General description

Tuberous perennial herb < 60 cm tall. Leaves are arrow-shaped, dark green with cream veins, and senesce in summer. Flowers are yellow and borne in spike surrounded by pale green/cream bract in October – November. Berries are orange/red and borne in summer.

What you need to know

To help protect our environment:

You must not breed, distribute, release or sell Italian arum within the Auckland region.
You must not plant Italian arum within the Auckland region, unless you are transferring an existing plant on your land to another location within the boundaries of the same property.
You must destroy any Italian arum on land that you occupy if it has been planted in breach of the above rules and you are directed to do so by an authorised person.

Habitats

Disturbed habitats, damp ground, roadsides, riparian margins, pasture.

Dispersal

Seeds probably dispersed by birds. Vegetative spread from tubers.

Impact on environment

Forms dense groundcover, excluding small native plants and preventing native seedling recruitment. Poisonous and avoided by livestock.

Control

Site Management

Follow up treated areas 3 times per year. Encourage natural regeneration of native plants or replant treated areas where possible after 2-3 treatments to establish dense ground cover and minimise reinvasion.

Recommended approaches

Physical control

Method: Dig out

Plant parts requiring disposal: Seeds and tubers

Disposal options: Small amounts can be rotted in a covered water barrel or emove to greenwaste or landfill

Biocontrol

Biocontrol is currently not available for this species.

Community agrichemical control recommendations

No qualifications
For small infestations on terrestrial sites:
Cut stump and paste freshly cut base of stems with metsulfuron gel
For small infestations on aquatic sites:
Cut stump and paste freshly cut base of stems with double strength glyphosate gel

Basic Growsafe certified
For medium infestations on terrestrial sites:
Cut stump and spray freshly cut base with 1g metsulfuron-methyl per 1 L of water
For medium infestations on aquatic sites:
Cut stump and spray freshly cut base with 250ml glyphosate green per 1 L of water

Certified Handler/Experienced agrichemical user
For large infestations on terrestrial sites:
Cut stump and spray freshly cut base with 1g metsulfuron per 1 L of water
For large infestations on aquatic sites:
Cut stump and spray freshly cut base with 250ml glyphosate green per 1 L of water

CAUTION: When using any herbicide or pesticide please read the label thoroughly to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed.