Wednesday volunteers tackle a Cape Tulip infestation

The Wednesday Volunteers gathered in September at the Hume Council's Stellaria Nature Reserve, Somerton — part of the marram baba Merri Creek parklands. Situated in the middle reaches of Merri Creek, this area is frequented by Eastern Grey Kangaroos and Swamp Wallabies.  The site supports populations of vulnerable Golden Sun Moth and endangered plant communities. The site reserve is shown on the Planning Scheme zones map below, located between industrial zones and the Creek. The site itself is secure, despite its anomalous industrial zoning - a hangover from its earlier designation prior to the subdivision process that created the reserve. A large conservation area, the galgi ngarrk (Craigieburn) grassland is located east of the Creek. The Creek margins include attractive rocky outcrops and remnant Red Gums and other indigenous vegetation. The western part of the site is flat, with remnant grassland.
After we finished work, we observed Superb Blue Wrens and Grey Fantails. The Creek also features a stone ford, which was part of 19th Century agricultural development.

Planning property report, Vicplan, Dept of Transport and Planning; Site location and Planning Scheme zones (site is labelled as 34 Patullos Lane and surrounded by a dashed red line)

We were kept busy helping control the Cape Tulip infestation at Stellaria. Cape Tulip is an environmental weed that severely impedes the growth and regeneration of native ground flora.  Our efforts will help protect the highest quality areas of the grassland.

Fourteen volunteers worked from about 10am to 12 noon, applying herbicide to the stems of the Cape Tulip plants, or hand-pulling the weeds. These were easy to identify, because the plants were in flower with bright orange and yellow flowers. We were instructed by a three-person crew from the Merri Creek Management Committee, who demonstrated how to apply herbicide using hand-held bottles with sponge applicators. 

Our efforts focused on the areas of Cape Tulip, on the edge of the Creek escarpment, or break of slope, where the weeds were mixed with threatened native plants. The task was achieved by a mix of crouching, kneeling and sitting, so we could get to the low-growing plant stems. 

   
Volunteer with protective gloves, herbicide bottle and applicator in hand; At work on the slopes above the Creek, photos by Peter Mollison.

Cape Tulip – the orange and yellow flowers spread across grassland, photo by Peter Mollison.

Cape Tulip flowers, photo by Peter Mollison.

The Wednesday volunteers' work complemented targeted weed spraying done by the MCMC crew, before and after our work. This will be part of an ongoing, multi-year control program. 

Many State agencies, including in Victoria, designate Cape Tulip as a weed, which impacts agriculture and habitat conservation. 

Weeds Australia provides useful information on weed species:
Cape Tulip - Weeds Australia
Plant description:
One-leaf Cape Tulip (Moraea flaccida) is a perennial herb, with annual leaves and flowers to 60 cm high, developing from an underground bulb (corm), 1 to 4 cm in diameter, which is white in colour, but covered in a brown fibrous tunic. Each plant has only one leaf, which is flat, folded and ribbed, 1–2 cm wide and up to 1 m long (longer than the flowering stalk). The leaves are attached to the stem above ground level and often droop, or trail, on the ground.

Impacts on ecosystems:
Native ecosystems: One-leaf Cape Tulip has recently increased its invasion of native habitats and has the potential to be a weed of conservation importance. In Western Australia, it is a common weed of woodlands, granite rocks and limestone heaths throughout the south-west. It severely impedes the growth and regeneration of native ground flora (Hussey et al. 1997; Muyt 2001; CSIRO Entomology 2007).

Chemical control:
Chemical control: Cape Tulip can be effectively and economically controlled with herbicide treatment, repeated over several seasons. It is most effective when the plant is just about to flower, or has just begun to flower. Treatment must be undertaken annually to reduce the population of Cape Tulip. One season without treatment may allow the problem to worsen (Funston & Faithfull 1999).