NSW DPI Review of the declaration of Lantana species in New South Wales Review of the declaration of Lantana species in New South Wales New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Orange NSW 2800 Frontispiece. A flowering and fruiting branch of the common pink variety of Lantana camara, near Copmanhurst (NSW north coast, October 2005) (Source: S. Johnson, NSW DPI). © State of New South Wales through NSW Department of Primary Industries 2007. You may copy, distribute and otherwise freely deal with this publication for any purpose, provided that you attribute NSW Department of Primary Industries as the owner. ISBN 978 0 7347 1889 1 Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing (December 2007). However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that information upon which they rely is up to date and to check currency of the information with the appropriate officer of New South Wales Department of Primary Industries or the user’s independent adviser. Job number 7262 This document was prepared by Dr Stephen Johnson Weed Ecologist Weeds Unit Biosecurity, Compliance and Mine Safety Telephone: 02 6391 3146 Facsimile: 02 6391 3206 Locked Bag 21 ORANGE NSW 2800 Figure 1. White and purple flowering varieties of the ornamental Lantana montevidensis planted in a median strip, Griffith (south western NSW, September 2005) (Source: S. Johnson, NSW DPI). iv REVIEW OF THE DECLARATION OF LANTANA SPECIES IN NSW CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 SCOPE OF THIS REVIEW 3 REVIEW OF THE DECLARATION OF LANTANA SPECIES IN NSW 5 NOMENCLATURE 5 Lantana camara 5 Lantana montevidensis 5 SPECIES DESCRIPTIONS 5 Lantana camara 5 Lantana montevidensis 7 TAXONOMY 9 Family Verbenaceae 9 Lantana genus 9 The Lantana camara species aggregate 9 Varieties of L. camara in Australia 11 Varieties of L. montevidensis in Australia 14 ORIGIN 14 LIFECYCLE 16 DISPERSAL 19 GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT 20 HABITAT 20 Climatic requirements 20 Soils 21 DISTRIBUTION IN AUSTRALIA 22 Current distribution 22 Lantana camara 22 Lantana montevidensis 23 Potential distribution 23 IMPORTANCE 24 Detrimental 24 Pastures 25 Natural ecosystems 26 Forestry 28 Plantation and other crops 28 Railway and service providers 28 Allelopathy 28 Hosts for other pests 28 Human effects 29 Beneficial 29 Ornamental 29 REVIEW OF THE DECLARATION OF LANTANA SPECIES IN NSW v Other human uses 29 Alternative food and habitat sources for wildlife 29 Other benefits 29 The sale of ornamental Lantana species 30 Negative impacts of the removal from sale of Lantana species 31 LEGISLATION 31 State declaration 31 A Weed of National Significance (WoNS) 32 Benefits that may accrue from continued legislative control 32 CONTROL 32 Prevention 33 Herbicides 33 Other management 34 Fire 34 Mechanical clearing 35 Cultivation 35 Hand removal and flame weeding 36 Grazing management 36 Revegetation 36 Biological control 37 Integrated management of L. camara 37 Pasture situations 38 Natural ecosystems 38 Controlling regrowth 39 Identifying the causes of infestation 39 Integrated management of L. montevidensis 39 SOCIAL LIMITATIONS TO CONTROL 40 The widespread acceptance of L. camara 40 Issues involved with the sale of Lantana species 40 Constraints to managing L. camara 41 Motivating land managers to undertake management 42 RECOMMENDATIONS 42 FURTHER RESEARCH NEEDS 43 INFORMATION REQUIRED FROM CONSULTATION 44 CONCLUSIONS 44 REFERENCES 48 APPENDICES 59 vi REVIEW OF THE DECLARATION OF LANTANA SPECIES IN NSW APPENDICES Appendix 1 Declarations of Lantana species across Australia. Appendix 2 Recommendations for declarations of Lantana species in NSW. ABBREVIATIONS ACT Australian Capital Territory NSW New South Wales NT Northern Territory Qld Queensland SA South Australia Vic Victoria WA Western Australia ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This review has benefited greatly from information and comments provided by staff from NSW Department of Primary Industries, Biosecurity Queensland, the University of Queensland and the Botanic Gardens Trust. Figure 2. A red and yellow flowering ornamental Lantana hybrid planted in a median strip, Griffith (south western NSW, September 2005) (Source: S. Johnson, NSW DPI). REVIEW OF THE DECLARATION OF LANTANA SPECIES IN NSW vii as well as other areas reducing plant and animal EXECUTIVE SUMMARY biomass, abundance and biodiversity, generally This document examined the basic biology and causing livestock toxicity if eaten, often preventing management of Lantana species in NSW. Two species regeneration of natural areas, and affecting tourism, have naturalised, these being L. camara (lantana), a recreational and aesthetic values. Alternatively, both polyploid species aggregate composed of at least species have