48 minute read

Vines and Scramblers

Ground Covers

Araujia sericifera

Garden escapee that smothers shrubs and Family: Apocynaceae small trees, suppressing their growth. Weed of Origin: Southern Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay wasteland and forests Habit: Twining perennial climber reaching up to 6 m adjoining settlement, on supporting vegetation. Milky latex exuded mainly in coastal higher from damaged stems and leaves. rainfall areas. Leaves: Opposite, oblong to triangular, 3-11 cm long, 1-6 cm wide, dark green above, grey-green below. Flowers: Fragrant, tubular, 0.8-1.4 cm long, 5-lobed, 5-stamens, white to pale pink in groups of 2-5. Flowers late spring to autumn. Fruit: Grey-green choko shaped pod, turning brown and woody with age, opening to release numerous black seeds approx 4 mm long each possessing a tuft of white silky hairs that aid its spread by wind. Roots: Shallow and fibrous. Dispersal: Seeds spread by wind, water, animals, contaminated soil, machinery including excavators, mowers, slashers, vehicles and garden waste dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull, scrape and paint, skirting, foliar spray. Rubus niveus

Better known as White Blackberry Rubus niveus Family: Rosaceae is an important weed in S.E. Africa, USA, Hawaii, Origin: Asia and Malesia Galapagos, and areas Habit: Arching or climbing shrub to 2 m high. of Australasia including Primocane stems rounded or round-angled Tasmania. New and whitish tomentose at first, becoming emerging species in the glabrous green to purple later. MidCoast area. Leaves: Deciduous. Pinnately compound. Consisting of 5-9 (less often 11) elliptic to ovate coarsely toothed leaflets, dark-green above densely white felted below. Flowers: About 1 cm diameter, with five dark pink to red petals. Tends to bloom and fruit throughout the year. Fruit: Ovoid to oblong, 8-12 mm diameter, covered in short white hairs, initially green, ripening red, maturing black. Roots: Becoming dense and suckering from underground runners. Plant tips take root upon touching the ground. Dispersal: Seed mostly spread by birds and animals, but also water, humans, contaminated soil, machinery including excavators, mowers, slashers, vehicles and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull seedlings, cut or scrape and paint stems, foliar spray with registered herbicides. Report this plant to your local Council Weed Officer.

Caesalpinia decapetala

Garden escapee that can form impenetrable Family: Fabaceae thickets excluding animals and people. Origin: South east Asia Habit: Scrambling perennial shrub with densely prickled arching canes that form self standing thickets up to 7 m high. Can climb up to 20 m on supporting vegetation. Leaves: Alternate, bipinnate, and somewhat hairy on both sides, dark green above, paler below. Flowers: Varying shades of yellow, with five petals (10-15 mm long), five sepals (910 mm long), ten stamens (10-16 mm long), and a style (15-20 mm long). Fruit: Flattened, oblong, hairy, woody pods 6-10 cm long by 25 mm wide. Green turning brown when fully mature, they split open to release 4-9 brown / black seeds 6-10 mm across, persisting for many months and scattering seeds as they break open. Roots: Shallow and fibrous. Dispersal: Seeds spread by birds, wind, water and contaminated soil, machinery including excavators, mowers, slashers, vehicles and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull seedlings, cut or scrape and paint, foliar spray. Rootstocks will coppice if the roots are not removed or if the cut stumps are not treated with herbicide. Report this plant to your local Council Weed Officer. Campsis radicans

Family: Bignoniaceae Origin: Southeastern USA Habit: An extremely aggressive woody climber that will form impenetrable colonies in the wild which can choke out many plants that get in its way. Leaves: Deciduous. Pinnately compound. Shiny dark green above and dull green below 7-11 elliptical leaflets with serrated margins. Flowers: Clusters (terminal cymes) of 4-12 orange to scarlet trumpet shaped flowers, mid Summer/early Autumn. Fruit: Long, bean-like seed pods that dry and split as they mature, scattering hundreds of thin, brown, winged paper-like seeds. Roots: Becoming dense and suckering profusely from underground runners. Forms aerial root for clinging to structures. Dispersal: Seed is spread by humans, wind, water, animals, contaminated soil, machinery including excavators, mowers, slashers, vehicles Control: Hand dig / pull seedlings, cut or scrape and paint stems, foliar spray with registered herbicides. Very rampant and invasive, it will cling to adjacent trees with small aerial roots, growing up to 10 m into the canopy. Also known as cow itch vine, handling it may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction. Vines and scramblers

Passiflora Spp. P. morifolia, P. subpeltata, P. tarminiana, P. caerulea P. suberosa, P. foetida, P. miniata, P. edulis

Family: Passifloraceae Origin: Chiefly tropical South America Habit: Vigorous climber with tendrils. Leaves: Varying with species; from 10 mm up to 150 mm long; generally 3-lobed some times ovate; pale green with powdery film and blunt tips to dark green with pointed tips. Flowers: Passion flowers are very distinctive in shape. They range from 1-5 cm across with colours from plain white to white blotched purple, pinks and reds; 5-10 petals; numerous cream/yellow stamens and a prominent divided stigma. Spring-Summer. Fruit: Globe or egg shaped drupes, generally pulpy, 15-50 mm long, glossy, yellow, green, red or purple/black. Roots: Lateral roots form at right angle to stem, break easily when pulled, re-shoot from remnant root stock. Dispersal: Humans. Fruit mostly spread by birds and animals, but also water, contaminated soil, and garden refuse dumping. Control: Scrape and paint vines and root system, Foliar spray using a registered herbicide with the addition of a penetrant.

Report this new species

Passiflora morifolia has been identified in the MidCoast area. Council is working with MidCoast 2 Tops landcare to raise awareness and stamp it out.

