Download Allamanda cathartica

Weeds of Australia - Biosecurity Queensland Edition Fact Sheet
Allamanda cathartica
Scientific Name
Allamanda cathartica L.
Synonyms
Allamanda hendersonii Bull. ex Dombrain
Allamanda cathartica L. var. hendersonii (Bull. ex Dombrain) L.H. Bailey & Raffill.
infestation climbing over vegetation (Photo: Land
Protection, QDNRW)
Family
Apocynaceae
Common Names
allamanda, brownbud allamanda, buttercup flower, common trumpet vine, cup of gold,
golden allamanda, golden cup, golden trumpet, golden trumpet flower, golden trumpet
vine, golden-trumpet, Guinea herb, yellow allamanda, yellow bell, yellow trumpet vine
Origin
infestation along a roadside (Photo: Chris Gardiner)
Native to tropical South America (i.e. Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana and Surinam).
Cultivation
Widely cultivated in gardens in Australia, particularly in sub-tropical and tropical
regions. Numerous cultivars have been developed, which may range in flower colour
from yellow to pinkish or even chocolate brown. It is particularly popular in the Cairns
area, in northern Queensland, and some local businesses in this region have even
incorporated it into their corporate identity.
Naturalised Distribution
habit (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
Naturalised in the coastal districts of Queensland, and most commonly found in the
northern parts of the state. There are herbarium records of this species from the Cook,
North Kennedy, South Kennedy, Port Curtis and Moreton pastoral districts. Also
naturalised in the coastal districts of northern Western Australia.
Naturalised overseas in China, south-eastern USA (i.e. Florida) and on several Pacific
Islands (e.g. in American Samoa, Western Samoa, Fiji, Niue and Palau).
Habitat
Yellow allamanda ( Allamanda cathartica) prefers moist, well-drained, soils in tropical
regions. At present it is mainly a weed of roadsides and nearby bushland in the wet
tropics of northern Queensland, but is also reported to grow along creeks and in
disturbed natural vegetation in Western Australia.
older woody stem (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
Habit
A vine or shrubby plant with some climbing stems (i.e. scandent shrub). It often forms
into a clump about 2 m tall and 2-3 m wide, but can grow much higher when climbing up
over other vegetation (i.e. up to 6 m in height).
Distinguishing Features
a vine or climbing shrub with milky sap.
its leaves are leathery in nature and are usually arranged in groups of three
or four along the stems.
its large bright yellow flowers are trumpet-shaped with five spreading petal
lobes.
its rounded fruit capsules (about 4 cm across) are densely covered with soft
spines (about 1 cm long).
Stems and Leaves
close-up of reddish stem and leathery leaves (Photo:
Sheldon Navie)
The older stems are mostly woody and brownish in colour, while the younger branches
are generally green and hairless (i.e. glabrous). The stems and leaves both contain
a milky sap (i.e. latex).
The simple leaves are arranged in groups of three or four along the branches (i.e. the
leaves are whorled or verticillate). They are borne on very short stalks (i.e. petioles)
only 2-5 mm long and have blades that are egg-shaped in outline (i.e. obovate) to
somewhat elongated in shape (i.e. oblong-lanceolate). These leaves (5-17 cm long
and 2.5-6 cm wide) have a narrowed (i.e. attenuate) base, entire margins, and a pointed
tip (i.e. acuminate apex). They are somewhat shiny in appearance, relatively thick and
leathery in nature, and hairless (i.e. glabrous).
Flowers and Fruit
The large flowers (7-11 cm long and 5-7.5 cm wide) have five bright yellow petals that
are fused together at the base to form a tube (i.e. corolla tube) about 4-8 cm long. This
tube has reddish markings on the inside and is topped with five spreading petal lobes.
The flowers also have five sepals (8-22 mm long) that are fused into a much smaller,
greenish-coloured, tube at their bases (i.e. a calyx tube). Each flower also has five
stamens that are joined directly onto the inside of the petals (i.e. adnate to the corolla
tube) and a long style with two small branches at its tip. The flowers are borne in loose
clusters (i.e. cymes) near the tips of the stems, each containing about ten
flowers. Individual flowers are borne on short stalks (i.e. pedicels) about 5-7 mm long
and the petals (i.e. corolla lobes) are folded and twisted when in bud. Flowering
probably occurs mostly during spring and summer.
flowers and leaves (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
clusters of tubular yellow flowers (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
The fruit are rounded (i.e. globose) capsules (about 30-75 mm across) that are densely
covered with soft spines (about 1 cm long). These fruit are rarely seen in cultivated
plants. The seeds are somewhat flatenned (i.e. compressed), tan in colour and are
slightly winged or have a thin (i.e. membranous) margin.
