ORIGIN

South Africa

COMMON NAME

Arum lily

BOTANICAL NAME

Zantedeschia aethiopica

IDENTIFICATION

Tuberous herb. Robust, evergreen, clump-forming to 1.5 m high. Leaves large, leathery and shaped like an arrow head. Distinctive inflorescence or flowering parts are trumpet-shaped and consist of a large white-greenish bract (modified leaf) which enclosed the yellow spike-shaped flower or spadix inside.

HABITATS

Swampy areas and damp wasteland. Scattered throughout. A persistent colony-forming garden escape.

IMPACT TO BIOTA AND ECOSYSTEMS

Smothers ground layer preventing regeneration of natural flora.

DISPERSAL ROUTES, VECTORS, INFESTATION SOURCES

Garden waste is an important infestation source.

MANAGEMENT

Physical Control
Slash stems and dig out all rhizomes.

Disposal
Stems and leaves may be left to mulch. Do not mulch or compost rhizomes because they always resprout. Bury rhizomes at a landfill or dry and burn thoroughly.

Chemical Control
Spray foliage or slash stems and spray cut stumps. (i) Metsulfuron + Penetrant. Apply from spring to late autumn. Rate - Handgun 25 g Metsulfuron + 100 mls Penetrant/100 litres water. Knapsack 5 g Metsulfuron + 10 mls Penetrant/10 litres water. Mistblower 10 g Metsulfuron + 10 mls Penetrant/10 litres water.

(ii) Glyphosate + Penetrant. Rate - Handgun 2 litres Glyphosate + 200 mls Penetrant/100 litres water. Knapsack 150 mls + 20 mls Penetrant/10 litres water.

Biological Control

Recommended Approach
Isolate a problem area and systematically eradicate plant from the site. It spreads relatively slowly so the systematic eradication can be possible over quite large areas.

FURTHER COMMENT

Arum lily, especially the cultivar Green-Goddess, has established in many wetland areas in the Bay of Plenty.

For information on the poisonous properties of Arum lily please refer to Environment Bay of Plenty's Fact Sheet 19-poisonous plants