Ability to Respond Total:6 / 25Ability to Respond = ( Ease of Response + Tools in Place )
Confidence:Medium
Confidence Notes:Native to South Africa, infestation in Southern California is first introduction reliably reported outside of home range globally. Other introductions may be other Senecio species, as the genus has numerous species (1,000+) globally.
Impact
Spread
Notes
Score
Spread Rate
Moderate spread. Current known populations in California are expanding at moderate speeds. Potential to invade larger areas as seeds are easily dispersed.
3
Spread Amount
Currently spreading in natural (not disturbed) scrublands in Southern California. Native distribution in South Africa matches large parts of California.
4
Damage
Notes
Score
Ecological
Long-term damages unknown. Could invade a wide variety of habitats in California. It is spreading in Southern California. It is an aggressive weed in agricultural areas (tea) in South Africa.
3
Agricultural
Potential to invade rangelands, could be toxic to livestock. It is also a weed in agricultural areas (tea) in South Africa.
2
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
0
Health
Plants are toxic if ingested. Toxins can contaminate crops if grown in vicinity of food crops.
3
Benefit
Notes
Score
Ecological
0
Agricultural
0
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
0
Health
0
Total
15
Ability to Respond
Ease of Response
Notes
Score
Detection
Plants are shrubs and are easy to see, but difficult to identify as they can look like other species from a distance. Plants can spread due to easily dispersed seeds.
3
Control
Control largely unknown, difficult to control in tea farms in South Africa, due to difficulty identifying weeds in crop and long flowering season producing numerous seeds.