Reproduction and Dispersal
This species reproduces by seed and can also be propagated via stems segments.
Yellow allamanda ( Allamanda cathartica) is probably mainly spread in garden waste
that is dumped along roadsides and in bushland. Its seeds are then dispersed from
these initial infestations by wind and water. Stem segments may also be spread down
waterways during floods.
flower from front-on (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
Environmental Impact
Yellow allamanda ( Allamanda cathartica) is regarded as an environmental weed in
northern Queensland. It is one of a number of exotic ornamental vines that have
become invasive in this region after escaping from garden plantings. This species was
first recorded as naturalised in Queensland in 1945. By 1992, it was recognised as a
weed of roadsides in the wet tropics region of northern Queensland, but it was not then
considered to be a high priority environmental weed.
However, yellow allamanda ( Allamanda cathartica) has continued to spread and is now
widely naturalised in the rainforests of northern and central Queensland. It
is now considered to be quite invasive in several National Parks in far northern
Queensland and is common along roadsides between Silkwood and Tully. It also invades
well-drained soils on the fringes of rainforests and paperbark swamps.
flower from side-on (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
In fact, yellow allamanda ( Allamanda cathartica) was recently ranked among the top
25 species on a prioritised list of weeds of the wet and dry tropics regions in northern
Queensland. It is also listed as a priority weed in the Far North Queensland Natural
Resource Management region, is a locally declared plant in Cardwell Shire, is regarded
as an "undesirable plant" in the wet tropics World Heritage Area, and is thought to be
adversely impacting upon natural systems in the Townsville City area.
This species also grows along creeks and roadsides, and in disturbed natural
vegetation, in northern Western Australia. It was first recorded as naturalised in this
state in 1993 and is also locally naturalised on creeklines on Koolan Island. Though it is
not yet listed as naturalised in the Northern Territory, yellow allamanda ( Allamanda
cathartica) is also regarded as a potential weed in Aboriginal lands in the Northern Land
Council area.
close-up of petal lobes and reddish lines in the throat of
the flower (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
Other Impacts
All parts of this species are toxic to livestock and humans, and the sticky milky sap can
cause skin irritation.
Legislation
This species is not declared or considered noxious by any state or territory government
in Australia.
close-up of sepals and narrow base of the flower tube
(Photo: Sheldon Navie)
Similar Species
Two other closely related species are also commonly cultivated in northern Australia,
bush allamanda ( Allamanda schottii) and purple allamanda ( Allamanda blanchetii).
These species can be distinguished from yellow allamanda ( Allamanda cathartica) by
the following differences:
yellow allamanda ( Allamanda cathartica) has hairless (i.e. glabrous) stems
and leaves that contain a milky sap (i.e. latex). It has a somewhat climbing
habit and has relatively large yellow flowers (7-11 cm long and 5-7.5 cm
across).
the shrubby habit and smaller flowers of Allamanda schottii
bush allamanda ( Allamanda schottii) has hairless (i.e. glabrous) stems and
(Photo: Sheldon Navie)
leaves that contain a clear sap. It has an upright shrubby habit and relatively
small yellow flowers (4-6 cm long and about 4 cm across).
purple allamanda ( Allamanda blanchetii) has hairy (i.e. pubescent) stems
and leaves. It has a climbing habit and has relatively large purplish flowers (about 10 cm long and 10 cm across).
Fact sheets are available from Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) service centres and our Customer Service Centre (telephone 13
25 23). Check our website at www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au to ensure you have the latest version of this fact sheet. The control methods referred to in this fact sheet
should be used in accordance with the restrictions (federal and state legislation, and local government laws) directly or indirectly related to each control method. These
restrictions may prevent the use of one or more of the methods referred to, depending on individual circumstances. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of
this information, DEEDI does not invite reliance upon it, nor accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused by actions based on it.
Copyright © 2016. All rights reserved. Identic Pty Ltd. Special edition of Environmental Weeds of Australia for Biosecurity Queensland.
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