Darawank NSW 2428

P. edulis P. caerulea

Krambach NSW 2429 P. suberosa P. caerulea

P. caerulea

Syngonium podophyllum

Family: Araceae Origin: Native to Mexico, Central America, parts of the Caribbean and tropical South America Habit: A popular indoor plant that can turn into a rampant climber that grows over other vegetation. Leaves: The alternately arranged leaves vary in size, shape and colour depending on their position on the plant. The juvenile leaves are generally heart-shaped or more commonly arrowhead-shaped and have pointed tips and are dark green in colour or with silvery-white veins or centres bounded by green. The intermediate leaves tend to be slightly larger with more developed and more spreading lobes near the base of the leaf blade. The upper leaves are generally dark green without any markings. Flowers: Flower spikes develop in the upper leaf forks, borne on stalks up to 13 cm long. Each spikes consists of an elongated column that is partially enclosed in a creamy-white to greenish coloured modified leaf that takes on the appearance of a flower. Fruit: The developing fruit turn red in colour and eventually merge into one larger fruit. This fruit is egg-shaped and turns brownish when fully mature. Roots: Prefers moist shady conditions and fertile soils in rainforests, closed forests, open woodlands, waterways and riparian areas, and disturbed sites. Dispersal: Generally spread to new areas by deliberate cultivation. also dispersed by dumped garden waste dumping. Once established, a plant will spread outwards, forming a colony. Control: Stem scrape, cut/stump and foliar spray.

Other species of concern

Syngonium angustatum, Syngonium neglectum

GROUND COVERS

These herbaceous, slightly woody or strap like plants may seem insignificant in reserves and bushland areas, but they displace native ground covers and thus reduce the biodiversity of natural areas, which alters the whole ecology of that community.

Many of these plants are still found for sale in nurseries and local markets. Like all categories of plants in this booklet, active management is a key issue which includes regular pruning to maintain plant health and vigour and the constant removal of spent flowers to prevent seed set. In some ecological communities, lawn grasses such as Kikuyu, Buffalo Grass and Paspalum can be damaging and problematic e.g. Themeda grass headlands, Coastal saltmarsh (see Grasses section).

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

Other Problematic Ground Covers:

Common Name: Botanical Name Beach Daisy: Arctotheca populifolia Common Tansy: Tanacetum vulgare Coreopsis: Coreopsis lanceolata Creeping cinderella weed: Calyptocarpus vialis Crucifix Orchid: Epidendrum radicans Evening Primrose: Oenothera spp. Horehound: Marrubium vulgare Horsetail’s: Equisetum spp. Fireweed: Senecio madagascariensis

Japanese knotweed: Reynoutria japonica

Kosters’ Curse: Clidemia hirta Mist Flower: Ageratina riparia Mouse-ear Hawkweed: Hieracium pilosella Obedient Plant: Physostegia virginiana Opium Poppy: Papaver somniferum (Prohibited plant)

Orange Hawkweed: Hieracium aurantiacum Common Name: Botanical Name Ox-eye Daisy: Leucanthemum vulgare

Paterson’s Curse/ Bugloss’: Echium spp.

Pennywort: Hydrocotyle bonariensis Polka Dot Plant: Hypoestes phyllostachya Scarlet Sage: Salvia coccinea St Johns Wort: Hypericum perforatum Thistles: Carduus spp; Carthamus spp; Centaurea spp; Cirsium spp; Cynara spp; Onopordum spp; Picnomon spp; Silybum spp; Scolymus spp; Sonchus spp; Rhaponticum spp. Veined Verbena: Verbena spp. (exotics) Witchweed: Striga spp.(except the native S. parviflora)

Heliotropium amplexicaule

Family: Boraginaceae Origin: South America Habit: A prostrate perennial, 15-30 cm tall, with very hairy, creeping, branched stems emerging from a woody rootstock. Leaves: Dull green above and paler below, simple, alternate, sessile, oblanceolate to lanceolate 20-80 mm long and 3-20 mm wide with prominent veins and a wavy margin. Flowers: Small tubular flowers, 4-6 mm long and 3-6 mm wide, arranged in two rows along one side of a coiled spike that straightens with age. Purple, lilac, blue or pink in colour and have a distinctive yellow throat. Fruit: Two small rough-surfaced nutlets which separate from each other at maturity. Roots: Combination of fibrous and a deep central taproot. Dispersal: Seed and vegetation spread by water, humans, contaminated fodder, hay, soil, earth moving equipment, mowers, slashers, vehicles and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hard to control. Hand dig / pull seedlings. Root fragments can regrow. Foliar spray with registered herbicides. Blue heliotrope contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids. It competes with desirable pastures and causes toxicity to stock. Known to occur around operational and historic Bowling Clubs Tribulus terrestris

The spines of the burrs point upward, where they Family: Zygophyllaceae stick into feet and fur of animals. This causes Origin: Mediterranean region, Sthn Europe, Sthn damage to domesticated Asia and Africa, livestock and degrades Habit: Branched stems radiate from the crown from wool. a diameter of 10 cm to over 1 m. Usually prostrate, they form flat patches, although may grow taller when shaded. Leaves: Compound, pinnate and densely hairy. Leaflets are opposite and up to 3.2 mm long. Flowers: Solitary, lemon-yellow, 4-10 mm wide, with 5-petals, 5 sepals, and 10 stamens, Spring to Autumn. Fruit: Green woody fruits turn brown and fall apart into 5 burrs. Each burr bears 2-4 seeds and 2-4 sharp spines, 10 mm long and 4-6 mm wide. Roots: Fine fibrous rootlets emerge from the taproot to take advantage of minimal soil moisture. Can survive in very arid conditions. Dispersal: Seed and vegetation spread by water, humans, contaminated fodder, hay, soil, earth moving equipment, mowers, slashers, vehicles and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull all plants. Foliar spray prior to fruiting.

