ORIGIN

S. and W. Europe

COMMON NAME

Tutsan

BOTANICAL NAME

Hypericum androsaemum

IDENTIFICATION

Evergreen/semi-evergreen shrub or subshrub to 1.5 m tall. Oval leaves, usually opposite, without a stalk, to 100 mm. Terminal flower bunches, pale yellow, Nov-Feb. Round fruit, to 10 mm, red becoming black.

HABITATS

Rocky and open streams, coastal areas and inshore islands, shrublands, rocklands, gumlands, steepland forest and mobile slopes, coastal forest in light gaps, roadsides, gravel pits, exotic plantations, rough pasture. Fairly common on roadsides, banks and disturbed areas. Locally abundant.

IMPACT TO BIOTA AND ECOSYSTEMS

Capacity to form extensive patches exceeding 1 ha in size. Dense cover of branches and rotting leaves can smother existing low growing plant communities and seriously inhibit regeneration (a semi-matting effect). May hold back successional forest communities. Is seen to infest forest communities under light shade. Plant species of rocklands and steep banks e.g. kowhai may be heavily impacted.

DISPERSAL ROUTES, VECTORS, INFESTATION SOURCES

Spread by birds as well as soil disturbance.

MANAGEMENT

Physical Control
Unpalatable to stock. Clear large plants with rotary slasher and spray regrowth.

Disposal
Bury or compost. Allow sprayed vegetation to rot.

Chemical Control
(i) Tordon 2G.

Rate - 55 grams/m2 of ground covered by the dripline of the bush.

(ii) Metsulfuron

Rate - Handgun 35 gms Metsulfuron + 100 mls Penetrant/100 litres water.

Knapsack 5 gms Metsulfuron + 10 mls Penetrant/10 litres water.

(iii) Glyphosate

Rate - Handgun 1 litre Glyphosate + 200 mls Penetrant/100 litres water.

Knapsack 100 mls Glyphosate + 20 mls Penetrant/10 litres water.

Biological Control

Recommended Approach
If spraying use Metsulfuron. Spray during the spring-autumn period.

Prevent entrance into areas of high conservation value which may be vulnerable to tutsan.

FURTHER COMMENT