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 DC.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: gazania, 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, South Africa and Swaziland; cultivated and naturalized elsewhere (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)	New South Wales	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Gazania rigens (L.) Gaertn. Naturalized
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Gazania rigens (L.) Gaertn. South Australia, Victoria Naturalized
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive cultivated	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 161) Gazania rigens (L.) Gaertner and varieties.
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive cultivated	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 294) Gazania rigens (L.) Gaertner. "es and coastal waste land, usually in sandy soils; a garden discard persisting in scattered localities."
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)	introduced cultivated	Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral R. (2005) (p. 160)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Gazania rigens var. leucolaena, please let us know.