Tuncurry NSW 2428

Forest & Kim Starr

Asystasia gangetica ssp. micrantha

Flower production can be as soon as 40 days after Family: Acanthaceae germination, with seed development after 57 Origin: Africa days and the production Habit: A slightly hairy herbaceous mat-forming of viable seed in as little perennial creeper usually growing to less as 72 days. than 0.5 m tall. It can sprawl over supporting vegetation to a height of 1 m or more. This species has recently Leaves: Bright green above paler below, simple, ovate, 2.5-8 cm long & 1.5-4 cm wide slightly hairy, arranged in opposite pairs been identified at Pacific Palms and One mile beach in the MidCoast area. along the stems. Flowers: Tubular 1.8-3.5 cm long and about 3 cm across, borne in clusters. Mostly white with the bottom petal having purple blotches in two parallel lines on its inside. Year round, but mainly during warm and wet conditions. Fruit: Club-shaped, explosive capsule which starts out green, dries brown and contain four flattened seeds. Roots: Fibrous. Stems root at the nodes when they come into contact with soil. Dispersal: Seed and fragments spread by humans, contaminated soil machinery, mowers, vehicles, wind, water, animals,and garden refuse dumping Control: Report this plant to your local Council Weed Officer.

One Mile Beach, Forster NSW 2428 Gazania spp.

Family: Asteraceae Origin: Mainly South Africa Habit: Clumping, low-growing perennial herb to 15 cm high, that withstands salt-laden winds and grows well in sandy soils. Leaves: Elliptic to narrow-oblanceolate, irregularly pinnatisect, dark green above white hairy underneath. Flowers: Brightly coloured long stemmed daisy-like flowers to 8 cm wide, in red, bronze, yellow and orange tones. Spring to Autumn. Fruit: Achenes. 4 mm long; pappus scales lanceolate 2-3 mm long, with hairs covering achene. Roots: Fibrous root system tolerant of a wide range of soil types from sand to clay preferring dryer to free draining conditions. Dispersal: Seed and fragments spread by wind, water, animals, humans, contaminated soil, machinery including excavators, mowers, vehicles and garden refuse dumping Control: Hand dig / pull, foliar spray. Gazania’s have become naturalised on coastal dunes, parks and along roadsides from sthn Sydney to the Mid north coast, the Eyre Peninsula and Mt Lofty region of Sth Australia and in the Moreton region of S.E. Queensland. Ground covers

Vinca major

Garden escapee. Mats of this species smother other Family: Apocynaceae ground vegetation and prevent growth of shrubs Origin: Central and southern Europe and northern and trees. Grows best in Africa fertile soil and does well Habit: Spreading perennial herb to 50 cm high with in shade. stems that root at nodes and sometimes at tips. Leaves: Opposite, ovate, 1.5-9 cm long, 1.5-4.5 cm wide, glossy green above, paler below; on leaf stalk 0.5-1.5 cm long. Flowers: Violet-blue to mauve, 3-6 cm wide, tubular with 5 spreading lobes 1.3-2.5 cm long, stamens attached to inside of tube and within tube. Flowers mostly late winter to late summer. Fruit: Produced in pairs joined at the base, membranous, cylindrical 3.5-5 cm long, about 0.4 cm wide. Seeds flat, hairless, 7-8 mm long, 1-10 per fruit. Roots: Fibrous. Stems root at nodes and sometimes at tips. Dispersal: Seed is apparently rarely produced in Australia. Mainly spread by humans via garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig, bagging all plant parts and removing from site. Foliar spray.

Barnard River NSW 2422 Phyla canescens, P. nodiflora

Family: Verbenaceae Origin: Americas from California to Argentina and Chile Habit: Hardy, mat forming, perennial herb with stems that root at nodes. Leaves: Ovate, with blunt short teeth; 0.5-3 cm long, 2-10 mm wide, without hairs or with short dense hairs; leaf stalk absent or short. Flowers: Inflorescence a dense short cylindrical to globe-shaped spike of tubular flowers, on a stalk which is 1-6.5 cm long and usually much longer than leaves at the stalk base; petals usually lilac or pink. Flower tubes 2-3 mm long. Spring to late autumn. Fruit: Ellipsoid to globose, 1.5-2 mm long. Roots: Dense and mat forming. Dispersal: Seed and fragments spread by humans, fodder,hay, wind, water, animals, contaminated soil machinery including excavators, mowers, slashers, vehicles and garden refuse dumping. Control: Foliar spray, pasture improvement techniques. Introduced as a lawn species and once used to stabilise soil on banks of irrigation canals and around weirs. Overruns native vegetation, and is capable of suppressing the growth of neighbouring plants. Ground covers

Euphorbia cyathophora

Painted spurge prefers sandy soils, particularly Family: Euphorbiaceae in disturbed sites. It is of most concern as a Origin: Tropical North America, the Caribbean and weed of hind-dune areas South America on beaches and is also Habit: Annual herb to 70 cm high with main stems relatively common in erect, often with lateral branches. Stems and coastal and sub-coastal leaves contain a milky sap. riparian zones. Leaves: Opposite at base of plant, alternate up the stem, often fiddle-shaped. Uppermost leaves usually pinkish-red towards the base. Flowers: Inconspicuous ‘flowers’ are actually tiny cup-like structures each containing several tiny male flowers and one yellow female flower. Most of the year. Fruit: Three-lobed capsule, 3-4 mm long and 5-6 mm wide with three inner compartments, each containing a single seed. Seeds are egg-shaped 2-3 mm long and 1.5 mm wide. Roots: Fibrous root system. Dispersal: Seed capsules open explosively when mature, expelling the seeds short distances. Seed is spread by spread by wind, water, animals, humans, contaminated soil, machinery including excavators, mowers, slashers, vehicles and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull bagging all plant parts and removing from site, Foliar spray. Eryngium maritimum

Sea holly cannot grow in the shade, so shading Family: Apiaceae may be a control strategy. In Elizabethan times in Origin: Europe England, sea holly roots Habit: Robust perennial herb with spiny ‘holly-like’ were believed to be a leaves to 50 cm high. powerful aphrodisiac. Leaves: Grey, basal leaves circular to broad-ovate, up to 10 cm long and 15 cm wide, deeply 3-5-lobed and coarsely spinosetoothed, with stout petioles to 15 cm long; stem leaves smaller, and usually sessile. Flowers: Grey and pale mauve, globose, burr-shaped heads 13-22 mm long, 11-20 mm diameter bearing a sheath of spinose-toothed leaves. December to May. Fruit: Burr-like, 4.5- 6 mm long, densely covered with acutely pointed scales and crowned by the persistent sepals. Roots: Very long, deeply rooted and sweetly scented. Dispersal: Seed and root fragments. spread by wind, water, ocean currents, birds, animals, humans, contaminated soil, machinery including excavators, vehicles and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull making sure to remove all roots, shading, foliar spray including penetrant. Report this plant to your local Council Weed Officer.

