Zantedeschia aethiopica (L.) Spreng., Araceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results: 

Reject, score: 13 (Go to the risk assessment (Australia))
High risk, score: 15 (Go to the risk assessment (Pacific))

Other Latin names:  Calla aethiopica L.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: arum lily, calla lily, common calla

Spanish: cala, cartucho

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Clump-forming, evergreen perennial (to 1.5 m) growing from tubers, with large glossy, leathery, dark-green, arrow-shaped leaves (to 45 cm x 25 cm) with pale fine veins and wavy margins, held upright on long stalks (to 1 m). From September to December a yellow, finger-like spike, surrounded by a large, greenish-white, funnel-shaped, modified leaf (to 25 cm), forms a flower-like structure that is followed by round green or yellow berries (1 cm) on the flower stalk after the leaves die back"  (Weedbusters New Zealand).

"Plants evergreen, to 1.5 m tall; leaf blades 15-20 x 10-15 cm, ovate-cordate to hastate; spathe ivory-white, widely spreading and arching back, greenish on outside and without a purple spot at base on inside; spadix bright yellow; ovaries green, with interspersed whitish staminodes"  (Smith, 1979; p. 447).

Habitat/ecology:  "Forests, riparian habitats, freshwater wetlands, coastal scrub and grasslands.  Where native, this plant grows in sandy or rocky places that are usually seasonally damp.  It is invasive because it forms dense patches that crowd out native plants and prevent their regeneration.  Dense infestation completely displace the native vegetation"  (Weber, 2003; p. 458).

In New Zealand, "Swampy areas and damp wasteland" (Healy & Edgar, 1980; p. 78). "A persistent colony-forming garden escape. Smothers ground layer preventing regeneration of natural flora" (Weeds in New Zealand web site).

Propagation:  "The short-lived seeds are dispersed by water, birds and mammals.  Rhizome fragments are carried by streams"  (Weber, 2003; p. 458).  Commonly established by dumping of garden cuttings.

Native range:  South Africa and Lesotho, but widely cultivated and naturalizing in wet subtropical situations (Smith, 1979; p. 447).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Norfolk Islands	Norfolk Island	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 11) "Naturalised beside one or two streams; an escape from cultivation". Voucher cited: P.S. Green (photo K)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive cultivated	Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John (2011)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive	Danton, Philippe/Perrier, Christophe/Martinez Reyes, Guido (2006) (p. 558)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más Afuera (Alejandro Selkirk Island)	introduced invasive cultivated	Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John (2011)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más Afuera (Alejandro Selkirk Island)	introduced invasive	Danton, Philippe/Perrier, Christophe/Martinez Reyes, Guido (2006) (p. 558)
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)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Fiji Islands	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (p. 446)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Cultivée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Cultivée
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1360)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1360)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 18) Vouchers cited: MacKee 37473, MacKee 37491
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced cultivated	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 118)

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)	Australia (continental)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011) Naturalized
China China	Hong Kong	introduced cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 301) Ornamental.
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Healy, A. J./Edgar, E. (1980) (p. 78) Voucher cited: T.F. Cheeseman (AK 95563)
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Owen, S. J. (1997) Naturalized

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced invasive	MacDonald, I. A. W./Thebaud, C./Strahm, W. A./Strasberg, D. (1991) (pp. 51-61)
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced invasive	Lavergne, Christophe (2006) "Très envahissant"
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced invasive	Baret, Stephane/Rouget, Mathieu/Richardson, David M./Lavergne, Christophe/Egoh, Benis/Dupont, Joel/Strasberg, Dominique (2006) (p. 758)
French Territory of Mayotte Mayotte Islands	Mayotte Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Comité français de l'Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature en France (2010)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011) Naturalized

Comments:  Reported as a serious invader of of pristine areas in La Réunion (Jacques Tassin, communication to Aliens list server).

Control:  For additional control information see the information sheet from Weedbusters New Zealand.

Physical:  ">Dig out scattered plants (all year round): remove all pieces of root and dispose of them at a refuse transfer station"  (Weedbusters New Zealand).

Chemical:  "Seed production can be prevented by spraying plants with 2,4-D, blyphosate or chlorsulferon before fruits are becoming ripe.  Follow-up programs may be necessary to treat regrowth and seedlings"  (Weber, 2003; p. 458).

"1. Cut and paint stumps: metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (1g) + glyphosate (100ml) + penetrant/1L water. Mulch the leaves and dispose of seeds at refuse transfer station.
2. Weed wipe: metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (1g) + glyphosate (150ml) + penetrant /1L water.
3. Overall spray: metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (3g) + glyphosate (150ml) + penetrant /10L water."  (Weedbusters New Zealand).

Additional information:
Photos and additional information at the Environment Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, web site of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.
Information sheet from Weedbusters New Zealand.

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

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

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

References:

Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John. 2011. Naturalized species in the Juan Fernández Archipelago, Chile. Unpublished spreadsheet.

Baret, Stephane/Rouget, Mathieu/Richardson, David M./Lavergne, Christophe/Egoh, Benis/Dupont, Joel/Strasberg, Dominique. 2006. Current distribution and potential extent of the most invasive alien plant species on La Réunion (Indian Ocean, Mascarene islands). Austral Ecology (2006) 31, 747-758.

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.

Comité français de l'Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature en France. 2010. Les espéces envahissantes en outre-mer (online resource).

Danton, Philippe/Perrier, Christophe/Martinez Reyes, Guido. 2006. Nouveau catalogue de la flore vaculaire de l'archipel Juan Fernández (Chile) [Nuevo catálogo de la flora vacular del Archipélago Juan Fernández (Chile)]. Acta Bot. Gallica 153(4):399-587.

Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. 2011. Base de données botaniques Nadeaud de l'Herbier de la Polynésie Française (PAP). (online resource).

Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. 1988. Flora of the Solomon Islands. Research Bulletin No. 7. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Honiara. 203 pp.

Healy, A. J./Edgar, E. 1980. Flora of New Zealand, Volume III: Adventive cyperaceous, petalous & spathaceous monocotyledons. Government Printer, Wellington, New Zealand. 220 pp.

Lavergne, Christophe. 2006. List des especes exotiques envahissantes a La Reunion. Unpublished manuscript (Excel file). .

MacDonald, I. A. W./Thebaud, C./Strahm, W. A./Strasberg, D. 1991. Effects of alien plant invasions on native vegetation remnants on La Reunion (Mascarenes Islands, Indian Ocean). Environmental Conservation 18 (1):51-61.

MacKee, H. S. 1994. Catalogue des plantes introduites et cultivées en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 164 p.

Orchard, Anthony E., ed. 1994. Flora of Australia. Vol. 49, Oceanic islands 1. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.

Owen, S. J. 1997. Ecological weeds on conservation land in New Zealand: A database. Working draft. Wellington, New Zealand. Department of Conservation.

Smith, Albert C. 1979. Flora Vitiensis nova: a new flora of Fiji. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii. Volume 1. 494 pp.

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

Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. 1999. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawaii. Revised edition. Bernice P. Bishop Museum special publication. University of Hawai‘i Press/Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 1919 pp. (two volumes).

Weber, Ewald. 2003. Invasive plants of the World. CABI Publishing, CAB International, Wallingford, UK. 548 pp.

Wu, Te-lin. 2001. Check List of Hong Kong Plants. Hong Kong Herbarium and the South China Institute of Botany. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Bulletin 1 (revised). 384 pp.