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Invasiveness Assessment - Gorse (Ulex europaeus) in Victoria

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Plant invasiveness is determined by evaluating a plant’s biological and ecological characteristics against criteria that encompass establishment requirements, growth rate and competitive ability, methods of reproduction, and dispersal mechanisms.

Each characteristic, or criterion, is assessed against a list of intensity ratings. Depending upon information found, a rating of Low, Medium Low, Medium High or High is assigned to that criterion. Where no data is available to answer a criterion, a rating of medium (M) is applied. A description of the invasiveness criteria and intensity ratings used in this process can be viewed here.

The following table provides information on the invasiveness of Gorse.

A more detailed description of the methodology of the Victorian Pest Plant Prioritisation Process can be viewed below:

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Common Name: Gorse
Scientific name: Ulex europaeus

Question
Comments
Reference
Rating
Establishment
Germination requirements?“Most germination occurs in autumn and spring to mid summer”.
P & C (1992 p. 481)
MH
Establishment requirements?Occurs in ecosystems receiving shading e.g. dry and damp sclerophyll forest.
Carr et al (1992)
MH
How much disturbance is required?Invades undisturbed ecosystems – heathland and heathy woodland.
Carr et al (1992)
H
Growth/Competitive
Life form?Of Fabaceae family therefore a legume.
Carr et al 91992)
MH
Allelopathic properties?No Allelopathic properties described.
L
Tolerates herb pressure?“Young seedlings, which are not armed with stiff spines, are readily grazed by sheep and rabbits”. “Animals eat seedlings and young shoots but mature plants are rarely grazed”. (P & C (1992 p. 483)
P & C (1992 p. 481)
MH
Normal growth rate?“Rapidly growing”.

“Control is made difficult by the vigour and comprehensiveness of the plant”.
P & C (1992 p. 482)
P & C (1992 p. 483)
MH
Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc?“While the plant will grow…in Mediterranean climates with dry summers and in areas with significant winter frost, it does not thrive”. “Tolerates many soil types, frost to -20oC (young plants are sensitive), salt laden wind and drought”.

(Blood 2001 p. 82). “Burns readily but not killed – re sprouts and seeds germinate”. (Blood 2001 p. 83).
Richardson & Hill
(1998 p.271)
MH
Reproduction
Reproductive system“Reproducing by seed”.
P & C (1992 p. 480)
ML?
Number of propagules produced?“Seed production is prolific with an annual input of up to 6 million seeds per hectare”.
P & C (1992 p. 483)
H
Propagule longevity?“Have a high viability and even seeds 25 years old is 85% viable”.
P & C (1992 p. 483)
H
Reproductive period?“Plants are long lived, producing new growth each spring”.

“Living to a maximum life of 29 years”.
P & C (1992 p. 481)
Richardson & Hill
(1998 p. 273)
H
Time to reproductive maturity?“Plants may flower first when about 18 months old”.
P & C (1992 p. 481)
MH
Dispersal
Number of mechanisms?Refer to ‘dispersal’ in P & C (1992 p. 482) wind, birds, ant’s etc.
H
How far do they disperse?“Birds are important in spreading seeds and patches of weeds are often found under trees or posts where birds have perched”.
P & C (1992 p. 482)
H


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