Delairea
Encyclopedia
Delairea is a plant
genus within the family Asteraceae
. It is classified within tribe Senecioneae
. It contains only one species, Delairea odorata, which was previously included in the genus Senecio
as Senecio mikanioides, and is known as cape ivy in some parts of the world and German ivy in others,
Delairea odorata is native to South Africa
. The name cape ivy is also used ambiguously for Senecio angulatus
, a different creeper.
This plant is grown as an ornamental houseplant for its foliage.
in California, Hawaii, Oregon, New Zealand and Australia. The plant will cover shrubs and trees, inhibiting growth and will also cover ground intensively over a wide area, thereby preventing seeds from germinating or growing.
The creeper can be controlled or eliminated by a combination of physical and chemical methods. Unless the root system is removed or poisoned the plant will regrow. Young plants can be pulled out with their roots but older plants will break off leaving the roots in place.
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
genus within the family Asteraceae
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
. It is classified within tribe Senecioneae
Senecioneae
Senecioneae is the largest tribe of the Asteraceae, or the sunflower family, comprising approximately 150 genera and 3,000 species. Almost one-third of the species in this tribe are placed in the genus Senecio...
. It contains only one species, Delairea odorata, which was previously included in the genus Senecio
Senecio
Senecio is a genus of the daisy family that includes ragworts and groundsels. The flower heads are normally rayed, completely yellow, and the heads are borne in branched clusters...
as Senecio mikanioides, and is known as cape ivy in some parts of the world and German ivy in others,
Delairea odorata is native to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The name cape ivy is also used ambiguously for Senecio angulatus
Senecio angulatus
Senecio angulatus also known as Creeping groundseland sometimes as Cape ivyis a climbing succulent perennial from the family Asteraceae of the genus Senecio; a native of South Africaan alien in Australia,a problem weed in New Zealand,...
, a different creeper.
Appearance and uses
Delairea odorata has 2 to 4 -inch multi-lobed leaves that somewhat resemble those of the unrelated English ivy. Its flowers are yellow. A feature that distinguishes it from Senecio angulatus are the small appendages at the base of the stalks of the leaves that are shaped like an ear.This plant is grown as an ornamental houseplant for its foliage.
Growth
Delairea odorata is a vine that climbs up trees and will reach heights of five metres in suitable climates. Given time it will smother trees.Ecological impact and control methods
Delairea odorata has become an invasive speciesInvasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
in California, Hawaii, Oregon, New Zealand and Australia. The plant will cover shrubs and trees, inhibiting growth and will also cover ground intensively over a wide area, thereby preventing seeds from germinating or growing.
The creeper can be controlled or eliminated by a combination of physical and chemical methods. Unless the root system is removed or poisoned the plant will regrow. Young plants can be pulled out with their roots but older plants will break off leaving the roots in place.