Photo: Sea spurge

ContentsIntroduction .....................................................................................................1

Controlling weeds .............................................................................................4

Woody Weeds Tree of heaven ....................................................................................8 Privet ...................................................................................................9 Cotoneaster, hawthorn, pyracantha ..........................................10-11 Bitou bush, mirror bush ..................................................................12 Brooms ..............................................................................................13 Lantana .............................................................................................14 African boxthorn ..............................................................................15 Prickly pear ......................................................................................16 Milkwort or polygala ........................................................................17 African scurfpea ...............................................................................18 Blackberry, sweet briar .....................................................................19 Cassia ................................................................................................20 Wild tobacco bush ............................................................................21

Vines Japanese honeysuckle, dolichos pea ...............................................22 Turkey rhubarb or climbing dock ...................................................23 Madeira vine or lamb's tail .............................................................24 Moth plant ........................................................................................25 Cape ivy, climbing groundsel, English ivy ......................................26 Morning glory ..................................................................................27 Bridal creeper, climbing asparagus ................................................28

Herbaceous Weeds Paterson's curse, Viper's bugloss .....................................................29 St John's wort ...................................................................................30 Fireweed ............................................................................................31 Crofton weed, capeweed, Chinese wormwood .........................32-33 Thistles ..............................................................................................34 Fennel, hemlock ...............................................................................35 Bulbs and tuberous plants .........................................................36-37 Aquatic plants .............................................................................38-39 Periwinkle, wandering jew ..............................................................40 Sea spurge, beach daisy ...................................................................41

Grasses Whisky grass .....................................................................................42 African lovegrass ..............................................................................43 Pampas grass ...................................................................................44 Serrated tussock ...............................................................................45 Chilean needle grass ........................................................................46 Parramatta and giant Parramatta grass ........................................47

Some more common garden escapees .........................................................48

Contacts ..........................................................................................................49

What is a weed?To a gardener, a farmer or a botanist a weed may mean different things, but broadly it is a plant growing outside its natural environment and having some sort of adverse impact. The majority of weeds are from overseas but some native Australian plants grown outside their natural range can also become weeds within Australia. Whatever their origin they spread “like weeds” when they arrive in a favourable environment, often because they have left their natural pests and diseases behind.

Types of weeds

DECLARED NOXIOUS WEEDS have been proclaimed under the Noxious Weeds Act 1993, generally because they are serious economic pests, toxic to stock or a danger to human health. They are usually weeds of agriculture. There is a legal requirement on landowners to control these weeds. The species listed as noxious vary between different parts of NSW. A list of the species which are noxious in your area can be obtained from the website www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-weeds/weeds

ENVIRONMENTAL WEEDS are plants that invade native vegetation and may replace native plants and cause loss of habitat for native animals. Some environmental weeds have been declared noxious (such as bitou bush), but most have not and there is no legal requirement to control them.

A plant may be both an agricultural and an environmental weed, depending on where it is growing.

Some local native plants can even behave in a weedy fashion because of changes to land management such as clearing of forest or changes in frequency of burning. Examples are bracken, the shrubs blackthorn (Bursaria spinosa), burgan (Kunzea ericoides) and sweet pittosporum (Pittosporum undulatum) and various wattles.

Why do weeds matter?

The huge financial cost to agriculture of weeds and weed control is well known but the impact of weeds on natural vegetation has only recently been widely recognised. Weed invasion is one of the greatest threats to some types of native vegetation, particularly when that vegetation is close to towns and farming land.

Weeds can come to dominate the vegetation in these areas, preventing regeneration of native plants or even killing them in some cases. They may reduce the habitat available for native animals and alter the visual character of the landscape. They can increase the fuel load making areas more fire-prone. They can even change the soil so that native plants can no longer survive there.

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Why do weeds invade?

Two things are needed for weeds to invade vegetation: a source of propagules (seed, bulbs, pieces of stem or root) and suitable growing conditions. Disturbance is not essential but it increases the likelihood of weeds becoming established by creating bare ground, changing soil conditions and stimulating seed germination.

Possible sources of disturbance are

•flooding,whichcanremovevegetationanddepositsediment

•earth-movingorcultivation

•removaloftheexistingvegetationcoverbyherbicidesorfire

•tramplingbylivestock

•nutrientenrichmentwithfertilisersormanure

•enhancedsoilmoistureduetorunofffrompavedsurfacesor compacted soil.

Seed and other propagules can be moved around in a number of ways

•dumpedingardenrefuse

•blownonthewind

•spreadbybirdsorotheranimalsifpackagedinediblefruits

•carriedonanimalsandwaterbirdsattachedtofur,feathersorin mud on their feet

•carriedinwater

•inthegutoflivestockwhichhavefedonweedypastureorhay

•spreadoncars,mowers,agriculturalorearth-movingmachinery

•importedinsoil,mulchingmaterials,pottedplants,hayand other stock feeds.

What can I do?

In general

•Learntorecogniseweedsandtakeearlyactiontoremovethemfromyour property. Monitor areas where you have imported materials or created disturbance, and be ready to control weeds as soon as they appear.

•Getunfamiliarplantsidentifiedifyoususpecttheymaybeweeds.

•JoinorformaBushcare,DunecareorLandcareGroupandbecomeactive in rehabilitating weedy areas.

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In the garden

•Don’tdumpgardenwaste.Burnit,compostitortakeittothetip.

•Don’tdumpwaterplantsintowaterbodiesorintothedrains.

•Removeanyplantslistedinthisguidefromyourgardenandreplacethem with plants which will not spread. Avoid any plants with berries which are not native to the area regardless of where you live, since birds can spread them over long distances. If you live close to native vegetation also avoid the weedier bulbs and anything with fine wind-blown seed. Talk to your nursery salesperson about the weed potential of plants before you buy them.

•Donotextendyourgardenintoadjacentvacantland.

•Eliminate nutrient-laden runoff from your garden. Don’t usefertilisers unnecessarily. Collect animal faeces and compost them.

On the farm or rural block

•Avoidunnecessarysoildisturbance.

•Avoid overgrazing as this creates ideal conditions for weedinvasion.

•Monitorareas thathavehadmachinery fromoutside thepropertyover them for new weed arrivals.

•Minimisedrivingoverthepropertyasthiscompactsthesoilandmaydeposit weed seed.

•Iffeedingstockonimportedfeedstuffsdoitinarestrictedareaandmonitor it for weeds.

•Quarantine new livestock for several days so weed seeds can passthrough them in a confined area which can be treated later.

•Don’t shift stock straight from weedy areas into areas of remnantnativevegetation.Givethemaweekina“clean”paddockfirst.

