The seed ecology of two invasive Hieracium (Asteraceae) species
Jennifer L. Bear A , Katherine M. Giljohann A B , Roger D. Cousens A and Nicholas S. G. Williams A C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Resource Management & Geography, The University of Melbourne, Burnley Campus, 500 Yarra Boulevard, Richmond, Vic. 3121, Australia.
B Present address: School of Botany, The University of Melbourne, Royal Parade, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: nsw@unimelb.edu.au
Australian Journal of Botany 60(7) 615-624 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT12058
Submitted: 4 March 2012 Accepted: 22 August 2012 Published: 2 October 2012
Abstract
Two highly invasive hawkweeds, Hieracium aurantiacum and H. praealtum L., have established in the Australian Alps. Our experiments aimed to provide a better understanding of the seed ecology of these species, essential if successful eradication strategies are to be developed. Results indicated that viable seeds are produced in large numbers. Seeds germinate spontaneously and synchronously with light and moisture and are killed when exposed to temperatures above 110°C for 150 s. No seedlings of H. aurantiacum emerged from soil samples taken from a chronosequence of known infestations, but some H. praealtum seedlings emerged from soil sampled from sites where plants flowered the preceding summer. Germination was greatly reduced for both species under darkness, and few seedlings emerged when buried. Where herbicides were applied at a late stage of fruit development, hawkweeds continued to produce viable seeds, albeit in reduced numbers. Overall, our findings indicate that both species produce a large amount of seed, little of which enters the long-term soil seed bank. This, and the limited ability of buried seeds to germinate and/or emerge, means that Hieracium control programs should emphasise short-term (1–2-year) monitoring of treated sites and stress the importance of reducing the seed set.
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