Gazania rigens var. leucolaena (A. P. de Candolle) Roessler, Asteraceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 9 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Gazania leucolaena A. P. de Candolle

Common name(s): [more details]

English: trailing gazania, treasure flower

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Rhizomatous herb 6-12 inches tall with trailing stems, forming extensive mats.   Leaves in rosettes and alternate along stems; blades oblanceolate to oblong-linear, 3.5-6 inches long, upper side medium green, underside densely silvery-hairy, margins rolled under, entire.  Flower heads solitary, 1.25-2.25 inches in diameter, stalks 3.5-6.5 inches long; bracts basally joined into ± bell-shaped involucre.  Ray flowers canary yellow, base without dark blotch; disc flowers buttercup yellow" (Staples & Herbst, 2005; p. 160).

Habitat/ecology:  "A tough plant with shining silvery foliage currently much used as a ground cover, especially in low-elevation, sunny, hot coastal areas.  It tolerates moderate salt spray exposure, thrives in sunny situations on poor to average soils as long as drainage is excellent, and in Hawai‘i can grow from sea level to 3,000 ft. elevation" (Staples & Herbst, 2005; p. 160).

Propagation:  Cuttings and seed (Staples & Herbst, 2005; p. 160).

Native range:  Mozambique and South Africa (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Isabela Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Volcán Sierra Negra, Isabela Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008) Observed in survey, no herbarium record.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawaiian Islands	introduced cultivated	Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral R. (2005) (p. 160)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive cultivated	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 161) Gazania rigens (L.) Gaertner and varieties.
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)	introduced cultivated	Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral R. (2005) (p. 160)

Additional information:
Information from Weeds Australia web site.

Additional online information about Gazania rigens is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Gazania rigens as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Gazania rigens may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Charles Darwin Foundation. 2008. Database inventory of introduced plant species in the rural and urban zones of Galapagos. Charles Darwin Foundation, Galapagos, Ecuador.

Charles Darwin Research Station. 2005. CDRS Herbarium records.

Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. 1998. Potential environmental weeds in Australia: Candidate species for preventative control. Canberra, Australia. Biodiversity Group, Environment Australia. 208 pp.

Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral R. 2005. A tropical garden flora: plants cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 908 pp.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2011. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. 2011. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.