•Cleanoffmowingandslashingequipmentbeforemovingbetweenareas.

•Gettoknowwhenweedsonyourplaceflowerandtimeyourslashingandgrazingtoreduceseedset.

•Bevigilant,andactearly.Don’twaituntila fewplants turnintoamajor infestation.

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Controlling Weeds

Weeds thrive on disturbance. As well as taking action to remove weeds you need to look at what has contributed to the infestation and treat the causes as well as the symptom (the weeds). If reliance is placed on simply spraying weeds whenever they appear you may be embarking on an expensive spiral of increasing disturbance and increasing infestation. Healthy, vigorous native vegetation or pasture is relatively weed-resistant.

Timingiscrucialinweedcontrol.Removeweedsbefore they produce seed. If you are too late collect the seed and burn it, bury it deeply, or place it in plastic bags in the sun to rot. However the rotting process requires moisture so make sure you include some moist green material. Plastic bags are easily broken, so don’t take weeds carrying light wind blown seed to the tip,whether in bags or not.

Removingaweedmaysimplyresultinitsreplacementbyanotherrapidlygrowing coloniser of empty space, most likely another weed. Look at thewhole picture and decide what you want to achieve before starting a weed control program.

Methods

Hand pulling, chipping or digging is the cheapest method of weed control for small infestations but it is time consuming. Young plants are often easy to pull out if soil is moist. If soil is dry or plants are big you are likely to leave enough material in the ground for the plant to grow again. Some plants will recover unless every bit of the root system is removed and these are better sprayed. Digging is better avoided if it will cause a lot of soil disturbance in an otherwise relatively undisturbed site as this will only encourage the germination of more weed seed in the soil.

A sharp knife is a useful tool for hand weeding as it can be used to cut the roots below the crown on smaller weeds such as grasses and herbaceous plants. Try to minimise the amount of soil disturbance when weeding.

Slashing or mowing can be used to delay production of seed until more permanent control can be undertaken. However, it is not a permanent method of control itself and if plants have already seeded it can result in spreading that seed even further. If repeated frequently enough it can exhaust the underground food reserves of some plants and eventually get ridofthem.Brackenisanexample.

Solarisation involves heating weeds to lethal temperatures under clear (or coloured) plastic. It can be useful for low-growing and semi-aquatic weeds but will work best when they are growing in full sun. It may or may not kill any seed stored in the soil. It is best used for small infestations. Plastic may need to be left in place for months and should be weighted down.

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Grazing by goats and other livestock can be used to prevent seeding and remove some weeds. Any stock introduced at the right time and in adequate numberscanreduceseedingofannualgrasses.Goatsareusefulonwoodyweeds, but you need fair numbers to have much effect. They need good fencing and can be hard on bush. Sheep and goats are useful in controlling fireweed but they need to be present in large numbers at the crucial times.

Fire can play a part in controlling weeds, although it can also pave the way forweedinfestationbycreatingbareground.Timingisimportant.Burningin late autumn may encourage weeds by leaving the ground bare through winter.Burninginspringislesslikelytohavethiseffect.Burningofsomenativegrasseswhicharenotbeinggrazedhasbeenshowntobenecessaryfor their health. Without regular burning or grazing, grasses such askangaroo grass (which forms much of the native pasture in the region) can losevigourandthepasturebecomemoresusceptibletoweedinvasion.Lackof burning in the bush around towns can allow exotic plants which would not survive fire to become dominant. Fire can also be used to stimulate mass germination of hard-seeded weeds such as broom, which can then be sprayed.

Herbicides are very useful in the battle against weeds but need to be used carefully. Spot spraying individual plants is better than broad scale spraying, where practical. It is always best, if there is the option, to use the appropriate selective herbicide to minimise damage to non-target plants. The use of non-selective herbicides (which kill every plant they contact) creates bare ground, which only encourages further weed invasion. Use an application method other than spraying whenever possible (see next page).

Remember herbicides are poisons and take precautions to avoid gettingthem on your skin or breathing the vapour. Wear overalls, rubber gloves and a face mask when working with them. To avoid spray drift do not spray in windy conditions. Always read the instructions on the label before use. There are restrictions on using herbicides near waterways.

Herbicides are meant to be used only on the plants for which their use is registered. Check the label. For many non-agricultural weeds not listed on product labels there may be an off-label permit which covers them. If in doubt contact NSW Department of Primary Industries, the National RegistrationAuthority,Councilweedsofficersortheproductmanufacturers.Note that under the Pesticides Act 1999 it is an offence to use a herbicide in a manner that could cause injury to a person, damage to another’sproperty or harm to a non-target plant.

It is often best to use a mix of control techniques in an integrated program tomaximisethechanceofsuccess.Replantorencourageregenerationofdesirable plants in areas where weed control has been done to reduce the likelihood of reinvasion by the same or other weedy plants.

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When to use herbicides

•Onlyifnoothereffectiveandefficientmethodisavailableandonlyafter you have read the label.

•Applyherbicidewhentheplantisactivelygrowing.Thismaybeinwinter for some species.

•Do not use herbicide when the plants are drought stressed, inextremely hot or cold conditions or when plants are diseased.

•Don’tsprayifitlookslikerainoriswindy.

•Formanyplantsthebesttimetotreatisbetweenfloweringandfruitset.

•Spraydeciduousplantsinlatespringthroughtoearlyautumnwhenin full leaf. If leaf colour has begun to turn it is too late.

Methods of Application

Spraying should not be done in windy conditions. If plants are tall it may be easier and safer to slash them first and spray when there is vigorous regrowth. Ensure old grass tussocks have some new growth in them to absorb the chemical. If not they may need to be slashed first to promote fresh growth. Avoid spraying non-target plants, especially when spraying vines whose foliage may be entangled with that of the supporting plant. To minimise damage to other plants use a selective herbicide if possible. Mix it to the right concentration for the target species (check the label) and spray to thoroughly wet foliage, but no more. If the plant you are treating has waxy leaves you may need to add a penetrant to improve take-up of the herbicide. Adding dye makes it much easier to see where you have sprayed.

Weed wipers can be used to apply herbicides to foliage in a more targeted manner. There are a range of possibilities from wiping herbicide onto individual plants with a sponge in a gloved hand (useful for bulb foliage), to hand-held wick wipers, to larger wipers towed behind a tractor or quad bike. This method can be useful for removing taller weeds without affecting thepasturebeneaththem.Generally,wipingwithtwopassesat90ºtoeachother is needed to ensure sufficient coverage. Check whether the chemical you plan to use is registered for this method of application.

