Bulbous & Succulent Plants

Duranta erecta cultivars

This new vogue plant to the Mid North Coast has become naturalised in some areas. It requires Family: Verbenaceae active management in all Origin: West Indies, Central and South America gardens. Habit: A straggly evergreen shrub 1-5 m high with drooping branches and sharp spines. Leaves: The ovate leaves are 2.5-7.6 cm long and arranged on the stem in pairs opposite each other, or in whorls of three. Flowers: Showy inflorescences bloom almost all year long in terminal or lateral racemes up to 15 cm long. The individual flowers are tubular with five petals, white, light blue, violet or purple, and spread out at the mouth about 1cm across. Fruit: Spherical yellow berry to 1.5 cm in diameter borne in showy hanging bunches. Roots: Substantial tap and lateral root system. Dispersal: Seed spread by humans, birds, animals, water, contaminated soil machinery including excavators, slashers, vehicles and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull. Cut and paint or scrape and paint, foliar spray.

Duranata ‘sheenas Gold’

Duranata ‘Geisha Girl’ Cytisus scoparius

Introduced to Australia in the 1800s as an Family: Fabaceae ornamental. A major woody weed of temperate Origin: Native to Europe areas, especially the Habit: Large, Erect, perennial, woody, semi- Barrington Tops, NSW. deciduous shrub to 4 m tall. There are other hybrids Leaves: Sparse, tiny grey-green leaves with three and species with different leaflets; older plants may be almost leafless. coloured flowers that may Flowers: Numerous yellow, Pea-like, 1.5-2.5 cm long also naturalise. late winter to summer. Fruit: Seedpods 2-7 cm long and about 1 cm wide containing up to 22 seeds per pod but often less. Seed greenish to brown. Seeds are released explosively from ripe pods. Roots: Extensive with a stout taproot and laterals that sucker readily. Dispersal: Seed spread by water, animals, humans, contaminated soil machinery including excavators, mowers, slashers, vehicles) and garden refuse dumping. Seedpods can eject seeds up to 4 m from the plant. Control: Hand dig / pull. Cut and paint or scrape and paint, foliar spray. Report this plant to your local Council Weed Officer.

Barrington Tops NSW 2422

Chromolaena odorata

Young Siam weed looks similar to blue Billy goat Family: Asteraceae weed (Ageratum spp.), but mature plants have Origin: Central and South America a growth habit similar to Habit: In the open, Siam weed grows as a dense lantana. Some graziers tangling bush to 2-3 m high. However, it have referred to Siam can scramble up to a height of 20 m with weed as ‘white lantana’. support. Multiple stems develop from the crown of the plant. The stems are smooth, round and fairly brittle, becoming woody at the base when old. Leaves: Soft, green, hairy and triangular in shape 5-12 cm long, with forward facing serrations and a distinctive three-vein ‘pitchfork’ like pattern. New growth exhibits a purple tinge. Flowers: Terminal flat-topped clusters of white to pale lilac heads of flowers. Masses of pale lilac flowers that appear white from a distance and turn a darker lilac when mature. Winter. Fruit: Seeds brown to black, 4–5 mm long, each possessing a (pappus)tuft of white silky hairs that aid its spread by wind. Roots: Fibrous and shallow. Develops a swelling at the junction of the stem and root, which is referred to as the basal ball. Dispersal: Seed & fragments spread by water, wind, animals, humans, contaminated soil machinery including excavators, mowers, slashers, vehicles. Seeds may be blown long distances. Control: Hand pull / dig, making sure to exlude all contact with soil or else regrowth will occur. Cut or scrape and paint, foliar spray. Report this plant to your local Council Weed Officer. Telegraph weed is a new and emerging species to the midCoast at Yacaaba Peninsula Hawks Nest.

Qld, DAFF

Colin Wilson

Heterotheca grandiflora

Family: Asteraceae Origin: Native to North America Habit: A short-lived herbaceous plant that gives of a strong odour. It develops a basal rosette during the early stages of growth and eventually produces upright stems that can reach up to 2 m in height. Leaves: The alternately arranged leaves are grey-green in colour, are densly hairy and are somewhat sticky to the touch, producing a pungent odour. Flowers: Small bright yellow daisy-like flower 15-22 mm across are borne at the tips of the branches. Fruit: Numerous ‘seeds’ can be produced by each flower-head. Each of these tiny seeds (2-5 mm long) is topped with a ring of several yellowish-brown to reddish coloured hairs (4-7 mm long). Roots: Fibrous and shallow. Dispersal: This species reproduces only by seed. The hairs on these small seeds assist wind dispersal, allowing them to be spread significant distances by wind. Control: Hand pull / dig, foliar spray. Report this plant to your local Council Weed Officer.

Solanum viarum

Foliage of TSA is unpalatable to livestock, Family: Solanaceae reducing carrying capacities. Prickles on Origin: N.E. Argentina, S.E Brazil, Paraguay and this plant can restrict Uruguay grazing, and thickets can Habit: An aggressive and very prickly, perennial create a physical barrier shrub 1-2 m high. It invades open to semi- preventing access to shaded areas including pastures, forests, shade and water. The riparian zones, roadsides, recreational areas, plant contains solasodine horticulture and cropping areas. which is poisonous to Leaves: Ovate; green on both sides; 10-20cm long humans. and 6-15cm wide bearing 5-7 lobes; covered with short hairs and white prickles. Prominent veins are cream-coloured on both sides of the leaves. Flowers: White, star shaped with 5 petals, 1.5-2 cm wide, occuring in clusters of 3-6. Autumn to winter. Fruit: Mature fruit are yellow and golf ball-size 2-3 cm in diameter. Immature fruit are pale green with green marbling, and resemble immature water melons. Palatable to animals. Roots: Substantial tap root that gives rise to many laterals. Will re-shoot from any root stock left in ground. Dispersal: Seed spread by water, animals (cattle, birds, feral pigs, deer) contaminated hay, contaminated soil. Control: Hand pull / dig, making sure that all roots and stem fragments are removed. Cut or scrape and paint, foliar spray. Report this plant to your local Council Weed Officer. State Control order.

Greg Egan

The tree weeds are often the most obvious, simply because they occupy a large area in an ecosystem. Because of the sheer size many of these plants can attain, it makes them one of the most costly and difficult group of plants to manage.

