces seed, but it is not viable.) Seedling plants produce cormils. “… established infestations of cape tulip consist of plants of varying maturity, from non-flowering seedlings and plants 1 or 2 years old, to flowering plants 2 or 3 years old and older.” Plants produce propagules for more than 3 years. | Parsons & Cuthbertson (2001) | MH |
| Time to reproductive maturity? | Seedling plants produce cormils. Produces viable propagules in less than one year. | Parsons & Cuthbertson (2001) | H |
| Dispersal | |||
| Number of mechanisms? | As with one leaf cape tulip, “The dried plants, with seed capsules intact, break off at ground level and are blown about by wind and carried in running water.” | Parsons & Cuthbertson (2001) | MH |
| How far do they disperse? | “… the most important method of dispersal at present is in hay or silage cut from infested paddocks.” Distribution of propagules in such material would extend beyond one kilometre. | Parsons & Cuthbertson (2001) | H |
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