Stem injection is used on woody weeds where you want them to die in place rather than cutting them down. There are purpose-built stem injection devices but the job can also be done with a hammer and chisel or a cordless drill. You need to make an angled cut or hole down into the sapwood just below the bark and apply undiluted herbicide into the cut immediately.Don’tdrilltoodeeplyoryouwillgetintotheheartwood,whichdoes not take up the herbicide.

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Cut and paint is suitable for woody weeds. The plant is cut off close to ground level with a horizontal cut and herbicide (usually glyphosate)applied immediately to the cut surface. If you are too slow air is sucked into the sap vessels preventing take-up of the herbicide. In some plants such as willows it may be necessary to apply herbicide to both the stump and the cut end of the rest of the tree. This ensures that the top part of the plant dies rather than taking root again if it is left lying on moist soil. For a larger stump only the outer edge just inside the bark needs to be treated. Wear rubber gloves and avoid moving around carrying an open container of herbicide. This method and the one below are best done as a two-person job.

Scrape and paint is used for large vines and scrambling plants with a woody stem. Scrape 20 to 100cm of the stem with a knife to expose thesapwood just below the bark. Apply herbicide immediately to the scraped section.Don’tscraperightaroundthestem,doonlyathirdofthediameter.Stems over 1cm in diameter can be scraped on two sides. If killing vines leave them to die in place. Pulling them down can damage the plants they are growing over.

Basal bark treatment is used on young woody weeds and root suckers. Diluted herbicide (check label for rates) is painted or sprayed onto the bark atthebase,fromgroundlevelto30cmhigh.

RefertotheNoxious and Environmental Weed Control Handbook and Weed Control in Lucerne and Pasture series, available from NSW Department of Primary Industries, for specific weed by weed information(www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-weeds/weeds/publications/management/noxious-environment-weeds-control).

Gardens,publicandprivate,areamajor sourceofenvironmentalweeds.This old municipal planting includes privet, broom and cotoneaster, all highly invasive plants.

Avoid planting ‘garden thugs’. There are many equally attractive non-invasive plants (see Grow Me Instead! booklet available from your local Council).

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Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima)

Description

Deciduoustreeto20mhighwithsmooth,greybark.Verylarge(to1mlong)compound leaves, with many leaflets in opposite pairs. There is a gland on a small lobe near the base of each leaflet. Crushed leaves and the male flowers have an unpleasant smell. Seeds are red, large and winged.

Usually found near buildings but it can occur in relatively undisturbed bush.

Dispersal

Mainly spreading by root suckers around the parent plant. Dumped materialmaytakeroot.Rootfragmentscanbespreadbymachinery.Seedspread by wind.

Look-alikes

The natives red cedar (Toona ciliata) and pencil cedar (Polyscias murrayi) are rainforest trees, and red cedar does not occur naturally south of Milton. Neither have the gland on the leaflets or the unpleasant smell. Pencil cedar holds its leaves in winter, but red cedar is deciduous.

Control

Cut and paint, stem inject, basal bark or spray smaller plants. Plants will sucker from the roots when cut down or poisoned so repeat treatment is necessary.Donotplough,bulldozeorcutwithoutpoisoning,assuckeringwill be massive.

Contact with bark and leaves may cause dermatitis in some people.

WOODY WEEDS

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Small-leaf privet (Ligustrum sinense)

Large-leaf privet (Ligustrum lucidum)

Description

Evergreen shrubs or small trees. Smooth grey bark. Leaves glossy, inopposite pairs, oval, to 13 cm long in large-leaf privet and 5cm in small-leaf privet. Sprays of small white flowers are followed by clusters of small black fruits. Small-leaf privet flowers in spring, large-leaf privet in summer. Moist shady sites are preferred.

Bothleavesandfruitsarepoisonoustohumans.

Dispersal

Birds.Seeddumpedingardenwaste.

Look-alikes

Several native rainforest trees have similar glossy leaves in opposite pairs. The most similar are lilly pilly (Acmena smithii) and grey myrtle (Backhousia myrtifolia) which also have terminal sprays of white or cream flowers but not the black fruits which distinguish the privets. The weedy tree camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) also has glossy leaves and black fruits but its leaves are not opposite.

Control

Cut and paint, basal bark, stem inject or spray. Seedlings can be hand pulled. Seedling growth is likely to be very prolific when mature plants are killedandrootsuckersmayalsoappear.Re-spray.

SMALL-LEAF PRIVET LARGE-LEAF PRIVET

WOODY WEEDS

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WOODY WEEDS

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HAWTHORN

COTONEASTER

PYRACANTHA

(above) Two species of cotoneaster growing together. Note different leaf and flowersizeandcolour.

Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster species)

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)

Pyracantha or firethorn (Pyracantha species)

Description

Cotoneaster: Several species of evergreen or semi-deciduous shrubs 2-4m high, sometimes semi-prostrate (C. horizontalis).Leavesoval,witha dull green upper surface and usually a white underside. Clusters of small white or pink flowers are followed by small red or orange-red fruits.

Hawthorn: Deciduous spiny large shrub or small tree to 10m. Barksmooth and grey. Leaves 3 to 7 lobed. Large white or pinkish flowers inclusters. Fruits are dark red, fleshy, about 1 cm diameter.

Pyracantha: Similar to cotoneaster but spiny with narrow-oval, sometimes toothed, leaves. White flowers and orange or red berries.

All are garden escapees, usually found close to towns or old farmhouses or under trees in paddocks. However, birds may spread the seed some distance into bush.

These plants may be seen as providing valuable food for birds. However, they often encourage the build up of exotic species such as blackbirds or of opportunist native birds like the pied currawong which preys on the nestlings of more desirable bird species.

Dispersal

Birds.Seed in dumped garden waste.

Look-alikes

Some native shrubs in the genus Pomaderris have similar leaves to cotoneaster but their flowers are smaller and they do not form berries.

Control

Cut and paint, stem inject or spray. Seedlings and smaller plants can be handpulledordug.Rootsuckersarelikelytoariseaftertreatingtheparentplant and these will need follow-up cutting and painting or spraying.

MIRROR buSH

WOODY WEEDS

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bitou bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp rotundata)

boneseed (Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp monilifera)

Mirror bush (Coprosma repens)

Description

Evergreen shrubs 1-3 m high. All have thick leaves, with small teeth near thetipinbitoubush.Bitoubushnewgrowthiswhitishwithacoveringoffine hairs. Mirror bush leaves are highly glossy. Mirror bush cultivars with variegated foliage are sold in nurseries and are also potentially weedy.

Bitouandmirrorbushareusuallyfoundclosetotheseaondunes,sea-cliffsand in forest on sand although bitou is gradually spreading inland. The very similar weed, boneseed may be found over a wider range of habitats.