The main weed species locally are featured on their own pages but below is a list of:-

Common Name Botanical Name Athel Pine Tamarix aphylla. Cadaghi Gum Corymbia torelliana Cecropia Cecropia spp. Coffee Coffea arabica Cootamundra Wattle Acacia baileyana Ice Cream Bean Inga edulis Jacaranda Jacaranda mimosifolia Leucaena Leucaena leucocephala Loquat Eriobotrya japonica Mount Morgan Wattle Acacia podalyriifolia Night Scented Jasmine Cestrum nocturnum Norfolk Island Hibiscus Lagunaria patersonia Paper mulberry Broussonetia papyrifera Prickly Acacia Vachellia nilotica Princess Tree Paulownia fortunei, P. tomentosa

Pond Apple Rhus Tree

Annona glabra Toxicodendron succedaneum Tagasaste Chamaecytisus palmensis Tree of Heaven Ailanthus altissima Tung Oil Tree Vernicia fordii Willows Salix spp. Olive fact: Olea europaea and ssp. was an early introduction to Australia and is now naturalised widely throughout southern regions, especially South Australia. Its fruit are readily dispersed by birds and foxes. Between 1995 and 2005 over 7 million trees were planted and with expansion of popularity the potential for further dispersal into bushland has also increased. European olives are widely available for sale in nurseries. The only possible reduction in its spread depends on modern breeding techniques which could produce radically improved cultivars with sterile seeds as well as superior fruit. Unfortunately the incentive for research to achieve this lies almost certainly in the promise of higher oil yield rather than one of reduced weed potential.

The African olive is currently the main species naturalised in NSW. and, is still sold in nurseries. It has escaped from ornamental hedges in home gardens.

Spathodea campanulata

Not yet widely naturalised in NSW, but Family: Bignoniaceae it is cultivated throughout parts of the MidCoast Origin: Native to tropical western Africa area as a garden plant Habit: A large upright tree to 25 m tall with a and street tree. spreading crown and a slightly buttressed trunk Recent research indicates Leaves: The large compound leaves (up to 50 cm long) have 7-17 leaflets. They are usually oppositely arranged along the stems. Leaflets are broadly oval or egg-shaped and have entire margins. They have a sparse covering of soft hairs and African tulip trees may be toxic to native bee species. Please consider replacing with alternative species. the extension of the leaf stalk is usually covered in brownish coloured hairs. Flowers: The large and very showy orange flowers are tulip shaped and arranged in dense clusters at the tips of the branches. Individual flowers are borne on short stalks that are covered in brownish-coloured hairs. Fruit: Large pod split when ready to reveal numerous papery seeds that are very light and surrounded by a see-through membranous wing. Roots: A tree that invades disturbed sites, waste areas, forest margins and rainforests in tropical and sub-tropical regions. It favours wetter habitats and is especially common along creeks and gullies. Dispersal: This plant reproduces mostly by seeds, which are light and usually released from a significant height. Larger trees may also spread via root suckers, particularly when they are damaged. Seeds are most commonly wind dispersed, but they may also be spread by water and in dumped garden waste. Archontophoenix alexandrae

Origin: Native to the coastal parts of northern and central Queensland. Habit: A key feature of the Alexander palm is its capacity to tolerate inundation This survival quality has made the palm a dominant species in tropical Queensland. Easily identified by the silvery undersurface of the fronds. Alexander palm is not locally native to to NSW so the similiar Bangalow palm (below) should be planted in local gardens instead.

Alexander and Bangalow palms are known to cross pollinate creating a seedling known as the Alebang. This may eventually pollute the species natural gene pool in NSW.

Y W Jong

Archontophoenix cunninghamiana

Family: Arecaceae Origin: Native to central east coast of Australia. Habit: Grows in or near rainforest in coastal districts, mostly in moist sites beside creeks and on alluvial flats; north from Batemans Bay. Bangalow palm is the local native species to NSW, so should be planted in local gardens instead of the above species.

Brugmansia suaveolens Brugmansia x candida

Family: Solanaceae Origin: The Andies, Northern South America Habit: Untidy, evergreen shrub or small tree to 4.5 m high, branching low from a short trunk. Leaves: Dull green, oval, velvety leaves with wavy margin are arranged alternately, but confined to the branch tips. Flowers: Large, white, pale violet, pale orange or peach, highly night scented, pendulous, trumpet shaped flowers to 30 cm long are borne in the Summer. Fruit: Green, egg-shaped to narrowly oval berry, up to 20 cm long containing many seeds 8-12 cm across. Roots: Woody, branching and relatively shallow. Dispersal: Vegetation & seed spread by humans, birds, animals (foxes, rats), water, contaminated soil machinery including excavators, mowers, slashers, vehicles car tyres etc) and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull juvenile plants. Various foliar spray methods, drill-injection; frilling, cut and paint, basal bark. Brugmansia, Datura and other tropane-bearing plants are potentially very dangerous and can cause serious mental and physical reactions or death if consumed. New and emerging weed species on the MidCoast. Consider replacing with a less invasive garden species.

B. x candida Viburnum odoratissimum var. awabuki

Family: Adoxaceae Origin: Taiwan and Japan Habit: Shrub or small tree, usually, 1-4 m tall, but occasionally up to 6 m in height. It develops brownish-grey bark on its older stems while its younger stems are green or reddish-tinged and hairless. Its has a dense spreading habit, becoming more open, multibranched with a rounded canopy when mature. Leaves: Opositely arranged leaves are borne on green or reddish stalks 1-3 cm long and are hairless. Leaves are relatively large (10-20 cm long and 4-9 cm wide) with irregularly toothed to almost entire margins and usually have pointed tips. New foliage is often a bronze colour. Flowers: Spring and Summer. Large numbers of sweet-smelling, Small white flowers are produced in clusters at the tips of the branches in spring. Fruit: Small egg-shaped berries turn from green to red or blackish in colour as they mature. They are fleshy but contain single hard seed in the centre. Dispersal: Bird Lollys - birds and other animals eat the berries. Seeds may also be spread into bushland areas in dumped garden waste. Control: Complete removal, cut stump, basal bark, stem injection or foliar spray.

Robinia pseudoacacia & cv’s.

