Chilean flame creeper (Tropaeolum speciosum)

Present distribution

Scientific name:	Tropaeolum speciosum Poepp. & Endl.
Common name(s):	Chilean flame creeper

This weed is not known to be naturalised in Victoria

Habitat:

A fast growing vines species it is reported to invade forest, woodland, shrubland and temperate rainforest (Buchanan-Dunlop 1997; Mulligan 1981; Webb, Sykes & Garnock-Jones 1988).

Potential distribution

Potential distribution produced from CLIMATE modelling refined by applying suitable landuse and vegetation type overlays with CMA boundaries

Map Overlays Used

Land Use:
Forestry

Broad vegetation types
Coastal; grassy/heathy dry forest; lowland forest; foothills forest; forby forest; damp forest; riparian; wet forest; rainforest; rocky outcrop shrubland; western plains woodland; alluvial plains woodland; ironbark/box; riverine woodland/forest; chenopod shrubland;

Colours indicate possibility of Tropaeolum speciosum infesting these areas.

In the non-coloured areas the plant is unlikely to establish as the climate, soil or landuse is not presently suitable.

map showing the potential distribution of Chilean flame creeper

Red= Very high	Orange = Medium
Yellow = High	Green = Likely

Impact

QUESTION	COMMENTS	RATING	CONFIDENCE
Social
1. Restrict human access?	Twining perennial climber with slender stems (Webb et al. 1988). Found in forest and woodland situations (HRC 2003, ARC 2003, Mulligan 1981) where it uses trees & shrubs for support. Unlikely to contribute to restricting human access in such situations. At lower levels, it may be a minor nuisance.	ml	m
2. Reduce tourism?	In natural ecosystems, during flowering period the showy nature of the plant would be obvious to visitors, but its presence is not likely to affect recreation.	ml	l
3. Injurious to people?	Not documented as toxic.	l	l
4. Damage to cultural sites?	A climbing herb with slender stems, it is not noted to cause structural damage. Its presence may have moderate negative visual impact.	ml	l
Abiotic
5. Impact flow?	Terrestrial species (Webb et al. 1988); does not affect water flow.	l	mh
6. Impact water quality?	Terrestrial species (Webb et al. 1988); does not impact on water quality.	L	mh
7. Increase soil erosion?	Where it is known as a weed in New Zealand, it occurs in forest clearings or disturbed shrubland (HRC 2003, ARC 2003). A climber, it is unlikely to contribute to increased soil erosion.	l	m
8. Reduce biomass?	Initially, biomass would increase. However, over time tree or shrub death may occur due to the smothering effect of the vine (CCC 2003). Biomass slightly decreased.	mh	m
9. Change fire regime?	Slender stems with water sap (NZPCN 2005); even with significant vegetative cover this plant can produce it would be difficult to burn. Unlikely to change fire regime.	l	m
Community Habitat
10. Impact on composition (a) high value EVC	EVC= Lowland forest (V); CMA= Corangamite; Bioreg=Warrnambool Plain; H CLIMATE potential. Can grow to at least 10 m tall and can suppress and replace native species by shading and smothering.(Environment Waikato 2006). “Climbs up forest canopy, causes canopy collapse and die-back” (Griggs 2006). Blocks light reaching the forest floor, making it difficult for seedlings to germinate (CCC 2003). Potentially serious effects on all layers, though unlikely to establish monoculture. Therefore the species is considered to have the potential to cause major displacement of dominant species within a strata.	mh	mh
(b) medium value EVC	EVC= Valley Grassy Forest (D); CMA= East Gippsland; Bioreg= East Gippsland Lowlands; H CLIMATE potential. Can grow to at least 10 m tall and can suppress and replace native species by shading and smothering.(Environment Waikato 2006). “Climbs up forest canopy, causes canopy collapse and die-back” (Griggs 2006). Blocks light reaching the forest floor, making it difficult for seedlings to germinate (CCC 2003). Potentially serious effects on all layers, though unlikely to establish monoculture. Therefore the species is considered to have the potential to cause major displacement of dominant species within a strata.	mh	mh
(c) low value EVC	EVC= Damp forest (LC); CMA= East Gippsland; Bioreg= East Gippsland Lowlands; H CLIMATE potential. Can grow to at least 10 m tall and can suppress and replace native species by shading and smothering.(Environment Waikato 2006). “Climbs up forest canopy, causes canopy collapse and die-back” (Griggs 2006). Blocks light reaching the forest floor, making it difficult for seedlings to germinate (CCC 2003). Potentially serious effects on all layers, though unlikely to establish monoculture. Therefore the species is considered to have the potential to cause major displacement of dominant species within a strata.	mh	mh
11. Impact on structure?	Can grow to at least 10 m tall and can suppress and replace native species by shading and smothering.(Environment Waikato 2006). “Climbs up forest canopy, causes canopy collapse and die-back” (Griggs 2006). remnant stands of forest, also scrub, sometimes found in more remote forest clearings (NZPCN 2005). Blocks light reaching the forest floor, making it difficult for seedlings to germinate (CCC 2003). Potentially serious effects on all layers, though unlikely to establish monoculture. Requires other trees and shrubs for structure.	mh	m
12. Effect on threatened flora?	No examples of this plant creating additional threats to threatened flora in Victoria.	mh	l
Fauna
13. Effect on threatened fauna?	No examples of this plant creating additional threats to threatened fauna in Victoria.	mh	l
14. Effect on non-threatened fauna?	No known effects. Potential for reduction in food source for some herbivores where plant has simplified vegetation structure through heavy shading or competition.	ml	l
15. Benefits fauna?	Birds are known to disperse fruits (NZPCN 2005, Webb et al. 1988, Environment Waikato 2006). May provide alternative food source to native birds.	mh	m
16. Injurious to fauna?	No documented effects.	m	l
Pest Animal
17. Food source to pests?	Fruit is dispersed by birds (NZPCN 2005, Webb et al. 1988, Environment Waikato 2006); may provide food source to bird pests.	ml	m
18. Provides harbour?	Climbing, deciduous perennial herb (Webb et al. 1988). May provide harbour to pest birds at certain times of year.	ml	m
Agriculture
19. Impact yield?	Not known or documented as a weed of agriculture.	l	l
20. Impact quality?	Not known or documented as a weed of agriculture.	l	l
21. Affect land value?	Not known or documented as a weed of agriculture.	l	l
22. Change land use?	Not known to occur in agricultural situations; unlikely to cause changes to land use.	l	l
23. Increase harvest costs?	Not known or documented as a weed of agriculture.	l	l
24. Disease host/vector?	None described.	l	l