Dispersal

Birds,foxes,ants.Movementofsoilcontainingseed.Bitoubushseedmaybe spread along the coast by ocean currents.

Look-alikes

The native boobialla (Myoporum boninense) also grows mostly on sea cliffs. It has bright green fleshy leaves with a more pointed tip, white flowers spotted with purple and purple fruits. A weed with similar fleshy leaves is the large semi-climbing shrub climbing groundsel (Senecio angulatus), which has yellow daisy flowers but fluffy seed (page 26). Boneseed hasnarrower leaves with toothed margins.

Control

Cut and paint. Seedlings and smaller plants can be hand pulled. Fire can be used to stimulate germination of most seed after which seedlings can be sprayed. Over-spraying with a low concentration of glyphosate in winter cankillbitouwithoutaffectingnativevegetation.Biologicalcontrolagentshave been released for bitou.

bITOu buSH MIRROR buSH

WOODY WEEDS

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Flax-leaf broom (Genista linifolia)

Cape or Montpelier broom (Genista monspessulana)

Scotch or English broom (Cytisus scoparius)

Description

Shrubs 1-2m high flowering in spring, with hairy seed pods. Flax-leaf and capebroomhaveleavescomposedofthreeleaflets,likeclover.Leafletsarenarrower in flax-leaf broom. Scotch broom is often leafless, the flowers borne on green ribbed stems, though young plants may have a few leaves with one or three leaflets.

Dispersal

Dumping. Explosive release of seeds around parent plants.

Look-alikes

Many native shrubs in the pea family have some of the features of the brooms. Gompholobium species and Goodia lotifolia have 3 leaflets and yellow flowers, but neither have hairy pods. Jacksonia scoparia is a leafless shrub with rough black bark, weeping silvery-grey foliage and deep yellow flowers. Its pods are tiny and not hairy. The leafless native pea Viminaria juncea grows in swampy situations where Scotch broom is unlikely to occur. Most other native pea shrubs have yellow flowers with blotches of brown or orange, not pure yellow.

Control

Cut and paint or spray. Smaller plants can be hand pulled or dug out. Seed is long-lived in the soil and seedling growth after removal of the parent plants will need follow-up. Fire could be used to stimulate germination of all soil-stored seed for spraying.

CAPE bROOM SCOTCH bROOM

WOODY WEEDS

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Lantana (Lantana species)

Description

Lantana camara is a large shrub which may sometimes climb into trees. Stemsaresquareandpricklyandleavesarrangedinoppositepairs.Leavesare rough to the touch with short hairs and finely serrated edges. They have a strong smell when crushed. Small flowers are in clusters, followed by berries which ripen to black. The whole plant is poisonous.

Lantanagenerallyoccursalongtheedgesofforestandclearedlandandisoften associated with rock outcrops and gullies.

Dispersal

Birdsandfoxes.Clumps increase insizebysuckeringfromtherootsandseedling growth along the edges.

Look-alikes

Other Lantana species have been popular garden plants, but their cultivation is now illegal in NSW. They may be yellow or mauve flowered.

The native herb cockspur flower (Plectranthus graveolens) could be mistaken for a young lantana plant. It has the square stems, opposite, oval, serrated leaves and is aromatic when crushed. It grows on rock outcrops with lantana. Its leaves are velvety hairy rather than roughly hairy. The flowers are small and blue, in narrow elongated spikes.

The native shrub poison peach (Trema tomentosa) has similar rough textured leaves with serrated margins, but they are much narrower than those of lantana. Flowers are tiny and white, berries are tiny and black and neither are in clusters.

Control

Dig, cut and paint or spray isolated plants. Thickets will need to be sprayed. Suckers are likely to arise from the roots and will need follow-up work, as will seedling regrowth. Bulldozing could be used for large infestationsisolated from native vegetation but suckering will be profuse.

WOODY WEEDS

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African boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum)

Description

Alargeintricatelybranchedshrubwithlongsharpspines.Leavesaresmall,bright green, smooth and slightly fleshy. Small white flowers with purple markings. Fruits are rather tomato-like but only 1cm diameter.

A weed of open pasture in farming areas, boxthorn usually grows under trees and fences where it provides rabbit harbour. It also grows in coastal areas such as sea cliffs. Fruits are poisonous.

Dispersal

Birdsandfoxes.

Look-alikes

Two native spiny shrubs may be confused with boxthorn. Blackthorn(Bursaria spinosa) has small white flowers in large clusters at the end of the branches in summer followed by brown papery seed capsules. Tree violet (Hymenanthera dentata) has toothed leaves and the flowers are tiny yellow bells which hang along the underside of the branches, followed by purple-black berries. The leaves of both are less bright green than those of boxthorn. Their spines are shorter and less vicious.

Control

Hand pull seedlings. Cut and paint, basal bark or spray. Seedlings are likely after removal of adult plants, and suckers may arise from the roots and will need follow-up work. Sprayed plants may leaf up again several times before finally dying.

Boxthorn may provide the only shelter for small birds in farminglandscapes. Plant suitable local native replacement shrubs before removing it if no other habitat is available.

WOODY WEEDS

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Common prickly pear (Opuntia stricta)

Tiger pear (Opuntia aurantiaca)

Description

Cacti with swollen fleshy stems (cladodes), spines and no leaves, forming clumps to about 1m high. Tiger pear cladodes are cylindrical, all others flattened and plate-like. Tree pear (O. monacantha) grows to over 3m and has thin bright green rather than blue-green cladodes.

Rockyslopes,includingseacliffs,areafavouredhabitat.

Dispersal

Birdscan spread the seedof commonand treepear.Tigerpeardoesnotproduce seed in Australia. Broken off segments will take root if left incontact with the ground and can be transported by animals, humans, vehicles and in water.

Look-alikes

The spineless Indian fig (O. ficus-indica) sometimes grown as a hedge or foritsediblefruitshasalsobecomeweedyinVictoria.

Control

Plants can be dug out but must be disposed of carefully because of their ability to take root again if left on the ground. Cladodes will remain viable for very long periods even if not in contact with the soil. Deep burial or burning is safest. Spraying with selective woody-weed herbicide is effective. Biologicalcontrol(theCactoblastis moth or cochineal insects) is effective in warmer climates but in southern areas they need to be reintroduced after winter. They may weaken plants and prevent seeding but will not eradicate infestations.

COMMON PRICKLY PEAR TIGER PEAR

WOODY WEEDS

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Myrtle-leaf milkwort (Polygala myrtifolia)

broom milkwort (Polygala virgata)

Description

Shrubs 1-2m high. Purple flowers 2-3cm across are clustered near the tips of the branches. Fruit is a winged flattened capsule ripening to a papery texture.