Black locust is naturalised in WA, SA, Vic, NSW and Family: Fabaceae Qld. It is still available at nurseries in NSW. Origin: North America A rootstock is utilised for Habit: Deciduous large shrub or small tree to 15 m, the grafting of cultivars bearing many large rose like prickles. and may sucker and Leaves: Compound 8-15 cm long, pinnate with 11- dominate when disturbed 21 leaflets 2-5 cm long, 1-2.5 cm wide with or stressed. entire margins. Flowers: Sweetly perfumed, white, pink or purple pea-like flowers borne in racemes 10-15 cm long. Spring. Fruit: Small brown glabrous pods 3-8 cm long, 10-15 mm wide with several hard black seeds. Roots: Strong root system capable of coppicing and suckering when disturbed or stressed. Dispersal: Seed spread by water, animals, humans, contaminated soil machinery including excavators, mowers, slashers, vehicles car tyres etc) and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull juvenile plants. Various foliar spray methods also drillinjection; frilling; cut and paint, basal bark. Difficult to control. Schinus terebinthifolius

Family: Anacardiaceae Origin: Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay Habit: Small tree up to 6-10 m tall and 4.5 m wide bearing a short trunk with multiple branches. Dioecious i.e. there are separate male and female trees. Leaves: Compound, pinnate with 3-9 leaflets Leaflets to 3-8 cm long, mid to dark green, Main stem red tinged, peppery aroma when crushed. Flowers: Inflorescence a panicle. Flowers small, 5 petals, cream to white in clusters at ends of branches. Intermittent Spring-Autumn. Fruit: Round drupe, green ripening to glossy red, about 0.5 cm across. Roots: Strong root system capable of coppicing and suckering. Dispersal: Seed spread by humans, water, animals (foxes, rats & birds), contaminated soil machinery including excavators, mowers, slashers, vehicles car tyres etc) and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull juvenile plants. Various foliar spray methods also drillinjection; frilling; cut and paint, basal bark. Difficult to control. Report this plant to your local Council Weed Officer. Broad leaf pepper tree has been in cultivation in Australia for almost 150 years and is recorded in nursery catalogues in Victoria in the mid 1860s.

Boolambayte NSW 2423

Cinnamomum camphora

Planted in eastern Australia in 1854 as Family: Lauraceae a shade and street tree in school yards, Origin: China, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam and Cheju-do playgrounds, cemeteries, (Korea) parks and agriculturally. Habit: A large, hardy evergreen spreading tree 20- It has naturalised from 30 m in height. Grey-brown, textured bark, the Nowra region to north becoming fissured with age. Queensland, in areas of Leaves: Leaves 5-11 cm long, ovate, glossy on upper high annual rainfall. surface; dull and chalky on lower surface. 3 main veins arise from petiole joint at base of leaf. Strong camphor smell when crushed. Flowers: Inflorescence a panicle. Flowers Small, white, produced in clusters in Spring. Fruit: Glossy green spherical berry to 1cm wide, ripen to black in late autumn. Each berry contains one seed. Roots: Strong root system capable of coppicing and suckering. Dispersal: Seed spread by Humans, birds, water, animals (foxes, rats), contaminated soil, machinery including excavators, slashers, vehicles and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull juvenile plants. Various foliar spray methods also drillinjection; frilling; cut and paint, basal bark. Difficult to control. Berberis lomariifolia

Mahonia can form dense thickets which exclude Family: Berberidaceae other understorey vegetation. Assessed as Origin: Asia; Yunnan, Sichuan, northern Burma and a very high weed risk, the east to Taiwan priority is to prevent its Habit: Tall, narrow shrub or small tree, up to 4-5 establishment as a weed m high with a single stem or many upright in north-east NSW. branches and interesting fissured bark. Leaves: Compound; holly-like; borne in tufts at the top of the stems. Made up of 1421 pairs plus one terminal, long, shiny, narrow leaflets bearing many coarse spinose teeth on the margins. Flowers: Fragrant yellow flowers are borne in dense terminal racemes up to 25cm long and in clusters of up to 20, Winter to Spring. Fruit: Green ovoid or globose berries that turn frosted blue as they ripen. Spring. Roots: Strong root system that may be capable of suckering. Dispersal: Seed spread by animals (mainly birds), humans, contaminated soil and garden refuse dumping. Can reproduce vegetatively. Control: Hand dig / pull juvenile plants. Drill-injection; frilling; cut and paint. Report this plant to your local Council Weed Officer.

Andel Früh Trees

Koelreuteria elegans ssp. formosana K. paniculata; K. bipinnata

Beginning to naturalise on roadsides and in parks & gardens of the Mid North Coast of NSW.

Family: Sapindaceae Origin: Taiwan Habit: A tree usually growing 5-12 m tall, but capable of reaching up to 25 m high. Leaves: Twice-compound, alternately arranged leaves are very large (25-60 cm long and 15-44 cm wide) Leaves are borne on stalks carrying 8-17 leaflets. The leaflets (5.5-10 cm long and 1.3-4 cm wide) have entire to irregularly toothed margins and long pointed tips. Flowers: Large, branched, clusters of small yellow flowers with four or five petals, sepals and stamens on each. Fruit: Present during late summer and autumn, the bright red to deep rose-purple, inflated papery capsules are three-sided and somewhat oval in shape. Gradually fading to pink and eventually brown as they mature, each capsule contains six seeds, two in each compartment. Dispersal: Generally spread to new areas by deliberate cultivation. The seeds are blown from the trees still contained in their light and papery capsule and potentially spread by water. They may also spread in dumped garden waste, while birds may also be a factor in their dispersal. Control: Cut stump stem injection and basal bark, may require arborist.

Triadica sebifera

Still a popular park and Autumn foliage tree, Chinese Tallowood’s are naturalised in many areas Family: Euphorbiaceae of NSW. The milky sap in Origin: China and Japan both the leaves and the Habit: A hardy deciduous medium tree to 7 m in berries is poisonous to height. Grey-brown, textured bark, becoming animals. fissured with age. Leaves: Diamond shaped, abruptly pointed at the tip, simple, alternate and 5-8 cm long. In Autumn the leaves turn brilliant shades of scarlet, orange, yellow and maroon. Flowers: Yellowish green catkins on the branch tips produced in Spring. Fruit: Three-lobed capsule with one seed in each lobe. Seeds are covered with vegetable tallow, a white waxy coating. Roots: Strong tap root system capable of suckering. Dispersal: Seed spread by humans, Birds, water, animals, contaminated soil, machinery including excavators, slashers, vehicles and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull juvenile plants. Various foliar spray methods also drillinjection; frilling; cut and paint. Difficult to control. Report this plant to your local Council Weed Officer. Trees

Erythrina crista-galli

Commonly cultivated, becoming widely Family: Fabaceae naturalised, especially in coastal districts along Origin: Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina and drains & streams. Council Uruguay recommends the removal Habit: Deciduous tree to 5-9 m taking on a gnarled of this species. appearance with age, bark is covered with large curved prickles. Has the potential to Leaves: Compound trifoliate leaves with prickles on invade natural areas stems. such as hind-dunes, Flowers: Very large spikes 30-40 cm long of bright scarlet or coral-red pea like bird attracting rainforests, wetlands creeks, and saltmarshes. flowers in Spring-Summer. Fruit: Long green pods age brown and open with a twist revealing large, hard, bean like seeds. Roots: Substantial tap and lateral root system capable of invading plumbing pipes. Will sucker from root fragments left in ground. Branches should not be left on the ground as they can re-grow into new plants. Dispersal: Vegetation & seed spread by humans, water, birds, animals, contaminated soil, machinery including excavators, mowers, slashers, vehicles and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull juvenile plants. Various foliar spray methods also drillinjection; frilling, cut and paint. Very difficult to control. Erythrina x sykesii

