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Managing our Environment

Wild Russell Lupin

Common name: Russell Lupin

Botanical name: Lupinus polyphyllus

Management programme: Sustained control

                

Why is it a pest?

Wild Russell lupin are Russell lupins that are established by natural means. Russell lupins rapidly invade rocky braided river systems and the thick, bushes provide hiding places for predators of birds that are often endangered and would usually nest safely on these bare islands. The thick infestations also get in the way of water flow along these rivers, changing the ecosystem for the birds and aquatic species that rely on this habitat.

It causes sand and gravel to build up, changing the shape of rivers and contributing to flooding and erosion. Disturbed lowland and sub-alpine shrubland, short tussock-land and wetlands are vulnerable to this plant.

               

                  

Source: Weedbusters

Source: Weedbusters

   

Sustained control programme

The sustained control programme aims to provide for ongoing control of the pest to reduce its impacts on values and spread to other properties.

Regional Pest Management Plan

What does it look like?

Russell lupin is a quick growing herb that can grow up to 1m tall, with multiple erect, hairy stems with clusters of leaflets that are usually hairless above and silky below. It produces a flowerhead spike that stands up straight, with many slightly scented and multiple coloured flowers from September to February. Russell lupin produces a large amount of seeds with dark brown spots of colour that are spread mainly by water and also by humans scattering them along roadsides. The seeds can last for many years.

Click here to see images

                         

What are the rules?

Over the life of the pest plan (10 years) the goal is to sustainably control the extent of Russell lupin within certain distances from waterways and property boundaries.

  • On rural-zoned land in Otago no Russell lupin is allowed to be planted within:
    • 200m (at the time of planting) of the outer gravel margin of a braided river or if there is no outer gravel margin, 200m from the edge of the active channel
    • 50m from any non-braided river
    • 10m from any artificial watercourse
    • 10m from an adjoining property boundary
  • Everyone on rural-zoned land must also eliminate all wild Russell lupin in the above boundaries.

                                

How can I control it?

You can hand pull or dig out small plants all year round and leave on site to rot. You can also cut the plant to the stump and apply herbicide or spray.

            

Images

Source: Weedbusters

Source: Weedbusters

            

Source: Weedbusters

Source: Weedbusters

             

Source: Weedbusters

Source: Weedbusters

Source: Weedbusters

Source: Weedbusters

           

Source: Weedbusters

Source: Weedbusters

             

Source: Weedbusters

Source: Weedbusters

Source: Weedbusters

Source: Weedbusters

                 

Source: Weedbusters

Source: Weedbusters

           

Source: Weedbusters

Source: Weedbusters

    

Definitions

Artificial watercourse – A watercourse that is created by human action. It includes an irrigation canal, water supply race, canal for the supply of water for electricity power generation, and farm drainage canal channel. It does not include artificial swales, kerb and channelling or other watercourses designed to convey stormwater.

Braided river – Any river with multiple, successively divergent and rejoining channels separated by gravel islands.

Eliminate – The permanent prevention of the plant's ability to set seed.

Non-braided river – A continually or intermittently flowing body of fresh water that is not a braided river; and includes a stream and modified watercourse; but does not include any artificial watercourse (including an irrigation canal, water supply race, canal for the supply of water for electricity generation, and farm drainage canal).

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