Wachendorfia thyrsiflora approached by aliens

Wachendorfia thyrsiflora is a robust grower in well-watered, low-lying places of the southern parts of South Africa, as shown in the photo near Hermanus. The plant does not venture up the hills, for the water does not stay up there all year round.

The risk of the species in nature, the region’s spreading invasive alien vegetation, can be seen approaching in the distance, threatening all the way from Australia. Among the problem species in the broader region are Acacia mearnsii, A. dealbata, A. saligna, several Eucalyptus species, Hakea sericea and H. gibbosa. But don’t blame the Australians. We brought their plants here where the checks and balances, the natural enemies of the plants are absent.

And they reciprocated, taking several of our plants home to Australia. Like us, also for reasons of decoration or commerce, such innocent, positive objectives turned excuses! Australia has plants from South African genera like Watsonia, Pelargonium, Osteospermum, Gladiolus, and more to plague them.

This is one of the world’s most spectacular failed plant exchanges in history. Both nations are paying, suffering for it, and will continue to do so. Such Mediterranean climate ecosystem exchanges are relatively easy for many plants, given the chance. Hopefully the learning has now kicked in after so many horses have bolted. But there could be more to come, if we are not careful. So, it pays to remain vigilant… and clean up both our messes, as best we can, maybe in perpetuity (Manning, 2009; iNaturalist; Wikipedia; https://www.capenature.co.za; https://invasives.org.za; https://weeds.org.au).