Grows readily from fallen branches, and wood chips Family: Fabaceae should not be used as mulch unless composted. Origin: Uncertain Has the potential to Habit: Deciduous tree 10-15 m high by 15-20 m invade natural areas wide with a dense rounded canopy, short such as hind-dunes, stout truck and ascending branches with rainforests, wetlands, smooth greenish bark, and rose like thorns. creeks, and saltmarshes. Very brittle branches are shed when windy. Leaves: Compound; tri-foliolate; leaflets triangular to obovate, 7-20 cm long, 7-12 cm wide mid green. Flowers: Racemes usually 8-30 cm long and erect bearing up to 30-scarlet red pea like flowers. Most of year but mainly Winter - Spring. Fruit: Nil. Roots: Substantial tap and lateral root system capable of invading plumbing pipes. Will sucker from root fragments left in ground. Branches should not be left on the ground as they can re-grow into new plants. Dispersal: Vegetation spread by water and humans via garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull small plants. Various foliar spray methods also drill-injection; frilling; cut and paint, basal bark. Very difficult to control. Trees

Psidium cattleyanum var. cattleyanum

Family: Myrtaceae Origin: South America Habit: A shrub or small tree usually 1-3 m tall, but occasionally growing up to 10 m in height, baring characteristic grey-green to reddishbrown mottled bark. Leaves: Simple, opposite, dark shiny green, thick & leathery, elliptical to obovate, 4-8 cm long & 2.5-4.5 cm wide with shortly pointed tips. Flowers: Single, white, 15-25 mm wide with five petals, numerous stamens & borne in the upper leaf forks, during spring & summer. Fruit: Rounded, fleshy berries 2-3.5 cm wide, turn from green to purplish-red when ripe (rarely yellow), during autumn and winter. They contain numerous seeds and a whitish pulpy flesh. Roots: Substantial tap and lateral root system capable of suckering. Dispersal: Seed spread by water, animals (pigs, bats & birds), humans, contaminated soil and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull juvenile plants. Drill-injection; frilling; cut and paint, basal bark, foliar spray. Cherry guava has been ranked as one of the world’s 100 worst invasive species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

All photos: LHIB Cestrum parqui

Family: Solanaceae Origin: Central and South America Habit: Large woody evergreen shrub 3-4 m high. Leaves: Dull grey/green colour above paler below, alternate, narrow and lance shaped, 2-7 cm long, usually 1-5 cm wide; the leaf stem (petiole) can be up to 1 cm long. Leaves have an unpleasant odour when crushed. Flowers: Loose terminal clusters of greenish to bright yellow, tubular flowers to 3 cm long with 5 lobes. Very sweetly night scented. Flowers most of year. Fruit: Green egg-shaped berry ripening to black, about 10-15 mm in length, seeds dark green or brown, 3–4 mm long. Roots: Substantial tap root that gives rise to many laterals. Suckering habit. Will reshoot from any root stock left in ground. Dispersal: Seed spread by humans, birds, water, animals, contaminated soil, machinery including excavators, slashers, vehicles and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull juvenile plants. Cut and paint, scrape and paint, basal bark or foliar spray. Prized for its sweet night scented flowers, Green Cestrum was widely planted as a garden hedge in 19th century Australia. All vegetative parts are toxic to sheep, cattle, pigs, poultry and horses. Even dead sticks can prove fatal to livestock.

Listening Hill, NSW 2425

Fraxinus griffithii

Family: Oleaceae Origin: Indian Sub-continent, China, Taiwan and S.E. Asia Habit: Small to medium evergreen tree up to 10 m tall. Leaves: Compound; bright green and glossy; 1025 cm long with 5-11 leaflets. Leaflets are 2-10 cm long and 1-5 cm wide with entire margins and pointed tips. Flowers: Small white flowers are arranged in branched clusters 10-25 cm long borne at the tips of the stems. Summer. Fruit: Winged seeds 2.5-4 cm long and 4-5 mm wide that start green, turn pinkish and then brown as they mature. Summer - Autumn. Roots: Substantial tap and lateral root system. Capable of spreading laterally via root suckers. Dispersal: Seed spread by humans, wind, water, animals contaminated soil, machinery including excavators, slashers, vehicles and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull juvenile plants. Cut and paint, scrape and paint basal bark or foliar spray. Commonly cultivated as a street and garden tree, particularly in the warmer parts of eastern Australia. Beginning to spread from cultivation and locally showing its potential as a weed with the carpets of seedlings produced after seeding. Gleditsia triacanthos

MidCoast Council has Introduced as a fodder been implementing an tree and cultivated as Family: Fabaceae eradication program with LandCare on the an ornamental. Found in dense thickets along Origin: Central & Eastern Wallamba River. watercourses on the North America central & mid north Habit: Spreading deciduous medium to large tree coast, western slopes 15 m to 25 m, bearing single or branched and tablelands of clusters of large savage thorns 2-10 cm’s northern NSW and in S.E. long. Queensland. Leaves: Compound, 15-20 cm long, usually bipinnate with 2-7 pairs of pinnae and 12-30 pinnules per pinnae; leaflets elliptic to ovate, 10-35 mm long, 5-12 mm wide, sparsely toothed. Flowers: Fragrant, brownish-yellow pubescent pea-like flowers borne in racemes 1015 cm long in spring as leaves develop or after leaves appear. Fruit: Pod slightly sickle shaped, 15-40 cm long, 3-4 cm wide, dark brown not opening at maturity, containing 15-25 hard brown seeds. Roots: Strong root system capable of coppicing and suckering when disturbed or stressed. Dispersal: Seed spread by humans, water, birds, animals, contaminated soil, machinery including excavators, slashers, vehicles and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull juvenile plants. Various foliar spray methods also drillinjection; frilling; cut and paint. Difficult to control. Report this plant to your local Council Weed Officer.