Euphorbia paralias

The MidCoast area on mainland New South Family: Euphorbiaceae Wales, and Lord Howe Island are thought to be Origin: W. & S. Europe, Canary Islands, N. Africa and the northern most extent W. Asia of sea spurge in NSW. Habit: Glaucous perennial herb to 70 cm high, with multiple stems branching from a woody base. Stems are somewhat fleshy, contain a milky sap, Fertile stems are divide into branches near their tips. Leaves: Greyish-green, stalkless leaves, 5-30 mm long, 2-15 mm wide are crowded along the stems. Flowers: Inconspicuous ‘flowers’ are actually tiny cup-like structures each containing several tiny male flowers and one yellowish-green female flower. Spring to early winter. Fruit: Capsule, 3-5 mm long and 4.5-6 mm wide, containing three seeds. Seeds are egg-shaped 2.5-3.5 mm long. Roots: Fibrous root system. Dispersal: Seed is spread by water, humans, vehicles, contaminated soil (beach grooming equipment, sand dredging etc). Seed capsules open explosively when mature, expelling the seeds short distances. Seeds are also buoyant in sea water, and can be spread very large distances by ocean currents. Control: Hand dig / pull bagging all plant parts and removing from site, Foliar spray. Report this plant to your local Council Weed Officer.

Yacaaba Peninsula 2324

Seaside Daisy / Bony tip fleabane

Erigeron karvinskianus

This species is regarded as an environmental weed in N.S.W., Vic, Tas and S.A. and as a “sleeper Family: Asteraceae weed “ in other parts Origin: South Mexico to Venezuela of Australia. It is highly Habit: An aggressive spreading perennial herb tolerant of poor, dry soils to about 50 cm high. Grows vigorously and grows in a wide smothering low native ground covers. range of conditions. Highly tolerant of poor dry soils and grows in a wide range of conditions. The plant is able to tolerate high salinity and drought. Leaves: Simple, evergreen, elliptical to oval, pubescent on both sides, and reach 32 mm long by 13 mm wide. Flowers: Small daisy flowers 1-2 cm across are borne all year round. Each flower has a yellow centre, a corolla that is 5-lobed with white petals, which become pink and finally purple with age. Fruit: Dandilion-like tufts; 1 mm long hard dry seed (achene) attached to a pappus of fine whitish hairs, 2 mm long. Roots: Fibrous, shallow; rooting at the nodes. Dispersal: Seed spread by humans, wind, water, and contaminated soil machinery including excavators, mowers, slashers, vehicles and garden refuse dumping. Plants will spread vegetatively by cuttings rooting at the nodes. Control: Hand dig / pull bagging all plant parts and removing from site, Foliar spray.

Sphagneticola trilobata

Introduced as an ornamental. Deliberately Family: Asteraceae planted as a roadside and railway embankment Origin: Mexico to Argentina stabiliser in Queensland, Habit: Dense mat-forming perennial herb to 70 cm now spreading in coastal high, with spreading stems to 2 m or more areas of New South long that root at nodes. Wales. Also naturalised in Leaves: Simple, dark green above, paler below, 3-11 Florida, Malaysia and on cm long, 2.5-8 cm wide, with white hairs Pacific Islands. and toothed margins, sometimes trilobed. Flowers: Solitary in leaf axils with yellow disc and ray florets; to 3.5 cm wide on stalks 3-14 cm long . Flower heads with 4-14 petals 6-15 mm long, inner (disc) florets tubular. Flowers spring to autumn. Fruit: Seeds 4-5 mm long, tuberculate and topped with Dandilion-like tufts. Roots: Fibrous, shallow; rooting at the nodes. Dispersal: Seed and fragments spread by humans wind, water, contaminated soil, machinery including excavators, mowers, slashers, wehicles and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull bagging all plant parts and removing from site, Foliar spray. Tradescantia fluminensisTASKFORCE

This shade loving, weak rooted herb is a common Family: Commelinaceae cause of contact allergies in dogs. Origin: South America Many other forms of Habit: Weak, perennial, creeping succulent Tradescantia are well herb, rooting from distinct nodes. Grows known garden plants. vigorously, layering and smothering low native ground covers. Shade tolerant and Similar Native Species: moisture loving. Commelina cyanea (photo Leaves: Simple, alternate, ovate leaves that are bottom R). This native glossy and dark green, to 6cm long. Slightly ground cover has hairy fleshy. leaf sheaths, blue flowers Flowers: Small (1-2 cm) white flowers, with three and a strong primary root petals and six hairy stamens. Spring- system. Summer. Fruit: Papery capsule, seed not viable in Australia. Roots: Stolons form underground, with weak, shallow roots forming at nodes. Dispersal: Main method of reproduction is vegetative where by stem fragments reroot. Stem fragments spread by water, and contaminated soil (green waste dumping, earth moving etc). Common in watercourses. Control: Hand dig / pull, bagging all plant parts and removing from site. Foliar spray.

Stroud NSW 2425

Tradescantia zebrina

BULBOUS AND SUCCULENT PLANTS

These plants are extremely hardy due to their above ground and below ground storage structures, which are modified leaves, stems and roots.

In this group of plants we have included all of the Asparagus species. These plants are prolific, hardy (drought-resistant), shade tolerant and highly invasive. They have extensive underground rhizomes that form thick mats capable of reducing water penetration into soil; vigorous vegetative structures that are capable of smothering native vegetation and produce copious amounts of berries (red or black) that are readily consumed and spread by animals and birds. They are also spread by green waste dumping as rhizomes are capable of surviving for long periods of time out of the soil.

