ORIGIN

South Africa

COMMON NAME

German ivy

BOTANICAL NAME

Senecio mikanioides

IDENTIFICATION

Scrambling or climbing herb with soft hairless ivy-like leaves and yellow daisy flowers. Can be confused with Cape ivy which has ray florets and is also a coastal species. To distinguish German ivy note the small ear-shaped appendages at the base of most leaf stalks. German ivy, which has no ray florets, is a daisy - not an ivy.

HABITATS

Coastal plant communities and lowland forest margins, shrublands, rocklands, roadsides, quarries, farm hedges, wasteland, house gardens.

IMPACT TO BIOTA AND ECOSYSTEMS

Climbs over small shrubs and trees. Can extend up to sub-canopy levels. Hinders plant growth by smothering and outshading. Spreads over large areas of ground beneath the forest canopy stopping the free regeneration of the ecosystem.

DISPERSAL ROUTES, VECTORS, INFESTATION SOURCES

Plant is spread mostly by the wind or carried by disturbances in the environment. Plants grow well in open environments but will still germinate in the shade of the forest canopy near to its margin.

MANAGEMENT

Physical Control
Hard to physically remove because plant breaks when pulled. Dig plant out.

Disposal
Compost or mulch.

Chemical Control
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
Spray with Glyphosate.

FURTHER COMMENT