Celtis sinensis

Naturalised in damp areas, particularly along banks of waterways, in S.E. Qld and to a Family: Cannabaceae lesser extent in N.E. Origin: China, Korea and Japan N.S.W. A problematic Habit: Deciduous tree to 15 m to 20 m high with environmental weed in Smooth, silvery grey bark covered with these areas. Commonly lenticels (small corky spots). found on clay soils. Seeds Leaves: Ovate; Mature leaves 4-10 cm long, 2-4.5 cm wide, shiny, dark green and mostly rarely survive for more than two years. hairless above, paler below with hairs on veins. Upper leaf edges only coarsely toothed, leaf bases asymmetrical. Flowers: Inflorescences of few tiny, flowers bearing 4 creamy petals, 4 purplish sepals and 4 stamens. Flowers late winter to early spring. Fruit: Globe-shaped, succulent, 6-8 mm wide, on stalk 0.4-1 cm long, green aging to orange/red in summer-autumn. Roots: Strong tap root system capable of suckering. Dispersal: Seed spread by humans, birds, animals, water contaminated soil, machinery including excavators, slashers, vehicles and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull juvenile plants. Various foliar spray methods also drillinjection; frilling; cut and paint, basal bark. Difficult to control. Report this plant to your local Council Weed Officer. Juglans ailantifolia

Weed alert for the MidCoast area. Replace with less invasive spp.

Family: Juglandaceae Origin: It is native to Japan. It is a weed around Mt Irvine in the Blue Mountains in the Greater Sydney region. In 2021 plants were found north west of Port Macquarie on the North Coast and these plants are under an eradication program. It has become a weed in New Zealand. Habit: Japanese walnut can grow in a range of soils though it prefers moist well drained soils. It grows best in sunny sites and is frost tolerant. It can grow along waterways in disturbed forests and shrublands in pastures along roadsides. Leaves: Leaves are up to 90 cm long and made up of 4–8 pairs of opposite leaflets with a single leaflet at the end. Leaflets are 6–18 cm long and 3–8 cm wide, hairy underneath especially on the veins sparsely serrated along the edges. Flowers: Each tree has both male and female flowers. Male flowers are yellow-green and in clusters about 15 cm long that hang down from the stems. Female flowers are clustered in groups of 5–22 flowers on upright spikes which are swollen near the stem, green with small petals and obvious pinky-red stigmas and covered with purple hairs. Fruit: green ripening to rust-coloured, round and contain hard, thick-shelled nuts 25–40 mm in diameter, covered in a furry husk when young and in clusters of up to 22 fruit. Dispersal: Seeds are spread by water, animals and by people dumping garden waste Control: Hand dig / pull juvenile plants. Various foliar spray methods also drillinjection; frilling; cut and paint., Basal bark.

Matt Bell

Murraya paniculata

Monitor your murraya for fruiting after flowering. Replace any Family: Rutaceae heavy seeders with a lesser fruiting variety. Origin: Native to southern China, Taiwan, the Indian sub-continent, south-eastern Asia and northern Australia Habit: A bushy shrub or small tree usually growing 2-4 m tall, but occasionally reaching up to 7 m in height Leaves: Its alternately arranged leaves are once-compound (6-11.5 cm long) with 3-9 glossy leaflets Flowers: Its fragrant flowers are borne in clusters at the tips of the branches or in the upper leaf forks. These white flowers (10-18 mm long) have five petals that are curved backwards Fruit: Its small egg-shaped or oval fruit (about 10 mm long) turn from green to orange or bright red in colour as they mature. Roots: A weed of closed forests, open woodlands, watercourses (i.e. riparian areas), native bushland, forest margins, pastures, disturbed sites, waste areas, gardens and roadsides in the wetter tropical and sub-tropical regions of Australia. Dispersal: This species reproduces by seed. These seeds are most commonly spread by birds and other animals that eat the brightly-coloured fruit. They may also be dispersed in dumped garden waste. Olea europaea ssp. cuspidata - African Olive1 Olea europaea ssp. europaea - European Olive2

The main problem is that humans neglect trees or fail to harvest all fruit, Family: Oleaceae leaving it for birds and animals to eat and spread. Origin: Mediterranean region of Europe, Portugal, South Africa Habit: Much branched evergreen tree 5-15 m high with drooping branchlets. Thin greyish bark covered by protruding lenticels. Leaves: Simple, narrow, opposite, lance-shaped, 5-10 cm long and up to 2 cm wide with prominent midrib, dark green on upper surface; African Olive1 - yellowish-brown on lower surface, often with a hooked tip. European Olive2 - silvery-grey on lower surface, pointed tip. Flowers: Small white to cream or greenish tubular flowers forming in racemes at branch tips. Spring-Summer. Fruit: Green berries that ripen to purplish-black in summer. African Olive1 - round 1-2 cm in diameter. European Olive2 - oval shaped 2-5 cm long. Roots: Substantial tap root that gives rise to many laterals. Will re-shoot from any root stock left in ground. Dispersal: Seed spread by humans, birds, animals (foxes, rats), contaminated soil, machinery including excavators, slashers, vehicles and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull juvenile plants. Drill-injection; frilling; cut and paint, basal bark, foliar spray. Bag and dispose of all fruit. Report African Olive to your local Council Weed Officer.

European Olive Dr Stephen Johnson African Olive John Hosking

Phoenix canariensis

This species is naturalised in many parts of Australia. Family: Arecaceae Also naturalised overseas in Europe, N.W. Africa, Origin: Canary Islands Mexico, southern USA Habit: Palm-tree to 15-20 m high; trunk single, and New Zealand. erect, stout, to at least 1 m diam and topped with a large canopy of feathery plumes that persist for many months after death. Leaves: Spreading, to 6 m long, 50 cm wide, petiole very short; leaflets stiff, deeply channelled, to 40 cm long and 3 cm wide, basal leaflets short, thick and modified to extremely spines. Flowers: Many yellowish flowers in panicles form the inflorescence in Summer. Fruit: Masses of bright yellow to reddish, ellipsoid “date-like” fruits 1.5–2.3 cm long, fleshy layer is rather thin. Roots: Substantial fibrous root system capable of uplifting paths and garden edging. Dispersal: Seed spread by water, animals (bats, rats & birds), humans, contaminated soil and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull juvenile plants. Cut down older trees bag all seeds.

Jepto

Piece of Eden Garden Blog Syagrus romanzoffiana

Once widely used in landscaping because of their Family: Arecaceae hardiness, they are now commonly being removed Origin: Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina because of the abundance Habit: Palm tree 15-20 m high with a smooth of messy seed that are straight grey trunk ringed with evenly produced and spread by bats. spaced leaf scars and topped with a large canopy of feathery plumes that persist for many months after death. Leaves: Dark glossy green fronds to 4.5 m have a double rows of leaflets to 1 m long and to 3 cm wide that droop to the ground. Flowers: Many cream flowers in panicles form the inflorescence in Summer. Fruit: Masses of bright orange oval “date-like” fruits (actually miniature coconuts) to 2.5 cm hang in heavy bunches to 2 m long that drop to the ground and rot. Roots: Substantial fibrous root system capable of uplifting paths and garden edging. Dispersal: Seed spread by humans, birds, animals (bats, rats), water, contaminated soil and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull juvenile plants. Cut down older trees bag all seeds. Trees

Pinus radiata1 Pinus elliottii2

Pines have become widley naturalised on the mid north coast of NSW, particularly near forestry plantations.