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

Bridal Creeper fact:

First recorded in Australia in 1857 in a nursery catalogue. By the 1870s bridal creeper was a common garden plant; its flowers were used in floral arrangements, particularly in wedding bouquets. Within 50 years of introduction, bridal creeper had become naturalised in many areas across most of southern Australia and has earned its status as a Weed of National Significance.

removing spent flower

stalks prior to seed set, or as comprehensive as complete removal from gardens. Bulbous and succulent plants

Zantedeschia aethiopica

Family: Araceae Origin: South Africa Habit: Erect, tuberous, evergreen perennial herb to 1.5 m high. Leaves: Arrowhead shaped, dark green leaves to 45 cm long and 20 cm wide borne at the ends of stout, smooth, succulent green stems to 75 cm long and winged at the base. Flowers: Pale yellow spike to 9 cm long surrounded by a pure white funnel shaped spathe to 25 cm coming to a point. Winter-Summer. Fruit: Berry, green or yellow maturing to orange 5-10 mm long containing about 4 yellow-brown seeds. Roots: Fleshy tuberous rhizome. Dispersal: Rhizomes, cormlets and Seed is spread by birds, animals, water, humans, contaminated soil (earth moving equipment) and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull, bagging all plant parts and removing from site. Foliar spray, cut and paint. Used extensively in floral arrangements all Zantedeschia spp. are highly toxic. They are known to have caused the deaths of cattle, cats and children. All parts of the plant are toxic, and produce irritation and swelling of the mouth and throat, acute vomiting and diarrhoea. TASKFORCE TASKFORCE Asparagus asparagoides

Family: Asparagaceae Origin: South Africa Habit: Wiry twinning climber to 3 m in length and branch extensively. Stems emerge annually in autumn from a mat, 0-10 cm deep. Leaves: Bright green with alternate, flattened, shiny, stems (leaf-like) that are pointed ovate shape and have parallel venation, leaves 4-30 mm wide and 10-70 mm long which occur along the length of wiry green stems. Flowers: White, 6-petalled flowers, 5-8 mm in diameter, appear in early Spring. Fruit: Pea-sized green berries turning pink then red/burgundy in late spring-early summer. Berries contain 1-9 seeds that are black when mature. Roots: Branching rhizomes that bear numerous fleshy tubers. Dispersal: Seed and rhizomes spread by birds, animals, water, humans, contaminated soil and garden refuse dumping Control: Difficult to control - Foliar spray, crowning of mature plants. Ensure crowns are removed off site. Remove and bag berries. Follow-up - hand pull all emerging seedlings. – In some areas – Biological control may be an effective integrated management tool. Bridal creeper is widespread in Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria. It is also spreading in New South Wales and Tasmania. It has the potential to spread further and increase its density in all southern states. Similar Native Species: Wombat Berry aka

Eustrephus latifolius

Wallis Lake NSW

Asparagus declinatus

Most populations are located in the coastal areas of south-eastern South Australia, but it is also naturalised in the coastal districts of south-western Western Australia and in western Victoria.

Old world garden plant. Mainly found in riparian Family: Asparagaceae areas and near forest margins, or in disturbed Origin: South Africa sites near human Habit: Highly invasive, herbaceous perennial. habitation; can germinate Sprawling ground cover or semi-climber up in conditions from full sun to 3 m that forms dense mats. Above ground to rainforest with >80% stems dieback annually during summer. Soft canopy closure. and thornless. Leaves: Soft, greyish or bluish-green needle-like cladodes up to 20 mm long and 0.5-1.5 mm wide form in groups of three along stem segments. Flowers: White sometimes with greenish or brownish markings. Borne in pairs or solitary, 5-8 mm across. Mainly during winter. Fruit: Round or egg-shaped berry, 8-15 mm long and around 7 mm wide, turning from green to bluish-grey or white with age. Each berry generally contains 5-8 but sometimes up to 14 seeds. Roots: Extensive, perennial, underground rhizomes and tubers. Dispersal: Seed and rhizomes spread by water, animals, birds, humans, contaminated soil and garden refuse dumping Control: Difficult to control - Foliar spray, dig or crown out mature plants. Ensure that rhizomes and tubers are removed off site. Remove and bag berries. Followup - hand pull all emerging seedlings. Report this plant to your local Council Weed Officer.

Hillary Cherry Hillary Cherry Asparagus virgatus

One of many Asparagus spp. Family: Asparagaceae used for cut foliage Origin: Eastern and southern Africa Habit: Erect perennial herb or shrub with stiff stems, 0.4-0.8 m high; can attain very large and continuous infestations. Leaves: Needle-like cladodes, 3-6 in each axil, cylindrical, 3-15 mm long 0.5-1 mm wide. Flowers: Solitary, greenish white, stalks 7-12 mm long, petals 3-4 mm long mainly spring-summer. Fruit: Orange berry round - egg shaped, 4-6 mm diameter containing 1 seed. Fruits most of year. Roots: Fibrous, forming an extensive rhizomatous root mass. Dispersal: Seed and rhizomes spread by birds, animals, water, humans, contaminated soil and garden refuse dumping Control: Difficult to control - Crowning, Remove crown and rhizomes off site. Followup - hand pull all emerging seedlings. Foliar spray, . Report this plant to your local Council Weed Officer.

Asparagus africanus

Climbing asparagus has only become naturalised Family: Asparagaceae in the last 30 years or so, and is still spreading. Origin: Eastern and southern Africa It scrambles over other Habit: Perennial climber or scrambling shrub with vegetation and climbs up woody stems 8-12 m long. Spines on older to 12 m into the canopies stems to 10 mm long. of taller trees. Leaves: Needle-like Cladodes, 7-12 in each axil, cylindrical, 8-15 mm long, 0.5 mm wide produced in a clusters. Branches and cladodes spirally arranged. Flowers: White, produced in small clusters, stalks 5-10 mm long, petals 3-4 mm long in mainly spring. Fruit: Green berry turning orange when ripe, round, 5-6 mm diameter containing 1 seed. Fruits may be present most of year. Roots: Central crown, with rhizomes and fleshy roots (no distinct tubers). Dispersal: Seed and rhizomes spread by birds, animals, water, humans, contaminated soil and garden refuse dumping. Control: Difficult to control - Cut & paint, basal bark, foliar spray, crowning. Ensure that the crown is removed off site. Remove and bag berries. Follow-up - hand pull all emerging seedlings. Report this plant to your local Council Weed Officer. Asparagus scandens