Invasive

QUESTION	COMMENTS	RATING	CONFIDENCE
Establishment
1. Germination requirements?	Plant seeds in Autumn (Toogood 1999). In cultivation, it is recommended seed is sown in autumn or early winter (Mulligan 1981). Requires natural seasonal disturbance; temperature / rainfall.	mh	m
2. Establishment requirements?	Semi shade is suitable (Jones & Gray 1988). In New Zealand, it is recorded to occur in disturbed forest and shrubland (HRC, 2003). Access to light for germination and establishment, though in forest situations likely to be tolerant of some shade.	mh	m
3. How much disturbance is required?	Found in disturbed forest and scrub, gardens and garden wasted dump sites (CCC 2003), disturbed forest and shrubland (HRC 2003) and forest clearings (Webb et al, 1988). Assume more than natural disturbance.	ml	m
Growth/Competitive
4. Life form?	Rhizomatous (Mulligan 1981), perennial deciduous vine (Biosecurity New Zealand 2006). Geophyte, climber.	ml	m
5. Allelopathic properties?	None described	l	l
6. Tolerates herb pressure?	Rootstock resprouts (HRC 2003).Slugs consume new growth (Mulligan 1981). Not documented to be consumed by herbivores or attacked by insects. Deciduous creeper; consider not seriously affected by herbivory.	h	l
7. Normal growth rate?	Climbs rapidly (Biosecurity New Zealand 2006), though not documented comparatively to other similar lifeforms. Assume similar growth rate.	mh	m
8. Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc?	Tolerates wind, salt, cold and drought (CCC 2003). The genus is recommended for coastal planting (Gildmeister 2004). But Jones & Gray (1988) note that, “Plants need well-drained…soils… and do not like to dry out”. Noted to establish and grow well in north west Scotland (Buchanan-Dunlop, 1997). Tolerant of two stressors, susceptible to drought or waterlogging.	mi	m
Reproduction
9. Reproductive system	Seed (Mulligan 1981) and stem fragments (Biosecurity New Zealand 2006); propagate by layering (Toogood 1999); able to replicate through tuberous root system (Environment Waikato 2006; Mulligan 1981). Sexual and vegetative reproduction, however, vegetative reproduction likely to be due to human agency. Toogood (1999) comments that most tropaeolums resent root disturbance, so cultivation is unlikely to spread the plant to new areas.	ml	m
10. Number of propagules produced?	Sets plenty of seed (Buchanan-Dunlop 1997). Photographs of plants in gardens demonstrate the generous level of flower production (hundreds?) which, in New Zealand, lasts for six months. Two berries per flower above 2000 seeds.	h	mh
11. Propagule longevity?	Short viability (Toogood 1999).	l	m
12. Reproductive period?	Moderately long-lived (HRC 2003). From seed, plants can take 3–5 years to reproduce (Toogood 1999); consider plant continues to reproduce beyond 10 years.	h	m
13. Time to reproductive maturity?	Seed-raised plants may take 3-5 years to bloom (Toogood 1999).	ml	m
Dispersal
14. Number of mechanisms?	Ornithochory (Bird dispersal) is reported to be this species dispersal mechanism (Armesto & Rozzi 1989). Webb et al. (1988) note that birds probably delivered seed to previously unaffected areas.	h	h
15. How far do they disperse?	The species is bird dispersed and is reported to have invaded remote forest clearings (Armesto & Rozzi 1989; Webb, Sykes & Garnock-Jones 1988). Remote suggests that the species is being dispersed and then able to establish in areas more than 1 km away from the parent plant.	h	m