Family: Pinaceae Pinus pinaster is another Origin: California1, SE U.S.A. to Central America, wildling pine impacting West Indies2 biodiversity in the Hunter Dispersal: Seed spread by wind, water, birds, humans, region. contaminated soil garden refuse dumping and deliberate plantings. Control: Hand dig / pull seedlings, low cut and fell juvenile or adult plants. Radiata Pine1: Large tree to 30m with dark, often deeply ridged bark. Leaves: Needle-like, relatively short and twisted, 8-15 cm long, usually borne in groups of three (rarely in twos). Male cones: Cylindrical 1-1.5 cm long and clustered at the tips of the branches. Female cones: Large, asymmetrical, 7-17 cm long, borne on short curved stalks. Slash Pine2: Tall tree to 30m with horizontal branches high on the trunk and grey to reddish-brown bark that sheds in thin scales. Leaves: Needle-like, relatively long at 15-30 cm and borne in groups of two or three (usually in twos). Male cones: Purplish, cylindrical, 2.5-6 cm long are and borne in clusters.Female cones: Large, symmetrical, 7-20 cm long, borne on short stalks.

Pinus elliottii Bocconia frutescens

This species is an emerging weed in the MidCoast region. Due to its prolific Family: Papaveraceae seed production and long lived seed bank it could be an ongoing issue if not Origin: Central and South America controlled early. and the West Indies Habit: Largest member of the poppy family. With age, the plant becomes thick and bushy, producing multiple stems and growing to a small tree to 6 meters. Leaves: It has large lobed leaves, up to 45cm long and 20 cm wide that are clustered at the branch tips. Leaves are discolourate having a green upper and silvery under surface. Flowers: Large sprays of insignificant flowers, lack petals but have sepals each up to a centimetre long. The anthers dangle from the flower centre by their filaments. Fruit: One mature plant can produce more than 300,000 seeds per annual fruiting season. Large sprays of fleshy red-black seeds that are attractive to birds and can be spread long distances. Dispersal: Generally spread to new areas by deliberate cultivation. Seeds, which are attractive to birds can spread long distances. Also spread by water, animals, contaminated soil and garden refuse dumping. Control: Seedlings and juveniles can be pulled by hand; larger plants root firmly and require cut and paint methods. Report this plant to your local Council Weed Officer.

Flowers

Ligustrum lucidum

Was widely cultivated as a hedge plant, now Family: Oleaceae a widespread weed of coastal bushland and Origin: China, Korea & Japan wasteland, especially Habit: Evergreen shrub or small tree to 12 m high. along streams; also Leaves: Ovate to elliptic or narrow-ovate, 4-13 cm extending to the western long, 3-5 cm wide, dark green above, paler slopes of NSW and below with entire margin. adjacent areas in Old. Flowers: Inflorescence is a dense, panicle 15-25 cm long. Flowers fragrant with 4 white petals, each 3-5 mm long; Spring–Summer. Fruit: Berry 6-8 mm long, purple-black and succulent when ripe. Seeds darkbrown, finely pitted, about 5 mm long. Fruits in autumn and winter. Roots: Substantial tap and lateral root system capable of invading plumbing pipes. Dispersal: Seed spread by birds (mainly Currawongs), animals humans, water, contaminated soil, machinery including excavators, slashers, vehicles and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull small plants. Various foliar spray methods also drill-injection; frilling; cut and paint, basal bark. Relatively easy to control. Ligustrum sinense

Often still cultivated as a hedge. Widely Family: Oleaceae naturalised, especially along fence lines in Origin: China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Laos and cleared areas, wasteland, Vietnam stream banks and margins Habit: Evergreen to semi-deciduous (in cooler of rainforest. areas) shrub to small tree 3-5 m high. Leaves: Elliptic to ovate, mostly 2-5 cm long, 1.5-2.5 cm wide. Flowers: Inflorescence is a dense, panicle 5–10 cm long. Flowers fragrant with 4 white petals each 3-5 mm long with pink/purple pollen. Late winter to spring. Fruit: Berry ovoid 4-7 mm long, black and succulent when ripe; seeds 3-4 mm long. Roots: Substantial tap and lateral root system capable of invading plumbing pipes. Dispersal: Seed spread by birds (mainly Currawongs), animals humans, water, contaminated soil, machinery including excavators, slashers, vehicles and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull small plants. Various foliar spray methods also drill-injection; frilling; cut and paint, basal bark. Relatively easy to control.

Crotalaria beddomeana

Mature seedpods produce a rattle sound Family: Fabaceae when shaken, which is where the plant gains Origin: India it’s common name Habit: Erect shrub or small tree, 2-5 m high; stems Rattlepod. This plant is densely pubescent. easily confused with Wild Leaves: Simple, ovate or elliptic, 6-13 cm long, 33-80 Tobacco Tree before it mm wide, upper surface glabrous (smooth flowers. Rattlepods are & glossy), under surface densely greyish considered poisonous to pubescent (hairy). livestock. Flowers: Large; pea-like; varying shades of yellow in racemes up to 15 cm long; Winter - Spring. Fruit: Pod 50–70 mm long, glabrous; seeds c. 5 mm long, glossy, minutely papillose Pods often present throughout the year. Roots: Substantial tap and lateral root system. Dispersal: Seed spread by water, animals, humans, contaminated soil (earth moving equipment etc) and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull juvenile plants. Cut and paint, scrape and paint or foliar spray. Report this plant to your local Council Weed Officer. Cestrum elegans

All Cestrum spp can escape the garden.