Fern asparagus is thought to have a much greater Family: Asparagaceae potential range than it currently inhabits. It Origin: South Africa could seriously impact on Habit: Perennial climber with thornless, wiry Australia’s biodiversity scrambling stems to 2 m long. Stems branch in future years if it is not in one flat plane. managed correctly. Leaves: Bright green, flattened leaf-like cladodes in clusters of 3 of unequal length, 5-15 mm long, 0.5-1 mm wide, with a distinct midrib, tapering at the base. Flowers: Small, white to pale pink, bell shaped solitary flowers or in clusters of 2-3 produced in winter and early spring. Fruit: Orange-red berry round to egg shaped, 5-7 mm diameter containing 1 seed. Fruits until summer. Roots: Small central crown with fibrous roots andslender tubers Dispersal: Seed and rhizomes spread by birds, animals, water, humans, contaminated soil and garden refuse dumping Control: Difficult to control - Cut & paint, foliar spray, crowning mature plants. Ensure that the crown is removed off site. Remove and bag berries. Follow-up - hand pull all emerging seedlings. Report this plant to your local Council Weed Officer.

Shauna Potter Sheldon Navie Sheldon Navie

Sheldon Navie

Asparagus aethiopicus

Family: Asparagaceae Origin: South Africa Habit: Highly invasive, herbaceous perennial. Sprawling ground cover with short sharp spines and branched stems up to 2 m. A tough, woody crown is formed at base of stems. Dense mats smother low native vegetation and suppress natural regeneration. Leaves: Bright green, flattened leaf-like cladodes up to 20 mm long, with a distinct midrib and abrupt point. Single or in clusters of 2-5. Flowers: Small, white to pale pink, bell shaped flowers in clusters of 4-8 produced during Summer. Fruit: Pale green berries that ripen to red in late winter early spring. Each berry usually has 1 seed, but can contain up to 3 rarely 4. Roots: Central crown with a thick mat of fibrous roots, rhizomes and fleshy tubers extending from the centre. Dispersal: Seed and rhizomes spread by birds, animals, water, humans, contaminated soil and garden refuse dumping Control: Difficult to control - Cut & paint, foliar spray, crowning mature plants. Ensure that the crown is removed off site. Remove and bag berries. Follow-up hand pull all emerging seedlings. A very popular pot plant because of its ability to withstand low light and neglect. Ground asparagus is naturalised in sand dunes and rainforests infesting Thousands of hectares on the NSW coast. Asparagus macowanii

Family: Asparagaceae Origin: South eastern Africa Habit: Shrubby perennial with smooth erect stems, 1-2.5 m tall, bearing short recurved spines on lower part of stems only. Leaves: Cladodes, 8-15 mm long, <0.5 mm wide, clustered in each axil (clusters are densely packed & globose especially near the ends of the branches). Flowers: Small, white, more or less in dense clusters appearing on branches before the cladodes have fully developed). Fruit: Dark purplish to black berry, round to egg shaped, 7-10 mm diameter usually containing 1-2 seeds. Roots: Central underground crown, with fibrous or semi-succulent roots. Dispersal: Seed and rhizomes spread by birds, animals, water, humans, contaminated soil and garden refuse dumping Control: Difficult to control - crowning, ensure that the crown is removed off site. Remove and bag berries. Follow-up - hand pull all emerging seedlings. Cut & paint, basal bark, foliar spray.

Failford NSW 2430 This species is sometimes confused with A. retrofractus, but they are easily separated (See differences below

Asparagus macowanii • densely clustered cladodes in

‘pompoms’. • straight smooth stems. • Purplish to black fruits. • erect stems with fewer & smaller spines.

Asparagus retrofractus • sparsely clustered cladodes. • zigzaged & ribbed stems. • orange-red fruits. • longer more scrambling stems & numerous obvious spines.

Sheldon Navie

Asparagus falcatus

Recorded as naturalised in Sydney, Wyong, Lake Family: Asparagaceae Cathie and Port Macquarie in NSW, growing in Origin: Eastern and southern Africa, the Arabian Littoral Rainforest, Wet Peninsula, India and Sri Lanka Sclerophyll, Swamp Oak Habit: Robust climber with woody perennial stems and Subtropical Rainforest to 5-7 m long, with stout hooked spines to 3 ecological community cm long; types. Leaves: Cladodes, 30-90 mm long, 3-7 mm wide, linear, most are slightly sickle-shaped. Flowers: Small, white, fragrant, numerous arranged in branched cluster. Spring - summer. Fruit: Reddish, round berry 7-10 mm wide, contain 1-3 seeds. Mature in winter. Roots: Central underground crown, with fibrous roots to swollen tubers that resemble sweet potatoes. Dispersal: Seed and rhizomes spread by birds, animals, water, humans, contaminated soil and garden refuse dumping Control: Difficult to control - crowning, ensure that the crown is removed off site. Remove and bag berries. Follow-up - hand pull all emerging seedlings. Cut & paint, basal bark, foliar spray. Report this plant to your local Council Weed Officer.