been widely planted as ornamental and 29 different weedy and ornamental varieties and L. hedge plants, and as amenity plantings. Plants may montevidensis (creeping lantana) of which one weedy provide alternative habitat for animals and provide a and at least several ornamental varieties are present. source of essential oils. Varieties of L. camara respond differently to a range of environmental and management conditions and Lantana camara is a Weed of National Significance practises. Species of Lantana are able to hybridise and has been banned from trade and distribution and many such hybrids are grown for horticultural in all states and territories in Australia. Varieties of purposes. Despite claims to the contrary, all varieties L. camara are declared noxious in parts of coastal are fertile to some extent. Although there is extensive NSW, while both species are declared in Qld and the spread of both species in eastern Australia, further NT. Management of both Lantana species is difficult spread is likely in both clean and infested areas. with integrated control programs needed including Both species form dense, multi­branched thickets preventative, chemical, mechanical and biological making access and management difficult. Flowering measures while fire, ploughing, hand pulling, and fruit set may occur all year round with dispersal of revegetation and grazing management are useful fruit by a range of birds and animals. Both species are tools. able to spread vegetatively to some degree. Recommendations arising from this document have Lantana species invade pastures, a wide range of been made to the Noxious Weeds Advisory Committee natural ecosystems, forestry and plantation crops, and are contained in Appendix 2. REVIEW OF THE DECLARATION OF LANTANA SPECIES IN NSW 1 2 REVIEW OF THE DECLARATION OF LANTANA SPECIES IN NSW Information from the literature has been grouped into SCOPE OF THIS REVIEW the following general areas throughout this document: This document outlines the basic biology and ­ nomenclature, species descriptions, taxonomy, management of species of the genus Lantana that origin, lifecycle, dispersal, growth and development, are present in New South Wales. The review was habitat, distribution, importance, legislation, control undertaken to ascertain if the current declaration and recommendations. Further research needs and of the noxious weed species Lantana camara was information required from consultation have been appropriate. An assessment of Lantana montevidensis highlighted. and the large number of ornamental Lantana varieties was also made to determine if new declarations were appropriate. Figure 3. A flowering plant of the red variety of Lantana camara, near Seeview (Grafton, NSW north coast, October 2005) (Source: S. Johnson, NSW DPI). REVIEW OF THE DECLARATION OF LANTANA SPECIES IN NSW 3 4 REVIEW OF THE DECLARATION OF LANTANA SPECIES IN NSW uses the taxonomic name L. camara to describe this REVIEW OF THE aggregate species. DECLARATION OF LANTANA SPECIES Lantana montevidensis There are a number of common names used for IN NSW Lantana montevidensis (Spreng.) Briq. in Australia. These include: Creeping lantana, Lantana, Polecat NOMENCLATURE geranium, Purple lantana, Sellow’s lantana, Small lantana, Trailing lantana, Weeping lantana and Wild Lantana camara verbena (Shepherd et al. 2001; O’Donnell 2002). There are a variety of common names used for There are two synonyms used for this species these Lantana camara L. in Australia. These include: Lantana, being Lantana sellowiana Link & Otto and Lippia Common lantana, Kamara lantana, Large­leaf montevidensis Spreng. (White 1929; Stanley and lantana, Red­flowered sage, White sage and Wild sage Ross 1986; Shepherd et al. 2001; APNI 2007). Lantana (Shepherd et al. 2001). montevidensis was known as L. sellowiana from its International common names include: Ach mann introduction into Australia until the 1930’s (Swarbrick (Cambodia), Bahug­bahug (Philippines), Bands (India), 1986). Plants formerly identified as L. sellowiana have Boenga pagar (Indonesia), Bunga tahi ayam (Malaysia), now been classified as L. montevidensis. Other species Cambara de espinto (Brazil), Cariaquillo (Puerto Rico), names that have been used in various literature Chiponiwe (Zimbabwe), Cuasquito (Nicaragua), include L. sellowii, L. selowiana and L. delicatissima Guphul (India), Kauboica (Fiji), Kembang satik and (Anon. 1857; O’Donnell 2002). These names have not Kembang telek (Indonesia), Largeleaf lantana (USA), been recorded in the Australian Plant Names Index Latora moa (Tahiti), Nagaairi (India), Pha­ka­krong (APNI 2007). (Thailand), Phullaki (India), Prickly lantana (Malaysia), Putus (India), Red­flowered sage (Barbados, Thailand These two Lantana species are the only species and