Found in bush around towns particularly in near-coastal locations.

Dispersal

Seed in dumped garden waste and in contaminated soil, sometimes by ants or birds. Seeds remain viable for a long time and germinate profusely after fire or disturbance.

Look-alikes

Flowers look similar to those of native peas but lack the large petal at the top of the flower. Check the next page to see a typical pea flower shape. Match-heads (Comesperma ericinum) is a native shrub in the same family with similar but much smaller pink flowers in compact terminal heads. The yellow flowered pea Pultenaea daphnoides has similar leaves to myrtle-leaf milkwort.

Control

Plants cut close to the base are not likely to re-sprout. This is easier than digging and less likely to cause more seed germination. Numerous seedlings are likely to appear after disturbance and follow-up control will be needed for at least three years. Fire can be used to kill adult plants, but it will also cause mass germination of seedlings.

MYRTLE-LEAF MILKWORT bROOM MILKWORT

WOODY WEEDS

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African scurfpea (Psoralea pinnata)

Description

Evergreen shrub 1-3m high. Leaves are compound with 5 to 11 narrowpointedleaflets,bristlytothetouch.Blueflowersareclusterednearthetipsof the branches. Small pods contain a single seed.

Found around towns particularly in near-coastal locations.

Dispersal

Spread from seed in dumped garden waste, in contaminated soil and sometimes by ants. Seeds remain viable for a long time and germinate profusely after fire or disturbance.

Look-alikes

Flowers are similar to those of native peas but the pale blue colour is not shared by any local native peas. Purple flowered native pea shrubs in the region are Indigofera australis and several species of Hovea but these have quite different leaves. Some native shrubs in the genus Zieria have compound leaves with narrow leaflets, but these have only three, not 5-11 leaflets. Their flowers are small and white. When not flowering young plants could be mistaken for a pine tree seedling (also a weed).

Control

Cut stems may re-sprout and this species is not killed by fire. Cut and paint mature plants. Hand pull seedlings, although spraying is easier if seedlings are abundant.

WOODY WEEDS

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blackberry (Rubus fruticosus species aggregate)

briar rose or sweet briar (Rosa rubiginosa)

Description

Deciduousthornyshrubs.Blackberryformsclumpsto3mhigh.Blackberryfruitsarelarge,succulentandredripeningtoblack.Briarroseissmaller.and produces smooth orange-red “rosehips”.

Blackberry does best in cool moist sites. Briar rose grows in pasture andseems to be selectively browsed out by rabbits. It increases on the coast after drought, when rabbit numbers are low.

Dispersal

Birds,foxes.Blackberryalsorootsatthebranchtipswherethesetouchtheground.Rootsuckers.

Look-alikes

Several natives: small-leaved bramble (Rubus parvifolius) is a small trailing plant with pink flowers and small red fruits; native raspberry(R. rosifolius) is upright in habit, with narrow leaves, large white flowers and large red, but dry and gritty, fruits; Molucca bramble (R. moluccanus syn. R. hillii) has three-lobed but not divided leaves which are buff hairy on the underside; bush lawyer (R. nebulosus) is a red-fruited climber in rainforestnorthofBatemansBay.

Control

Spraywithawoodyweedspecificherbicide.Goatsprovideverygoodcontrolof both. Slashing can keep blackberry from forming tall clumps but never gets rid of the plant. Plants can be dug out but will re-sprout if any roots are leftbehind.An introduced fungus,blackberryrust, released in the1980s,can become common in wet summers and reduces the vigour of plants.

bLACKbERRY bRIAR ROSE

WOODY WEEDS

19

Cassia(Senna septemtrionalis, S. pendula var. glabrata, S. multiglandulosa)

Description

Straggly evergreen shrubs 1-3m high. Senna septemtrionalis is illustrated. The other two species have more rounded tips to the leaflets. Leaves arecompound with 3-8 pairs of leaflets. There is a raised gland between the lowest pair, or few pairs, of leaflets. Seed pods are cylindrical andbean-like.

Mostly found in bush around towns and old farms.

Dispersal

Seed in dumped garden waste, in water and in contaminated soil, rarely by animals.

Look-alikes

Some species of native Senna occur in the region. Senna aciphylla prefers rocky sites, while Senna odorata grows in eucalypt forest and on rainforest margins. These two species have 8-13 pairs of leaflets with glands between all leaflet pairs. Senna clavigera occurs on rainforest margins north from Shoalhaven. It has a single gland where the leaf joins the stem and 4-7 leaflet pairs. Other less similar native shrubs are the purple-flowered pea Indigofera australis and coffee bush (Breynia oblongifolia).

Control

Cut and paint, hand pull or dig. The whole root system needs to be removed to avoid re-sprouting. Plants will re-sprout from the roots after fire. Seeds remain viable for a long time and may germinate profusely after fire or disturbance.

WOODY WEEDS

20

Wild tobacco bush (Solanum mauritianum)

Description

Stragglyevergreenshruborsmalltreeto6mhigh.Largefurry,grey-greenleaves, smelling of kerosene, purple flowers followed by clusters of large berries ripening from green to yellow. All parts of the plant are covered in velvety hairs. The plant is poisonous, particularly the green berries.

Originally a garden escapee but now well established in bush particularly in near-coastal locations and along rivers.

Dispersal

Birds,dumpedgardenwaste.

Look-alikes

Smaller native nightshades (Solanum species), of which the most similar isdevil’sneedles(Solanum stelligerum). This also has furry grey-green leaves but they are smaller and narrower and the plant grows no higher than 2m. It usually has some prickles scattered on the stems. Most of the shorter native nightshades found on the south coast have prickles on stems, leaves and flower/fruit stalks.

Control

This plant is a coloniser of disturbed sites and germination is stimulated by fire. It will re-sprout if cut down. Spray, stem inject, cut and paint or basal bark. Small plants may be hand pulled or dug.

Native birds such as fruit pigeons may rely on the fruits of this weed. Replacewithlocalnativebearersofsoftfruitssuchaslillypilly(Acmena smithii) or bolwarra (Eupomatia laurina) in suitable moist sites.

WOODY WEEDS

21

Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)

Dolichos pea (Dipogon lignosus)

Description

Japanese honeysuckle: Large vine with thin-textured leaves inopposite pairs. Young leaves lobed. Flowers are very sweet-scented. Fruit is a black berry which is poisonous to humans.

Dolichos pea:Large vinewith thin-textured leavescomposedof threepointy-tipped leaflets. Clusters of pink or mauve pea flowers and flat pea-like pods.

Bothgrowonforestedgesorriverbanksusuallyneartownsoroldfarms.