Family: Solanaceae Origin: A weed of rainforest gaps and margins, wetter open forests, roadsides, gullies, urban bushland and riparian vegetation. Native to Mexico Habit: A shrub usually growing 1-3 m tall, but occasionally reaching 5 m in height. Leaves: The alternately arranged leaves are simple and borne on stalks 5-15 mm long. These leaves are egg-shaped in outline, oval or somewhat elongated with entire margins and pointed tips. They are densely hairy when young, but quickly lose most of their hairs. Flowers: Tubular flowers are arranged in branched clusters at the tips of the branches or in the upper leaf forks. Each of these densely clustered flowers is borne on a very short stalk about 1 mm long. The flowers have five green sepals (4.5-8 mm long) that are fused together at the base into a tube. Their red, reddish-pink, pink or purplish coloured petals are also fused together into a hairless tube 15-23 mm long with five small petal lobes at the tip. The flowers also have five stamens and an ovary topped with a style and stigma. The stamens consist of a stalk 9-12 mm long topped with an anther. Flowering occurs mainly during winter and spring. Fruit: The fruit is a rounded berry 8-13 mm across. These fruit turn from green to dark pink or dull red as they mature and contain about eight seeds. Dispersal: Dispersed by birds and dumping of garden waste. Control: Basal Bark, cut stump, foliar spray. Toxic to animals they are a threat to biosecurity. The berries are bird lollies

Tipuana tipu

Family: Fabaceae Origin: Native to South America. Habit: A fast-growing and spreading tree quickly reaching 15 m tall, and capable of growing up to 30 m or more in height. Leaves: The leaves are once-compound with several paired leaflets and a single terminal leaflet. These leaves (with 9-29 leaflets) are alternately arranged along the stems and borne on stalks 15-20 mm long. The leaflets are oval (i.e. elliptic) or oblong in shape (2.5-7 cm long and 1.3-2.3 cm) with a rounded or notched tip. Flowers: The flowers are borne in elongated clusters (5-11 cm long) in the upper leaf forks and at the tips of the branches. They are yellow or yellow-orange in colour, pea-shaped and about 2 cm across. Each flower has a large upper petal with reddish-coloured markings at its base, two side petals, and a folded lower petal that is actually made up of two fused petals. They also have five small green sepals (7-9 mm long), that are fused together into a tube at the base, and ten stamens Fruit: The winged fruit (i.e. samara) contain one to three reddish seeds. It has a hard rounded base and a large thin wing (4-7 cm long) that causes the fruit to rotate as it falls to the ground. These fruit turn from green to pale brown in colour as they mature Roots: A weed of roadsides, disturbed sites, waste areas, open woodlands, riparian vegetation and urban bushland in sub-tropical and tropical regions. Dispersal: This species reproduces only by seed. The seeds are readily dispersed by wind and are also spread by water. Widely cultivated as a garden and street tree, particularly in the warmer regions of Australia. It has occasionally also been cultivated as a shade and fodder tree

Jan Smith Schefflera actinophylla

Family: Araliaceae Origin: Northern Queensland Habit: A straggly often multi-stemmed, open perennial tree to 10 m, with dense foliage confined to the ends of trunks. Leaves: Bright, glossy green, compound, leaves on stalks up to 50 cm long. Leaflets to 30 cm long, arranged in a palmate whorl (umbrella-like). Flowers: Small red flowers in long sprays at top of plant, radiating from stem apex. Multiple flower spikes produced at the crown of each trunk. Flowers Summer-Autumn. Fruit: Dark red, to 0.5 cm long each containing a single seed. Roots: Substantial tap and lateral root system capable of uplifting buildings and invading plumbing pipes. Will reshoot from root fragments left in ground. Dispersal: Seed spread by water, animals (mainly birds) and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull juvenile plants. Cut and paint or scrape and paint. Grows readily from stem pieces, so all cut plant material should be removed from site. First introduced to NSW as a potted indoor plant, it has now become naturalised in many areas of the coast. Sometimes epiphytic on rainforest trees. Native of Nth Qld.

Miconia calvescens

Miconia is a serious weed in Hawaii (a.k.a. Family: Melastomataceae ‘the purple plague’) & French Polynesia (a.k.a. Origin: Central to South America - Mexico - Brazil ‘the green cancer’) where Habit: Small to medium evergreen tree growing up it has devastated local to 15 m tall and bearing very large showy native flora & fauna. leaves with a purple underneath. Leaves: Very large; 17-40 cm long and 7-25 cm wide (occasionally up to 1 m long) oval in shape with pointed tips. Green upper surfaces and striking purple underneath with three distinct veins that run from the base to the tip of the leaf. Flowers: Numerous small, short lived, fragrant flowers with five white or pinkish petals, 2-3 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, are borne in large clusters 20-50 cm long at the tips of the branches. Fruit: Small fleshy berries 6-7 mm across that turn bluish, black or purple as they mature, are produced in large clusters. Each berry contains around 50-230 tiny seeds. Roots: Substantial tap and lateral root system. Dispersal: Seed spread by water, animals (mainly birds), humans, contaminated soil (mud on shoes, machinery etc) and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull juvenile plants. cut and paint, scrape and paint, basal bark or foliar spray. Report this plant to your local Council Weed Officer.

Qld DAFF Paraserianthes lophantha ssp. lophantha

Family: Fabaceae Origin: Western Australia Habit: Erect shrub to medium-sized tree usually growing 2-8 m tall, but occasionally reaching up to 10 m in height. Leaves: Twice-compound (bipinnate) leaves 15-30 cm long with have 7-14 pairs of branchlets. Each leaf branchlet bears 15-40 pairs of small leaflets (4-11 mm long). Flowers: Yellow - greenish-yellow with numerous prominent stamens 6-8 mm long, arranged in elongated clusters 4-8 cm long, borne singly or in pairs in the upper leaf forks. Fruit: Flattened pods 6.5-12 cm long and 1.5-3 cm wide; each containing 6-12 dark brown or black oval seeds 6-8.5 mm long, 4.5-5.5 mm wide and 3-4 mm thick. Roots: Substantial tap and lateral root system. Dispersal: Seed spread by water, animals, humans, contaminated soil (earth moving equipment etc) and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull juvenile plants. Drill-injection; frilling; cut and paint, basal bark, foliar spray. Widely naturalised in many parts of eastern NSW, Vic, Tas, S.A. and on Norfolk Island. Also naturalised beyond its native range in W.A.

Acacia saligna

Family: Fabaceae Origin: Western Australia Habit: Erect or spreading tree or shrub 2-8 m high with weeping new growth. Life-span of only 10-20 years. Leaves: Simple, relatively narrow, 7-30 cm long and 2-20 mm wide green or bluishgreen in colour, either straight or sickle-shaped. Flowers: Round, bright or golden yellow fluffy balls, borne in small clusters 9-12 mm across that are arranged into larger elongated compound clusters of 25-55 flowers, or rarely up to 75. July–September. Fruit: Pods are flat, long and narrow, straight to strongly curved, and slightly constricted between seeds, 5-14 cm long, 4-6 mm wide. Roots: Substantial tap and lateral root system capable of suckering. Dispersal: Seed spread by water, animals (ants and birds), humans, contaminated soil (earth moving equipment etc) and garden refuse dumping. The long-lived seeds can remain dormant in the soil for more than a decade. Control: Hand dig / pull juvenile plants. Drill-injection; frilling; cut and paint, basal bark, foliar spray. Golden Wreath Wattle self sows and suckers freely and should not be used for landscaping or planting in areas near bushland in the eastern states. Solanum mauritianum

