Wedelia is found in open areas with well-drained, moist soil up to 700m or more in elevation (up to 1300m in French Polynesia). It can tolerate dry periods. A noxious weed in agricultural areas, along roadsides and trails, in open lots, wasteplaces and garbage dumps and other disturbed sites. Also naturalized and invasive along streams, canals, along the borders of mangroves and in coastal strand vegetation (PIER, 2003).
Principal source: Pacific Islands Ecosystems at Risk, (PIER)
Compiler: IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group
Updates with support from the Overseas Territories Environmental Programme (OTEP) project XOT603, a joint project with the Cayman Islands Government - Department of Environment
Review:
Publication date: 2010-10-04
Recommended citation: Global Invasive Species Database (2024) Species profile: Sphagneticola trilobata. Downloaded from http://iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=44 on 05-10-2024.
A Risk Assessment of Sphagneticola trilobata (Wedelia trilobata) for Hawai‘i and other Pacific islands was prepared by Dr. Curtis Daehler (UH Botany) with funding from the Kaulunani Urban Forestry Program and US Forest Service. The alien plant screening system is derived from Pheloung et al. (1999) with minor modifications for use in Pacific islands (Daehler et al. 2004). The result is a score of 13 and a recommendation of: \"Likely to cause significant ecological or economic harm in Hawai‘i and on other Pacific Islands as determined by a high WRA score, which is based on published sources describing species biology and behaviour in Hawai‘i and/or other parts of the world.\"
A Risk assessment of \r\r\nSphagneticola trilobata (Wedelia trilobata) for Australia was prepared by Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk \r\r\n(PIER) using the Australian risk assessment system (Pheloung, 1995). The result is a score \r\r\nof 6 and a recommendation of: reject the plant for import (Australia) or species likely to \r\r\nbe a pest (Pacific).
\r\nPhysical: The Land for Wildlife program south-east Queensland, recommends 'scarifying' for small patches of soil dominated by weeds like wedelia - the top few centimetres of soil are removed using a suitable tool such as a fire hoe. The aim is to remove soil-stored seed. Do not leave disturbed area open for reintroduction of weeds. Mowing or slashing of wedelia infested areas should be avoided as this may cut the plants into smaller pieces that can develop into new plants, and increases the risk of spreading to new areas, (Liebregts, 2001).
\r\nChemical: Langeland and Stocker (2000), suggest treating small patches with 2% Roundup; and large, dense populations by broadcast-spraying 5% Roundup (with follow-up treatments as needed). Or 1/4-1.0% Garlon 4 in water.