Dispersal

Seed spread by birds or in dumped garden refuse and contaminated soil. Honeysuckle branches root where they come in contact with the soil. Dumping can spread honeysuckle from plant fragments as well as seed.

Look-alikes

Japanese honeysuckle: Other Lonicera species (vines and shrubs) and hybridsofJapanesehoneysucklearealsobird-spread.Avoid.

Dolichos pea: The native vine Kennedia rubicunda is a smaller plant with blunt-tipped leaflets, red flowers and brown furry pods.

Control

Hand pull or dig young plants and spray, cut and paint or scrape and paint older plants. Follow-up will be needed. Tops should be left to dry out in place as pulling them down may damage supporting trees. This applies to all large vines. Spraying is useful when the vine is growing over the ground but may damage supporting trees or shrubs. Use with care.

VINES

22

JAPANESE HONEYSuCKLE DOLICHOS PEA

Turkey rhubarb or climbing dock (Acetosa sagittata)

Description

A large non-woody vine with arrowhead shaped leaves and inconspicuous white flowers carried in long branched heads. Seed capsules start green, turn red and dry to brown, with a papery texture. The plant grows from a large conical underground tuber like a sweet potato.

Widespread in a variety of habitats but mostly near-coastal and along rivers.

Dispersal

Spread from seed or tubers, in dumped garden waste or contaminated soil. Seed also spread by wind or water and tubers potentially by water.

Look-alikes

The dense sprays of papery fruits are distinctive. There are some smaller native climbers with arrowhead shaped leaves. Forest bindweed (Calystegia marginata) has single white flowers enclosed in two green bracts. The small creeper Muehlenbeckia gracillima has similar leaves with finely crisped margins but the flower spikes are much smaller. It is only a small plant and usually occurs along rivers.

Control

Constant re-sprouting from the tuber makes this species difficult to control. Plants can be dug up but every tuber needs to be removed. Spraying prior to seeding will be effective but will need to be repeated on regrowth the next season.

If treating plants that are carrying seed collect and destroy as much seed as possible.

VINES

23

Madiera vine or lamb’s tail (Anredera cordifolia)

Description

Large vine with fleshy, glossy heart shaped leaves and narrow pendulousspikes of small cream flowers. Seed is not formed in southern Australia. Grows from underground tubers and also forms aerial tubers on thebranches. These sprout to form new plants when they fall to the ground.

Generallyfoundinmoistsunnysitessuchasriverbanksandgullyedges.

Dispersal

Spread by tubers in dumped garden waste, contaminated soil or in water.

Look-alikes

Aerial tubers are distinctive but not always present. Other climbing plants with fleshy leaves are also weeds (Delairea odorata, Senecio tamoides and Senecio angulatus - see page 26). Some native vines have glossy but not fleshy, heart-shaped leaves: snake vine (Stephania japonica), pearl vine (Sarcopetalum harveyanum), round-leaf vine (Legnophora moorei) and giant pepper vine (Piper novae-hollandiae).

Control

Plants can be dug up but large tubers may break up. Careful collection and disposal of aerial tubers is necessary if pulling vines down. Spraying is useful for plants without aerial tubers and young regrowth. Scrape and paint mature vines. This will kill aerial tubers slowly. Plants need to be monitored for regrowth.

VINES

24

Moth plant (Araujia sericifera, syn. A. sericiflora, A. hortorum)

Description

Largevinewithoval leaves, sometimeswithaslightlyheart-shapedbase,and a white underside, in opposite pairs. Milky sap is produced. Seeds have a tuft of hairs to assist dispersal and are packed tightly into a leathery green capsule.

Most common in moist soils along rivers.

Dispersal

Wind and water.

Look-alikes

The flowers and choko-like fruits are distinctive but there are some native climbers with similar leaves. Milk vines (Marsdenia rostrata and M. flavescens) also have milky sap, and shiny, opposite leaves. However, the underside is pale green in M. rostrata and yellowish in M. flavescens. Flowers are smaller, cream or yellow and seed pods much narrower. Common silkpod (Parsonsia straminea) has clear sap, large leathery leaves in opposite pairs, with a paler green underside and cigar shaped pods. The small native vine Tylophora barbata has clear sap, opposite pale green leaves and the rarely produced small flowers are dark purple.

Control

Youngplantsareeasilyhandpulled.Largeplantscanbesprayedortreatedby the scrape and paint method. If ripening fruit is present remove and dispose of it carefully, preferably by burning or deep burial.

VINES

25

Cape ivy (Delairea odorata, syn. Senecio mikanioides)

Climbing groundsel (Senecio angulatus)

English ivy (Hedera helix)

Description

Cape ivy: Non-woody vine with thin, glossy leaves. Flowers in winter. Climbing groundsel: Shrub or climber with glossy, thick, fleshy, bluntly lobed leaves and yellow daisy flowers. English ivy: Climbstreesclingingbysmallsuckers.Leavesthin,slightlyglossy.Blackberries.Bothberriesandleavesarepoisonous.

Found around towns or old farms. Cape ivy is the most widespread, often along rivers.

Dispersal

Spread by stem segments dumped or transported by water. Also from seed, wind-blown, or bird-spread in the case of English ivy.

Look-alikes

The native common silkpod (Parsonsia straminea) climbs tree trunks using suckers when young but its leaves are not lobed. The weed Senecio tamoides is like cape ivy, but with large yellow "petals" on the flowers.

Control

Cape ivy: Cut through stems and leave upper parts to die off in place. Dig roots and remove any stems in contact with the ground.Climbing groundsel: Selective woody weed herbicides. English ivy: Hand pull small plants. For badly infested trees, cut away the bottom metre of ivy stems and scrape and paint both ends of the cut stems. Stems growing across the ground can be sprayed with herbicide. If spraying any of these species add a penetrant to improve take-up.

VINES

26

CAPE IVY ENGLISH IVY

CLIMbING GROuNDSEL

Mile-a-minute or coastal morning glory (Ipomoea cairica)

blue morning glory (Ipomoea indica)

Description

Largevines.Flowersaretubular,about8cmindiameter,pink,mauveorblue. Fruit is a four-valved capsule.

Found around towns particularly in near-coastal locations. Sea-cliffs, gullies, forest edges.

Dispersal

Spread from stem segments dumped or transported by water. Mile-a-minute also has wind-spread seed.

Look-alikes

The native vine Calystegia sepium has narrowly heart-shaped leaves and a large pink flower. It differs in having the base of the flower enclosed in two large green flaps (bracts). It usually grows in wet areas. Three native twining plants in the convolvulus family Calystegia marginata, Convolvulus angustissimus and Polymeria calycina, which have white or pink morning glory-like flowers, are much smaller than the weedy species. Passionfruit (2 native and 4 weedy species) have slightly similar three-lobed leaves.