Sheldon Navie Sheldon Navie Asparagus plumosus

Family: Asparagaceae Origin: South Africa Habit: Tough, perennial, wiry, twining climbing vine with occasional spines and fine, feathery fern like foliage. Leaves: Fine, feathery, leaf-like cladodes arranged in horizontal sprays. Flowers: Flowers are small, greenish-white and arranged at the tips of branches in Summer. Fruit: Bluish-green berries to 4-5 mm across that turn black when ripe and contain 1-3 seeds. Autumn. Roots: A woody crown with rhizomes at base of stems, with a fleshy root mass radiating out from the crown. (No distinct tubers). Dispersal: Seed and rhizomes spread by birds, animals, water, humans, contaminated soil and garden refuse dumping Control: Difficult to control - Cut & paint, basal bark, foliar spray, crowning. Ensure that the crown is removed off site. Remove and bag berries. Follow-up - hand pull all emerging seedlings. A very popular indoor plant because of its ability to withstand low light and neglect, this plant is relatively widespread and naturalised in sheltered sites and rainforests infesting many hectares on the NSW coast. Bulbous and succulent plants

Canna indica Canna x generalis

Family: Cannaceae Origin: Tropical and South America Habit: Erect, herbaceous perennial to 2 m high with No true stems. Stems are a collection of tightly furled leaf bases. Leaves: Dark green to multi coloured and striped, large (60 x 25 cm), arranged alternately on stems. Flowers: Tubular flowers (yellows oranges, reds and pinks) formed in asymmetrical clusters. Spring-Autumn. Fruit: Black, globular seeds 5-7 mm long borne in capsule, and spread by birds. Roots: Extensive, fleshy rhizome formed underground. Dispersal: Seed and rhizomes spread by water, humans, contaminated soil machinery including excavators, mowers, slashers, vehicles and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull, bagging all plant parts and removing from site. Foliar spray, cut and paint. A very widely planted species that prefers wet boggy sites. Commonly used in septic tank absorption trenches. Garden refuse dumping and deliberate planting in reserves and wetland areas is the main problem. Colocasia esculenta

Family: Araceae Origin: S.E. Asia, Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands Habit: Erect, rhizomatous tuberous, evergreen perennial herb to 1.5 m high. Leaves: Heart shaped, dark green leaves to 60cm long prominently veined. Stem & leaf colour varies depending on variety of plant. Flowers: Pale Yellow spike enclosed by a greenish yellow hood like spathe. Flowers Winter-Summer. Fruit: Small berry, green or yellow maturing to orange 5-10 mm long containing about 4 yellow-brown seeds. Roots: Fleshy tuberous rhizome. Dispersal: Roots, tubers and seed is spread by humans, water, contaminated soil machinery including excavators, vehicles and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand dig / pull, bagging all plant parts and removing from site. Foliar spray, cut and paint. Taro is a staple food source of the Pacific Islands and is also very popular throughout many parts of Asia. The tuber can substitute potato in almost any dish, baked, boiled or made into chips. Bulbous and succulent plants

Nephrolepis cordifolia

Once a popular basket and rockery plant due to Family: Davalliaceae its ability to withstand low light and neglect. A local Origin: North Eastern Australia native on the far north Habit: Terrestrial fern that forms dense clumps coast of NSW and Lord of upright, arching fronds that resemble Howe Island, this plant fish bones with erect rhizome and slender has become weedy from stolons. Sydney to the mid north Leaves: Compound fronds with opposite or alternate coast of NSW. leaflets, often over lapping at base, to 1 m. Leaflets to 6 cm long. Similar local native Flowers: Nil. species: Rasp Fern Doodia aspera & Sickle Fruit: Spores carried in round, brown clusters (sori) Fern Pellaea falcata. that form in two rows on underside of frond. Roots: Erect, branching rhizomes above or below ground level, with wiry stolons bearing rounded, hairy tubers. Dispersal: Spores carried by water, wind and contaminated soil (tyres, earth works, people’s shoes, green waste dumping). Problematic in any damp, shady areas, where it will completely dominate ground cover layer. Control: Hand dig / pull, bagging all plant parts and removing from site. Foliar spray. Lilium formosanum

Family: Liliaceae Origin: Asia (Taiwan) Habit: Deciduous perennial herb with annual flowering stalks 1-2 m long. Leaves: Mid to dark green, elongated, linear, sessile leaves are arranged spirally or whirled along the stems. Flowers: Large trumpet shaped highly fragrant flowers, pure white on the inside, pink or purple/brown stripes on the outside bearing prominent yellow anthers. Summer. Fruit: Copious papery winged seeds borne in a large capsule. Roots: Underground bulb with numerous fleshy scales (resembling garlic). Dispersal: Seeds, bulbs and bulb scales spread by humans, water, wind, contaminated soil machinery including excavators, mowers, slashers, etc car tyres etc) and garden refuse dumping. Control: New treatment information suggests that, repeatedly snapping the stem just below ground level between the roots and the bulb during flowering (leaving the bulb undisturbed in the ground), can exaust the plants reserves within two years. Follow-up treatments are required. Bag and remove seed capsules from the site wherever possible. Also known as Taiwan Lily, this plant is rapidly becoming a naturalised weed in many states of Australia infesting roadsides, disturbed areas, wastelands and even bushland. Bulbous and succulent plants

Hedychium garderianum

Family: Zingiberaceae Origin: Himilayas in India, Nepal and Bhutan Habit: Perennial herb to 2.5m with upright shortlived stems. It forms large dense stands, with rhizomes that can be 1 m deep. These stands can smother native understorey species, prevent the establishment of shrubs and trees and strongly modify native animal habitat. Leaves: Leaves are dark green, alternately arranged, up to 45cm long by 15cm wide with a membranous ligule 1.5 – 3 cm long. Flowers: Flowerheads are large (15 – 45 cm long), many flowered, spike like clusters at stem tips. Flowers are perfumed, pale to bright yellow and have a single long red stamen. Flowering occurs usually summer to autumn, but can all year in right conditions Fruit: Fruit are 3-valved, thin-walled capsules and the inside of the valves are orange. Seeds are bright red, fleshy and about 1.8cm long Roots: Rhizomes Dispersal: Mostly dispersed by seed, spread mainly by birds. Can spread vegetatively by rhizomes or pieces of rhizomes, or dumping of garden waste Control: Complete removal of rhizomes, removing flowerheads. Check APVMA information. Naturalised in the coastal districts of eastern Australia. Naturalised overseas in southern Africa, La Réunion, New Zealand, the Caribbean and Hawaii. Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora

