Pest plant - One leaf cape tulip

One-leaf cape tulip (Moraea flaccida) is a toxic perennial weed, with annual leaves and flowers to 60cm high.

Description

each plant has only one leaf which is flat, 1-2cm x 1m
flowers are 3-5cm in diameter with six petals that can vary from salmon-pink through orange to yellow
fruit is a three-valved capsule up to 5cm, it starts green and turns brown when mature
seeds are brown in colour, irregular in shape and discharged from the summit of the capsule
each capsule may contain up to 150 seeds
corms are 1-2cm in diameter, white in colour but covered in a brown fibrous tunic
roots are fine, shallow and fibrous.

all parts of one-leaf cape tulip are toxic to grazing animals
stock accustomed to grazing around infestations avoid the plants
this selective grazing results in desirable pasture species being invaded, decreasing stock capacity.

Eyre Peninsula – isolated outbreaks and very light infestations
Northern agricultural districts and Yorke Peninsula – widespread in the south, isolated in the north
Murray Mallee – isolated outbreaks in the southern mallee
South East – scattered infestations
Central region – large contained infestations.

occurs on a range of soil types and prefers sunny locations
seeds and corms germinate after the autumn rains
flowering stems produced in winter and flowers appear in September
aerial growth dies by November
plants do not flower or set seed until 2-3 years old
corms move deeper into the soil via a contractile root, dragging the corm to about 10cm deep
up to 60% of corms can remain dormant through a whole growing season
toxic to all grazing animals, the poison is a glycoside.