Control

Dig, spray or scape and paint. If dug they should not be left lying on the ground or they may take root again. Plants which are not trailing over the ground can be cut at the base and left to dry out in place.

VINES

27

MILE-A-MINuTE bLuE MORNING GLORY

bridal creeper or florist’s smilax (Asparagus asparagoides)

Asparagus fern or climbing asparagus (Asparagus scandens)

Description

Non-woody scrambling plants with wiry stems that cover the ground or climbintoshrubsandsmalltrees.Bridalcreeperhasglossy,thin-textured,bright green leaves with close parallel veins. Small white bell flowers are followed by dark red berries. Climbing asparagus has small leaves arranged in threes and tiny white flowers followed by orange berries.

Climbingasparagusisfoundaroundtownsinmoistgullies.Bridalcreeperis widespread in many types of native and exotic vegetation.

Dispersal

Birds.Dumpingofrhizomes(wiryundergroundstems).

Look-alikes

Wiry native vines wombat berry (Eustrephus latifolius) and scrambling lily (Geitonoplesium cymosum) are similar to bridal creeper but the narrower leaves are not glossy and fruits are yellow and black respectively. Other weedy asparagus ferns may be climbers or groundcovers. Their foliage is similar to climbing asparagus and berries may be red, orange or black depending on species. Some have short spines on the stems. All have white fleshy tubers attached to the roots.

Control

Dig small plants removing all of the root system or spray larger infestations during winter or spring. Plants become dormant in summer. Repeattreatments will be needed. Two biological controls have been released for bridal creeper and have proven very effective in humid coastal situations. Bridalcreeperrustcanbespreadbyrinsingrust-infectedplants inwaterand spraying the water onto uninfected plants during humid weather.

VINES

28

bRIDAL CREEPER ASPARAGuS FERN

Paterson’s curse or Salvation Jane (Echium plantagineum)

Viper’s bugloss (Echium vulgare)

Description

Annual or biennial herbs to 1m high that start as a flat rosette, elongating to a vertical flowering stem. Paterson’s curse stems are usually widelybranchingandviper’sbuglosssingle-stemmed,butbothspeciesmayadopteitherhabit.Largeblue-purpleflowers.Viper’sbuglossisdistinguishedbyits coarse prickly hairs and the much narrower basal leaves.

Found in farming areas in degraded pastures, river beds and on roadsides. As they are avoided by most stock they can become dominant in grazedpasture.Toxictopigsandhorsesandthehairsmayirritatecow’sudders.

Dispersal

The initial introduction is usually in contaminated hay or pasture seed, after which the sticky seed is spread in or on livestock, or by water.

Look-alikes

The bell shaped flowers are distinctive but from a distance another low-growing weed, purple verbena (Verbena rigida) looks similar. It has more reddish-purple flowers clustered in terminal heads and roughly hairy leaves in opposite pairs.

Control

Hand chip or spray. On high production pastures cultivate and establish a dense sward of grasses and clovers that will out-compete the weeds.

HERbACEOuS

29

PATERSON’S CuRSE VIPER’S buGLOSS

St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum)

Description

Perennial herb with small pale green leaves arranged in opposite pairs. If the leaves are held up to the light, tiny clear oil dots can be seen. Flowers areabout20mmdiameter.Floweringisinsummer.Theplantdiesbacktothe rootstock over winter and does not begin growing again until early summer. The plant is poisonous to stock causing photo-sensitisation in white-faced animals. Their faces and mouths become itchy and raw, preventing feeding. Prolonged handling may cause unpleasant syptoms in humans too.

Grows in pasture and on road verges. Very invasive in remnant nativevegetation of farming areas.

Dispersal

Seed sticks to animals or vehicles, is spread in contaminated soil, or in hay or chaff. Each plant also spreads via underground runners which can be spread by cultivation.

Look-alikes

Similar natives Hypericum gramineum and H. japonicum are very much smaller with flowers only 5-10mm diameter. Several larger Hypericum species are used as garden plants.

Control

Small infestations can be hand dug, though it is seldom possible to remove alloftherootsystem,sospotsprayingismorelikelytobeeffective.StJohn’swort does not tolerate strong competition from healthy pasture so avoid over-grazingandensurerabbitsarecontrolled.

HERbACEOuS

30

Fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis)

Description

Low branching annual herb, toxic to stock, causing progressive liverdamage.Itisnotreadilygrazedexceptbysheepandgoatswhichtoleratethe toxins better than other stock.

Growsinpasture,roadvergesandopenforest.Itneedsmoistconditionsforseedling establishment but will grow and flower at any time of year given the rainfall.

Dispersal

Seed is wind-blown and possibly moved around in soil and on vehicles.

Look-alikes

Many other weedy yellow daisies which consist of a single rosette and flower stalk rather than having a branching habit. Fireweed can be distinguished from most native Senecio species by its 13 "petals" and about 21 bracts (the narrow green structures surrounding the flower head). Senecio lautus ssp maritimus on sea cliffs and dunes and S. lautus ssp lanceolatus in grassy forest along the top of the coastal escarpment look very like fireweed but have only 13 bracts. The taller Senecio linearifolius grows on the edges of the farming areas and can proliferate after disturbance.

Control

Handpullassoonastheplantsbecomevisiblebybeginningtoflower.Bagthe whole plant for safe disposal or just the flowers and seed heads. Check forseedlingsinthevicinityofthemorevisibleplants.Largeinfestationscanbe boom sprayed. Sheep and goats may reduce seed-set by grazing.Maintaining a vigorously growing pasture is helpful in preventing infestation.Burningofungrazednativepasturemaymakeitmoreresistantto infestation by stimulating active grass growth.

HERbACEOuS

31

HERbACEOuS

32

CROFTON WEED

CAPE WEED

CHINESE WORMWOOD

Crofton weed (Ageratina adenophora)

Capeweed (Arctotheca calendula)

Chinese wormwood or mugwort (Artemisia verlotiorum)

Description

Crofton weed: An erect perennial weed of warm, moist spots such as creek banks, road verges on moist slopes, drains. In northern NSW it also invades pasture.

Capeweed: A flat rosette-forming weed of bare ground such as road vergesandheavilygrazedpastures.Seedsarepalebrownfluffyballs.Itcantaint milk and high nitrate levels have caused death in sheep and cattle.

Chinese wormwood: A tall erect unbranched perennial herb. Flowers are very small, in elongated branched terminal spikes, in late summer. The plant dies back to the rootstock over winter. Found on sandy river banks forming dense stands which exclude all other plants.

Dispersal

Seed or rootstocks dispersed by wind and water and in contaminated soil.

