Kniphofia uvaria Risk – California Invasive Plant Council

Created by: Ramona Robison
Created on: Tuesday, Sep 20th, 2016

Evaluation Summary

Summary:

General Evaluation Information

Date of Evaluation:

October 1, 2016

Evaluation Time (hrs):

3 Hours

Evaluation Status:

Completed

Plant Information

Plant:

Kniphofia uvaria

Plant Material:

If the plant is a cultivar, and if the cultivar's behavior differs from its parent's (behavior), explain how:

Regional Information

Region Name:

California

Climate Matching Map

These maps were built using a toolkit created in collaboration between GreenInfo Network, PlantRight, Cal-IPC, and Agricultural Sustainability Institute at UC Davis.

Link to Climate Matching Map:

Climate Matching Maps PDF:

Invasive History and Climate Matching

1. Has the species (or cultivar or variety, if applicable; applies to subsequent "species" questions) become naturalized where it is not native?

Yes or No:

Yes

Points:

Confidence Level:

High

Answer / Justification:

Naturalized in California in 11 counties according to Calflora. Also Naturalised in some parts of south-eastern Australia (i.e. on the central and southern tablelands of New South Wales and in southern Victoria). Possibly also naturalised in south-eastern South Australia (Queensland Government) as well as New Zealand, Europe, Central and South America (GBIF).

Reference(s):

Calflora (2015). Calflora.

Queensland Government (2011). Weeds of Australia Biosecurity Queensland Edition.

GBIF (0). Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).

2. Is the species (or cultivar or variety) noted as being naturalized in the US or world in a similar climate?

Yes or No:

Yes

Points:

Confidence Level:

High

Answer / Justification:

Reference(s):

-IPC, C. (2016). Cal-IPC global map of climate areas matching California.

GBIF (0). Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).

Queensland Government (2011). Weeds of Australia Biosecurity Queensland Edition.

3. Is the species (or cultivar or variety) noted as being invasive in the U.S. or world?

Yes or No:

Yes

Points:

Confidence Level:

High

Answer / Justification:

K. uvaria is listed in Randall (2012) as an environmental weed or as naturalized. It is considered an environmental weed in Australia, and has spread into natural areas where it forms thick clumps of vegetation and threatens sensitive ecosystems (Victorian and Queensland Government).

Reference(s):

Randall, R. (2012). A Global Compendium of Weeds. 2nd Edition..

Victoria Dept. of Environment and Primary Industries (2015). Victorian Invasive Plants.

Queensland Government (2011). Weeds of Australia Biosecurity Queensland Edition.

4. Is the species (or cultivar or variety) noted as being invasive in the US or world in a similar climate?

Yes or No:

Yes

Points:

Confidence Level:

High

Answer / Justification:

Reference(s):

Randall, R. (2012). A Global Compendium of Weeds. 2nd Edition..

Victoria Dept. of Environment and Primary Industries (2015). Victorian Invasive Plants.

Queensland Government (2011). Weeds of Australia Biosecurity Queensland Edition.

-IPC, C. (2016). Cal-IPC global map of climate areas matching California.

5. Are other species of the same genus (or closely related genera) invasive in a similar climate?

Yes or No:

Points:

Confidence Level:

High

Answer / Justification:

The species of Kniphofia in Randall (2012), other than K. uvaria, are listed as naturalized or weeds, not as environmental weeds, invasive or noxious.

Reference(s):

Randall, R. (2012). A Global Compendium of Weeds. 2nd Edition..

6. Is the species (or cultivar or variety) found predominately in a climate matching the region of concern?

Yes or No:

Points:

Confidence Level:

High

Answer / Justification:

Almost all of the areas outside California where K. uvaria occurs do not match the climate of California according to the Cal-IPC climate map.

Reference(s):

-IPC, C. (2016). Cal-IPC global map of climate areas matching California.

GBIF (0). Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).

Impact on Native Plants and Animals

7. Does this plant displace native plants and dominate (overtop or smother) the plant community in areas where it has established?

Yes or No:

Yes

Points:

Confidence Level:

Medium

Answer / Justification:

In Australia, K. uvaria is considered an environmental weed and has spread into natural areas where it forms thick clumps of vegetation and threatens sensitive ecosystems (Queensland Government).

Reference(s):

Queensland Government (2011). Weeds of Australia Biosecurity Queensland Edition.

8. Is the plant noted as promoting fire and/or changing fire regimes?

Yes or No:

Points:

Confidence Level:

Medium

Answer / Justification:

Reported to respond to fire, (increased flowering). No evidence reported of the species altering the fire regime of an area (Victorian Government).

Reference(s):

Victoria Dept. of Environment and Primary Industries (2015). Victorian Invasive Plants.

9. Is the plant a health risk to humans or animals/fish? Has the species been noted as impacting grazing systems?

Yes or No:

Yes

Points:

Confidence Level:

High

Answer / Justification:

Kniphofias contain knipholone compounds, making them toxic if eaten. Kniphofias can also cause eye and skin irritation (Kew Science http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/plants-fungi/kniphofia-caulescens-lesotho-red-hot-poker).

Reference(s):

10. Does the plant produce impenetrable thickets, blocking or slowing movement of animals, livestock, or humans?

Yes or No:

Points:

Confidence Level:

Medium

Answer / Justification:

Can grow in riparian areas, however only grows to 120 cm and the leaves only have minor serrations. Therefore only has minimal nuisance factor (Victorian Government). In Queensland it has spread into natural areas where it forms thick clumps of vegetation and threatens sensitive ecosystems (Queensland Government). Jepson eFlora lists it as growing to 130 cm (51 inches), but there are no reports of it forming impenetrable thickets.

Reference(s):

Victoria Dept. of Environment and Primary Industries (2015). Victorian Invasive Plants.

Jepson Flora Project (2014). Jepson eFlora.

Queensland Government (2011). Weeds of Australia Biosecurity Queensland Edition.

Reproductive Strategies

11. Does this species (or cultivar or variety) reproduce and spread vegetatively?

Yes or No:

Yes

Points:

Confidence Level:

High

Answer / Justification:

Produces seed and spreads by rhizomes (Victorian Government).

Reference(s):

Victoria Dept. of Environment and Primary Industries (2015). Victorian Invasive Plants.

12. If naturally detached fragments from this plant are capable of producing new plants, is this a common method of reproduction for the plant?

Yes or No:

Yes

Points:

Confidence Level:

Medium

Answer / Justification:

Produces seed and spreads by rhizomes (Victorian Government).

Reference(s):

Victoria Dept. of Environment and Primary Industries (2015). Victorian Invasive Plants.

13. Does the species (or cultivar or variety) commonly produce viable seed?

Yes or No:

Yes

Points:

Confidence Level:

High

Answer / Justification:

In Australia, plants were documented producing viable seed. Gardeners also propagate the plant by seed.

Reference(s):

Conran, J. G. (1987). The Genus Kniphofia Moench Aloeaceae in Australia. Muelleria. 6, 307–310.

Dave's Garden (2015). Dave's Garden.

14. Does this plant produce copious viable seeds each year (> 1000)?

Yes or No:

Yes

Points:

Confidence Level:

High

Answer / Justification:

In Australia, plants were able to produce over 9,000 (estimated) seeds per plant.

Reference(s):

Conran, J. G. (1987). The Genus Kniphofia Moench Aloeaceae in Australia. Muelleria. 6, 307–310.

15. Is there significant germination (>25%) of seeds the next growing season, with no requirement of an infrequent environmental condition for seeds to germinate (i.e. fire) or long dormancy period?

Yes or No:

Yes

Points:

Confidence Level:

High

Answer / Justification:

In Australia, seed germination of a naturalized population was estimated to be 82%.

Reference(s):

Conran, J. G. (1987). The Genus Kniphofia Moench Aloeaceae in Australia. Muelleria. 6, 307–310.

16. Does this plant produce viable seed within the first three years (for an herbaceous species) to five years (for a woody species) after germination?

Yes or No:

Yes

Points:

Confidence Level:

Medium

Answer / Justification:

Vegetative propagules can flower the first year after they are planted (Dave’s garden). Therefore presumed under natural conditions plants can reach maturity within 1-2 years (Victorian Government).

Reference(s):

Victoria Dept. of Environment and Primary Industries (2015). Victorian Invasive Plants.

Dave's Garden (2015). Dave's Garden.

17. Does this plant continuously produce seed for >3 months each year or does seed production occur more than once a year?

Yes or No:

Yes

Points:

Confidence Level:

Medium

Answer / Justification:

In California, K. uvaria blooms from April to July, covering greater than 3 months, and is a prolific seed producer.

Reference(s):

Jepson Flora Project (2014). Jepson eFlora.

Conran, J. G. (1987). The Genus Kniphofia Moench Aloeaceae in Australia. Muelleria. 6, 307–310.

Dispersal

18. Are the plant’s propagules frequently dispersed long distance (>100 m) by mammals or birds or via domestic animals?

Yes or No:

Points:

Confidence Level:

High

Answer / Justification:

K. uvaria seeds are dispersed by wind and there is not information available on their dispersal by birds or animals.

Reference(s):

19. Are the plant’s propagules frequently dispersed long distance (>100 m) by wind or water?

Yes or No:

Yes

Points:

Confidence Level:

Medium

Answer / Justification:

K. uvaria has small (3 mm long) seeds which are dispersed by wind, however they don’t have any specialised structures to aid this. Therefore it is presumed seeds are capable of dispersing to a distance in the range of 200 m-1 km (Victorian Government).

Reference(s):

Victoria Dept. of Environment and Primary Industries (2015). Victorian Invasive Plants.

20. Are the plant’s propagules frequently dispersed via contaminated seed (agriculture or wildflower packets), equipment, vehicles, boats or clothing/shoes?

Yes or No:

Points:

Confidence Level:

Medium

Answer / Justification:

K. uvaria seeds are dispersed by wind and there is not information available on their dispersal by contaminated seed, equipment, vehicles, boats or clothing.

Reference(s):

Evaluation Notes

DAISIE: http://www.europe-aliens.org/speciesFactsheet.do?speciesId=2620#

Victorian WRA: http://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/weeds_red-ho...

Queensland: http://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/kniphofia_uvaria...

Kew Science: http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/plants-fungi/kniphofia-caulescen...

Reviewed by Irina Irvine and Denise Knapp.

Total PRE Score