Family: Solanaceae Origin: South America Habit: A straggly, open perennial shrub to 5 m tall. All parts of the plant are covered with silvery-grey hairs. Leaves: Large, alternately arranged, grey-green, elongated ovate shape 20-30 cm long, with prominent mid-vein. Flowers: Small purple-white flower with five petals and yellow stamens, to 1cm diameter. Flowers Spring-Summer. Fruit: Clusters of large succulent berries to 2 cm ripening from green to yellow in summer. Roots: Substantial tap root that gives rise to many laterals. Will re-shoot from any root stock left in ground. Dispersal: Seed spread by birds, animals (possums, bats, humans, contaminated soil machinery including excavators, mowers, slashers, vehicles car tyres etc) and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull juvenile plants. Cut and paint or scrape and paint, foliar spray. Widely naturalised and very common in the coastal districts of Queensland and New South Wales. Also present in South Australia, some parts of Victoria, on Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island.

Tecoma stans

Family: Bignoniaceae Origin: Central and South America. Mexico, Peru and Equador Habit: Evergreen many branched shrub or small tree 4-7 m high. Leaves: Compound leaves to 8-25 cm long, comprised of 5-13 leaflets. Leaflets are toothed and pointed, 2.5-10 cm long and 8-30 mm wide. Flowers: Large clusters of showy, bright yellow trumpet-shaped flowers in SpringSummer. Formed at the branch tips and forks. Fruit: Green bean like seed pods aging brown, 10-22 cm long x 20 mm wide produced from spring to autumn, each containing numerous winged seeds. Roots: Substantial tap root that gives rise to many laterals. Dispersal: Seed spread by humans, birds, water, wind, contaminated soil, machinery including excavators, mowers, slashers, vehicles and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand Dig juvenile plants. Cut and paint or scrape and paint. Bag and dispose of all seed pods. Popular because of its magnificent floral display, Yellow Bells is on the increase on roadsides and disturbed bushland. Easy to grow, they are often sold at local fetes or backyard traded. Aquatic weeds are plants that invade watercourses, dams and wetlands. These weeds are extremely detrimental to the aquatic environment, where they choke waterways, alter oxygen levels and reduce light penetration. Most of the water weeds have originated from backyard fish ponds or home aquariums and have been accidentally released into the environment. They have been further spread by deliberate seeding of waterways by black market plant traders and accidentally spread between farm dams via fish, yabbie and eel traps or as a contaminant with back yard traded water lilies. Water weeds may be spread either by vegetation from plant fragments and/or by seed depending on the plant. Once established water weeds are difficult to eradicate and may require a combination of controls methods including registered herbicides, biological treatments as well as physical or mechanical removal. Water weed control is time-consuming, expensive work and usually requires many follow-up sessions. The key to water weed control is early detection and to prevent their movement into uninfested waterways. If you think you might have any of the following water weeds, contact Council’s Weeds Officer for expert identification, advice and assistance in preparing an effective control plan.

The main weed species locally are featured on their own pages but below is a list of:-

Common Name: Botanical Name Arrowhead: Sagittaria montevidensis

Anchored Water Hyacinth: Eichhornia azurea

Bog moss: Mayaca fluviatilis East Indian Hygrophila: Hygrophila polysperma Elodea: Elodea canadensis Eurasian Water Milfoil: Myriophyllum spicatum Horsetails: Equisetum spp. Hydrilla: Hydrilla verticillata (Native) Hydrocotyl Hydrocotyle ranunculoides

Japanese knotweed: Lagarosiphon:

Reynoutria japonica Lagarosiphon major Olive hymenachne: Hymenachne amplexicaulis Peruvian Primrose: Ludwigia peruviana Ruellia: Ruellia simplex, R. squarrosa Smart weed: Persicaria spp. (Natives and exotics) Spongeplant: Limnobium spongia Water Caltrop: Trapa natans Water Primrose: Ludwigia peploides ssp. montevidensis (Native) Water Soldier: Stratiotes aloides Yellow Burrhead: Limnocharis flava

Alternanthera philoxeroides

This plant is often confused with other Family: Amaranthaceae species of Alternanthera (Joy weeds), Water Origin: South America Primrose (Ludwigia Habit: Perennial with mostly hairless surface stems spp.), or Smartweeds, that root at the nodes stoloniferous and (Persicaria spp.) Difficult underground stems producing shoots & to identify in dense roots (rhizomatous). Can form dense mats in vegetation and when not or out of water. in flower. Leaves & Stems: Glossy green lance shaped leaves arranged in opposite pairs on hollow stems. One of Australia’s worst Terrestrial plants can have reddish stems. aquatic weed threats. Flowers: White, cylindrical to globe-shaped, papery, pom-pom like heads on stalks to 9 cm long that arise from the leaf-stem junction. Summer. Adapted to growing on damp land, occasionally flooded land, in shallow water (rooted in the substrate), attached to Fruit: Viable seed not recorded in Australia. the bank (in deep water) Roots: Extensive underground rooting system to 1m or free floating. Will deep. survive for a few days in Dispersal: Vegetation spread by water, humans, sea strength salinity and animals (live stock), contaminated soil, earth thrive in 10% sea strength moving machinery, boats and turf, Also (3,500 mg/I) saline water. spread by its misguided use as a culinary herb. Control: Mechanical manual removal, foliar spray. Report this plant to your local Council Weed Officer. Biosecurity zone Pontederia cordata

The best form of invasive species management is prevention. If prevention Family: Pontederiaceae is no longer possible, it is best to treat the weed infestations when they are Origin: Eastern North America, small to prevent them from establishing Central and South America (early detection and rapid response). Habit: Emergent water plant of water and riverine habitats. Long-lived (perennial), rooted freshwater plant 1-2 m tall that grows in clusters and forms colonies Leaves: This plant spreads vegetatively from fragmented rhizomes. The leaves are light or yellowish green, cordate in shape, 230 mm long by 70 mm wide. Leaves appear one per stem each with a long petiole that clasps the stem Flowers: The flowers of P. cordata are blue in colour and appear at the terminal end of the stem. The flowers are on long spikes 50-150 mm long. Each flower is 15 mm long and the upper petal has a yellow blotch in the centre. This plant is sterile and does not produce fruits and seed. Fruit: This plant is sterile and does not produce fruits and seed. Dispersal: This plant spreads vegetatively from fragmented rhizomes. Control: The precise management measures adopted for any plant invasion will depend upon factors such as the terrain, the cost and availability of labour, the severity of the infestation and the presence of other invasive species.