Name:
Gorse(Ulex europaeus)
Description
Gorse (Ulex europaeus) is an erect, rigid, prickly shrub, up to 3 m high, with a deep and extensive root system. It has alternate, spiral, simple, linear leaves, 6-15 mm long and 0.5-2 mm wide, ending in a sharp spine. It has solitary yellow, pea-like flowers. The plant produces huge numbers of brown to black seeds in grey hairy pods 10 - 20 mm long, each pod holding three or four seeds. The seeds have a hard, water-resistant coating which allows them to remain dormant in the soil for up to 30 years.
For further information and assistance with identification of Gorse contact the herbarium in your state or territory.
Distribution:
Gorse occurs in all states and territories except the Northern Territory but it is more of a problem in Tasmania, particularly in the Midlands, and southern Victoria than anywhere else in Australia. In South Australia it is restricted to higher rainfall areas and is found mainly in the Fleurieu Peninsula, Adelaide Hills and Clare Valley.
Gorse has the potential to significantly expand its range to cover most of coastal southern Australia, including the whole of Tasmania, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory, and most of southern South Australia. The relatively small Queensland infestation could also expand its range throughout the cooler, higher rainfall areas.
Habit:
Shrub
Key points:
- Prevention is the most cost-effective means of controlling Gorse (Ulex europaeus).
- The key to controlling the spread of Gorse is to prevent flowering or at least reduce its ability to set seed.
- Where Gorse crosses property boundaries, any eradication efforts should be coordinated with neighbouring landholders to completely destroy all plants in the area and prevent reinfestation.
- Tackle the small, outlying infestations first. This allows a bigger area of land to be cleaned up first and there will be less follow-up maintenance in these areas as the seedbank will be smaller.
How it spreads:
A mature infestation can produce up to 6 million seeds per ha each year. Most seeds fall around the plant but the pods can split open and shoot seeds for a distance of up to 5 m. In this way Gorse infestations spread rapidly, particularly when growing along water courses. Gorse can spread into new areas from seed movement in water, soil, machinery and footwear. Birds and ants are also known to spread the seeds. While it is mainly spread by seed, cultivation and the spread of the root system can permit some plant fragments to regenerate. The seeds have a hard, water-resistant coating which allows them to remain dormant in the soil for up to 30 years.
Where it grows:
Gorse is found in heathlands, hillsides and embankments in temperate regions free from severe frosts, It usually grows where rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year and in the range 650-900 mm. However, it is very adaptable and dense infestations occur along Tasmania’s west coast where the mean annual rainfall is more than 2400 mm. It is an invasive weed of unimproved grazing land, neglected sites, roadsides and forest margins in higher rainfall areas. Gorse invades dry coastal vegetation, heathland and heathy woodland, lowland grassland and grassy woodland, dry sclerophyll forest, damp sclerophyll forest, riparian vegetation, and rock outcrop vegetation.
The small dark green leaves are stiff and covered with a waxy coat, which helps reduce water loss.Together with its deep root system, this feature enables Gorse to flourish in areas with very low rainfall.
It grows very well on fertile soils as well as on light sands, heavy clays and disturbed soils and on non-calcareous soils. In mainland states Gorse grows mainly along riverbanks, roadsides and other non-agricultural areas such as rail lines, quarries and mine sites.
Flower colour:
Yellow
Distribution map:
Impacts:
Gorse is a Weed of National Significance. It is regarded as one of the worst weeds in Australia because of its invasiveness, potential for spread, and economic and environmental impacts.
Gorse is a major agricultural weed in Tasmania and parts of Victoria, and is increasingly becoming a threat as an environmental weed in many national parks and other bushland areas, such as Barrington Tops National Park, New South Wales. In New South Wales it is a major problem in national parks and reserves in the southeastern region and in the Blue Mountains.
In Tasmania and parts of Victoria it is also a major pasture weed. In pastoral areas it provides shelter for pests such as rabbits, increases the risk of bushfires because of its flammability, reduces access by forming dense thickets and dramatically reduces stocking rates. Gorse has rendered many hectares of land in the Midlands of Tasmania useless for grazing and is estimated to cost approximately $1 million per annum in lost production.
Origin:
Gorse is native to Western Europe and the United Kingdom where it is widespread but generally causes few problems.
History:
Gorse was introduced to Australia as a hedge plant in the early 1800s but quickly spread out of controland now dominates large areas.