References

Armesto JJ, Rozzi R, (1989) Seed dispersal syndromes in the rain forest of Chiloé: evidence for the importance of biotic dispersal in a temperate rain forest. Journal of Biogeography 16, 219-226.

Biosecurity New Zealand, (2006) ‘Chilean flame creeper,’ Biosecurity New Zealand, Wellington, Available at http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/pest-and-disease-response/pests-and-diseases-watchlist/chilean-flame-creeper, (verified 18 October 2006).

Buchanan-Dunlop G, (1997) Miscellaneous note 4: Tropaeolum – notes on the cultivation of some Chilean species. The New Plantsman 4, 244-247.

Christchurch City Council (CCC) (2003) ‘Chilean Flame Creeper,’ Christchurch City Council, New Zealand, Available at http://www.ccc.govt.nz/parks/TheEnvironment/WeedGuide/PDF/Mar2003.pdf, (verified 18 October 2006).

Environment Waikato (2006) ‘Chilean flame creeper Tropaeolum speciosum,‘ Environment Waikato, Hamilton East, New Zealand, Available at http://www.ew.govt.nz/policyandplans/rpmsintro/rpms2002/operative5.2.3.htm, (verified 18 October 2006).

Griggs K, (2006) ‘Kiwi Kids tackle rampant forest weed,’ The Science Site, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand, Available at http://www.thesciencesite.info/archives/kids_tackle_weeds.pdf (verified 18 October 2006)

Horizons Regional Council (HRC) (2003) ‘Chilean Flame Creeper,’ Horizons Regional Council, Palmerston North, NZ, Available at http://www.horizons.govt.nz/images/Chilean%20Flame%20Creeper.pdf (verified 9 November 2006).

Mullligan B, (1981) ‘Connoisseurs’ Plants,’ Pacific Horticulture 42, 16-18.

New Zealand Plant Conservation Network (NZPCN) (2006) ‘’Exotic Plant life and weeds,’ New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, Wellington, New Zealand, Available at http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/exotic_plant_life_and_weeds/detail.asp?WeedID=198, (verified 18 October 2006).

Webb CJ, Sykes WR, Garnock-Jones PJ, (1988) Flora of New Zealand, Vol 4, Botany Division, Department of Scientific & Industrial Research, New Zealand.

Global present distribution data references

Chile Flora, Online http://www.chileflora.com/index.html

Christchurch City Council (CCC) 2003, ‘Chilean Flame Creeper,’ Christchurch City Council, New Zealand, Available at http://www.ccc.govt.nz/parks/TheEnvironment/WeedGuide/PDF/Mar2003.pdf, (verified 18 October 2006).

Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) 2007, Global biodiversity information facility, Available at http://www.gbif.org/ (verified 11 December 2007).

New Zealand Plant Conservation Network (NZPCN) 2006, ‘’Exotic Plant life and weeds,’ New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, Wellington, New Zealand, Available at http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/exotic_plant_life_and_weeds/detail.asp?WeedID=198, (verified 18 October 2006).

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