Family: Iridaceae Origin: South Africa Habit: Erect deciduous perennial herb to 0.9 m. Leaves: Basal linear strap like flat leaves around 30-80 cm long and 1-2 cm wide die down in autumn after producing its seeds, and reappear in Spring. Flowers: Orange yellow tubular flowers are formed solitary in spike inflorescences on short wispy unbranched stems during Summer. Fruit: Produces large amounts of seed. Roots: Globular corms live and produce plants for two years or more, and new corms are formed annually, Long rhizomes are also produced, each of which grows into a new plant. Dispersal: Roots, rhizomes, corms and seed spread by humans, contaminated soil machinery including excavators, mowers, slashers, vehicles and garden refuse dumping. Control: Difficult. Hand dig, ensuring all corms are removed. Extensive follow-up required. Foliar spray using a registered herbicide with the addition of a penetrant when flowering. This pretty bulb invades bushland, roadsides streams banks and even gardens. They tolerate full sun, moist areas, frost, shady and windy conditions. Takes over and displaces indigenous grasses and ground covers. Bulbous and succulent plants

Bryophyllum delagoense, B. x houghtonii, B. pinnatum. B. daigremontiana, B. proliferum

Family: Crassulaceae Origin: Madagascar, South Africa Habit: Erect, smooth fleshy succulent stems to 2 m, with green-pink grey stems. Leaves: Leaves vary depending on the species, but all are succulent either cylindrical or boat shaped and have many small teeth on the leaf tip or margins that produce new plantlets (vegetative reproduction). Flowers: Produced in a cluster at the tip of long stems. Flowers are drooping, bellshaped, orange-red to scarlet, 4-lobed to 2-3 cm long. Flowers mainly Winter-Spring. Fruit: Dry capsule, producing hundreds of tiny black seeds. Prolific seeder. Roots: Weak fibrous roots form from all vegetative parts. Dispersal: Main method of reproduction is vegetative where by stem fragments reroot. Human activities such as mowing/slashing and green waste dumping are the common method of vegetative spread. Seeds are spread by water and contaminated soil. Control: Difficult. Hand dig / pull, bagging all plant parts and removing from site. Foliar spray. Often confused with the Australian native Christmas Bells, this mat forming plant will grow under the poorest of conditions in areas such as a crack in a rock, gravel on the side of a road or on cliff faces, sand dunes and pastures.

B. x houghtonii

B. delagoense Alstroemeria psittacina A. pulchella

This species is becoming widely naturalised in the coastal districts of Family: Alstroemeriaceae southern and eastern Australia. Also naturalised Origin: South America on Lord Howe Island. Habit: An erect, long stemmed perennial lily to 1 m high, with sprays of red and green spotted flowers from clusters of tubers. Leaves: Pale green, alternate, spoon-shaped, 3-10 cm long, 10-35 mm wide with a long, narrow, base, a rounded tip and entire margin, twisted on the petioles so that the undersides face up Petiole 1-6 cm long. Flowers: Solitary or borne in umbels. Perianth red and green, spotted black. Summer flowering. Fruit: Globe shaped, three valved capsule with prominent ribs, 10-15 mm diameter. Reddish brown seeds 2.5-3 mm diameter. Roots: Fibrous roots forming rhizomes and tubers. Dispersal: Rhizomes, tubers and seed are spread by water, humans, contaminated soil and garden refuse dumping. Possibly also spread by animals and birds. Control: Difficult. Hand dig / pull, bagging all plant parts and removing from site, cut and paint, foliar spray with herbicide and penetrant.

Yucca aloifolia Yucca spp.

Family: Asparagaceae Origin: North & Central America and the West Indies Habit: Evergreen, herbaceous, slow growing perennial shrub or small tree, forming large spiny rosettes of leaves. Often freely branched. Leaves: Depending on species. Green-bluish grey fleshy, linear to narrow-lanceolate, 0.3-1 m long, 2-5 cm wide, apex acute with terminal spine 10-20 mm long, margins finely toothed, surfaces glabrous. Flowers: Creamy white, multi flowered panicle 1-3 m long. Fruit: Oblong purplish capsule, 6-8 cm long, indehiscent (doesn’t open on its own accord at maturity); seeds black. Roots: Large, dense and fleshy. Dispersal: Seed and vegetative reproduction where stem segments and leaf rosettes take root. Spread by humans, contaminated soil, machinery including excavators and garden refuse dumping. Control: Hand or mechanical removal, cut and paint, drilling, foliar spray. All plant parts should be removed from site. Commonly cultivated, this garden escapee is found on roadsides and sand dunes of the Mid North Coast. Very difficult to control due to spiny nature of plant creating impenetrable thickets. Watsonia meriana ‘bulbillifera’

Once widely, planted as an ornamental. Major Family: Iridaceae environmental weed of disturbed bushland and Origin: South Africa roadsides, particularly Habit: Erect perennial herb to 2 m. near water. Serious weed Leaves: Basal linear/Sword-shaped leaves up to 0.6 in W.A., S.A., Vic and m long with distinct midrib are arranged in a N.S.W. fan-like formation. Above ground parts die back to underground corm each autumn. Flowers: Curved trumpet shaped salmon pink to Orange red flowers formed solitary in spike inflorescences on tall reddish unbranched stems. Spring-Summer. Fruit: No seed set, but small bulbils are produced in clusters of up to 16 along the stem below the flowers. Roots: Globular corm. 1-3 new corms produced each growing season. Dispersal: Roots, bulbils and corms spread by water, humans, contaminated soil machinery including excavators, mowers, slashers, etc, and garden refuse dumping. Control: Difficult. Hand dig / pull, ensuring all corms are removed. Extensive followup required. Remove and bag all bulbils. Foliar sprays available.

GRASSES

The Grasses are commonly overlooked, however, exotic grass species have invaded reserves and bushland in the Mid North Coast region where they are aggressively displacing the native ground covers. Grasses are the most successful and widespread group of plants known to humans.

Although many of these species are desirable pasture and turf grasses in home lawns, parks and playing fields, they are also problematic bushland and garden weeds because they are capable of setting copious volumes of viable seed within a short time after germination. While many of these species only invade disturbed areas with adequate light levels, some of these species are also shade tolerant, and thus can invade intact bushland areas. The main weed species locally are featured on their own pages but below is a list of:-