Italian arum
Botanical Name
Arum italicum
Family
Araceae (arum)
Also known as
Italian lily
Where is it originally from?
Eurasia
What does it look like?
Clump-forming, winter-green perennial (<25-60 cm) growing from tubers (main tuber 4 cm diameter) with glossy, dark-green, arrow-shaped leaves (<30 cm) with creamy midribs and main veins, that are present from autumn to spring. From September to December a yellow, finger-like spike, surrounded by a large, white, funnel-shaped, modified leaf (<25 cm), forms a flower-like structure that is followed by round orange or yellow berries (1 cm) on the flower stalk after the leaves die back.
Are there any similar species?
Arum lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica), stink lily and calla lilies all lack the cream-coloured mid-rib and main veins on their leaves.
Why is it weedy?
Tolerates most soil types, is drought resistant once established and is long-lived, persisting under regenerating canopies. Its dense growth smothers the ground. It is poisonous and avoided by stock and it recovers from heavy damage.
How does it spread?
Seed is spread by birds and water, and tuber fragments form new plants.
What damage does it do?
It forms dense cover on the ground in open sites, shading out small native plants and preventing native plants establishing.
Which habitats is it likely to invade?
Heavily disturbed shrubland and forest, herbfields, damp areas with high light and regenerating ex-pasture.
What can I do to get rid of it?
1. Physical removal: Dig or pull out small infestations. Dispose of all plant material at a landfill or refuse transfer station.
*Note: large areas of bare soil are ideal for weed to establish. To avoid this, plant or sow desirable species to cover the bare soil.
3. Foliar spray - Apply herbicide using a hand held sprayer/knapsack. Apply a mix of Glyphosate (360 g/L active ingredient) herbicide at 15ml/L + metsulfuron herbicide (600g/kg active ingredient) at 0.4g/L + an organo silicone penetrant at recommended label rate, and thoroughly wet all parts of plant.
OR Apply Triclopyr herbicide (600g/L active ingredient) at a rate of 6ml/L + an organo silicone penetrant to thoroughly wet all parts of plant.
*Note: Overspray will kill other (desirable) broadleaf plants and metsulfuron has residual activity in the soil which aids in killing below ground parts. Do not use over or near water bodies or wetlands and use only as directed on label.
CAUTION: When using any herbicide or pesticide, PLEASE READ THE LABEL THOROUGHLY to ensure that all instructions and directions for the purchase, use and storage of the product, are followed and adhered to.
What can I do to stop it coming back?
Plant a dense cover of native trees or shrubs to produce shade.
Images
