Scientific name

Montanoa hibiscifoliaBenth.

Synonyms

Eriocoma hibiscifolia (Benth.) Kuntze

Common names

Bush daisy Anzac flower, montanoa, tree daisy, treedaisy

Family

Asteraceae (Compositae)

Origin

Montanoa hibiscifolia is native to Mexico and Central America.

Naturalised distribution (global)

Locations within which Montanoa hibiscifolia is naturalised include South Africa, eastern Africa and some oceanic islands with warm climates.

Introduced, naturalised or invasive in East Africa

Montanoa hibiscifolia is present Uganda and is invasive in parts of Tanzania (A.B.R. Witt pers. obs.). The editors are not aware of references to this species in the wild in Kenya.

Habitat

Montanoa hibiscifolia has escaped from cultivation to become weedy in savanna vegetation, river banks, gullies, in rainforest margins and on roadsides.

Description

Montanoa hibiscifolia is a shrub that scarcely branches and grows up to 6 metres high.

Leaves of M. hibiscifolia are dark green above, paler below, softly hairy on both surfaces, up to 250 mm long x 250 mm wide, broadly ovate (egg-shaped with broad end at base) in outline, deeply palmately lobed, with a pair of an earlike projection on the base of a leaf (auricles).

Flower of M. hibiscifolia occur in heads;  ray petals are white, disc yellow; about 40 mm across; many in terminal, branched inflorescences.  The fruit is  reddish-brown one seeded, 3.5 mm long, borne in the rounded, papery, old flower-heads ( achene).

Reproduction and dispersal

Propagation of Montanoa hibiscifolia occurs primarily by seeds. Seeds may be moved from place to place by moving vehicles and water.

Economic and other uses

Montanoa hibiscifolia is cultivated as a garden plant. This use cannot compensate for this plant's overall negative impacts.

Environmental and other impacts

Montanoa hibiscifolia is deliberately cultivated as a garden plant, but has escaped cultivation and become a weed of roadsides, riparian zones (banks of watercourses) and rainforest margins. It has been listed as a noxious weed in South Africa (prohibited plants that must be controlled. They serve no economic purpose and possess characteristics that are harmful to humans, animals or the environment) and Hawaii.

Management

The precise management measures adopted for any plant invasion will depend upon factors such as the terrain, the cost and availability of labour, the severity of the infestation and the presence of other invasive species. Some components of an integrated management approach are introduced below.

The best form of invasive species management is prevention. If prevention is no longer possible, it is best to treat the weed infestations when they are small to prevent them from establishing (early detection and rapid response). Controlling the weed before it seeds will reduce future problems. Control is generally best applied to the least infested areas before dense infestations are tackled. Consistent follow-up work is required for sustainable management.

Montanoa hibiscifolia is sensitive to basal bark applications methods (painting herbicide onto the bark) of a suitable herbicide and to soil-applied herbicides. When using any herbicide always read the label first and follow all instructions and safety requirements. If in doubt consult an expert.

The editors do not know of any biological control programmes targeted at this species.

Legislation

Not listed as a noxious weed by the state or governments in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

References

Henderson, L. (2001).  Alien weeds and invasive plants. A complete guide to declared weeds and invaders in South Africa.  Plant Protection Research Institute Handbook No. 12, 300pp. PPR, ARC South Africa.

Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER). Montanoa hibiscifolia Benth.,: plant threats to Pacific ecosystems www.hear.org/pier/species/montanoa_hibiscifolia.htm. Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, Hawaii, USA. Accessed March 2011.

Editors

Agnes Lusweti, National Museums of Kenya; Emily Wabuyele, National Museums of Kenya, Paul Ssegawa, Makerere University; John Mauremootoo, BioNET-INTERNATIONAL Secretariat - UK.

Acknowledgments

This fact sheet is adapted from The Environmental Weeds of Australia by Sheldon Navie and Steve Adkins, Centre for Biological Information Technology, University of Queensland. We recognise the support from the National Museums of Kenya, Tropical Pesticides Research Institute (TPRI) - Tanzania and Makerere University, Uganda. This activity was undertaken as part of the BioNET-EAFRINET UVIMA Project (Taxonomy for Development in East Africa).

Contact

BioNET-EAFRINET Regional Coordinator: [email protected]