Look-alikes

Crofton weed: Mistflower (Ageratina riparia) is a weed with similar behaviour and appearance distinguished by narrower leaves which taper less abruptly into the leaf stalk. The native herb “Indian weed” (Sigesbeckia orientalis) is similar but leaves are more arrowhead shaped, flowers are tiny and yellow, and the flowering parts are sticky.

Capeweed: ThegardenplantGazania(Gazania species) has a similar low habit and flowers but forms a spreading clump rather than consisting of a single rosette.

Chinese wormwood: When not flowering the plant has a chrysanthemum-like appearance. It can be mistaken for perennial ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya) but this species lacks the white leaf underside and is not known from the south coast yet.

Control

Hand pull or chip small infestations prior to seeding. Spot or boom spray when plants are actively growing. Herbicide treatment may need to be repeated.

HERbACEOuS

33

black or spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare)

Nodding thistle (Carduus nutans)

Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium)

Description

Black or spear thistle is the most common large thistle on the coast, with green stems. Nodding thistle has narrow leaves and drooping flower heads. Scotch thistle is grey woolly with winged stems.

Thistles are more common on the tablelands, where many different species occur. Most have the potential to become more common on the coast if not controlled when they first appear.

Dispersal

Seed dispersed by wind, roadside slashing, contaminated soil or in contaminated hay.

Look-alikes

There are many thistles, all weeds in the daisy family. Variegated thistle(Silybum marianum) is a robust plant with strongly white-marbled leaves and large purple flower heads. Slender thistle (Carduus pycnocephalus) is a small thistle with narrow pink flower heads and slightly variegated looking foliage. Saffron thistle (Carthamus lanatus) is a slender plant with yellow flowers.

Mexican poppy (Argemone ochroleuca), although it is not a thistle has spiny silver-grey thistle-like leaves, but a large cream poppy flower.

Control

Chip or spot spray prior to flowering or boom spray large infestations. Control of species which are not yet well established on the coast is particularly important.

HERbACEOuS

34

bLACK THISTLE SCOTCH THISTLE

NODDING THISTLE

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

Hemlock (Conium maculatum)

Description

Robustannualorbiennialherbs1-2mhighwithzigzaggingstemsthatarewhitish or bluish. Hemlock stems are finely blotched brown or purple and hollow. Leaves are finely divided, in the case of fennel into thread-likesegments. Flowers are yellow in fennel, white in hemlock and carried in umbrella-shaped heads. Fennel smells of aniseed while hemlock is said to have a “mousy” smell when crushed. All parts of the hemlock plant are poisonous to humans and livestock. It also taints milk and can affect yield.

Bothgrowonunusedlandsuchasroadsides.Hemlockprefersmoistshadyconditions such as river banks.

Dispersal

Seed spread by water, machinery or vehicles or in contaminated soil.

Look-alikes

Wild carrot (Daucus carota) is a common weed on roadsides. It has similar heads of white or pinkish flowers but the crushed leaves smell carroty.

A native herb, Trachymene anisocarpa, has similar branching heads of white flowers but its leaves are divided into only three lobed leaflets. It grows in forest on moist sandy soils, often close to swamps.

Control

Hand chip young plants or spot spray before plants elongate into the flowering stage. Slashing just before flowering may kill the plants or repeat slashing of regrowth may be needed.

HERbACEOuS

35

FENNEL HEMLOCK

HERbACEOuS

36

TRITONIA FORMOSAN LILY

WATSONIA MERIANA WOOD-SORREL

ARuM OR CALLA LILLY

bulbs and Tuberous Plants

Montbretia (Crocosmia X crocosmiiflora); Wood-sorrel (Oxalis articulata);Onion grass (Romulea rosea); Arum lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica); Formosan lily (Lilium formosanum); Tritonia (Tritonia lineata);Watsonia (Watsonia meriana ‘Bulbillifera’,Watsonia borbonica)

Description

Plants which grow from a bulb or corm are usually visible above ground for only part of the year. This is the case for all of the plants illustrated except arum lily. Its foliage may die back over winter in cooler sites.

All appear mostly around towns and old farms although onion grass and Formosan lily are more widespread. Arum lily prefers wet sites.

Dispersal

Spreadbyseed,rhizomes,corms,bulbsorbulbilsindumpedgardenwasteorincontaminatedsoil.Birdsspreadarumlilyseed.

Look-alikes

Some native lilies appear from tubers in spring and summer but most have much smaller flowers than the garden escapees. The most showy are the bulbine lilies (Bulbine glauca and B. semibarbata) which have onion-like leaves and erect spikes of small yellow flowers.

Control

Dig small infestations but take care not to leave behind the bulb or the small offset bulbs which develop late in the season. To prevent seed development cut tops after flowering, or if seed has already formed bag seed heads for safe disposal. Do not slash seeding plants as it will spread the seed. The best time for spraying is when the flower stalks are elongating as the bulbs will be most weakened at this time and seeding andproductionofnewbulbsshouldbeprevented.Regrowthislikelyaftereither digging or spraying.

HERbACEOuS

37

MONTbRETIA ONION GRASS

Aquatic PlantsHERbACEOuS

38

CAbOMbA

SALVINIA

WATER HYACINTH SAGITTARIA

Cabomba has both submerged and floating leaves. The fan-shaped leaf distinguishes it from similar native water plants.

Salvinia is flat initially, but leaves fold when the plants become crowded. It is free-floating on the water surface.

Water Hyacinth forms dense floating mats on the water surface.

Sagittaria grows in mud at the water’sedge.

Aquatic Plants

Cabomba (Cabomba caroliniana); Salvinia (Salvinia molesta);Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes); Sagittaria (Sagittaria graminea)

Description

Aquatic plants may be either fully submerged in water, floating on the surfaceorgrowingaroundthewater’sedge.

Found in fresh water bodies such as farm dams, lagoons on river floodplains, rivers and creeks. Still or slow flowing water is usually preferred.

Dispersal

Floods, dumping of aquarium or ornamental pond plants. Many aquatic plants have sticky seed which can be spread long distances on the feathers orfeetofwaterbirds.Boatsmayspreadseedorwholeplants.

Look-alikes

Identifying aquatic weeds can be difficult. There are many native look-alikes, although not for water hyacinth. The blue-flowered pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata) and the white-flowered native water plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica) are similar to sagittaria.

Have suspicious plants identified by a specialist. Many native water plants will become abundant if the nutrient level in the water body is increased or the temperature raised. This may not be a bad thing since these plants will use up nutrients that might otherwise feed a toxic blue-green algae bloom.

Control

Report any suspected infestations to Council weed officers. Do not dumpunwanted aquatic plants into water bodies or grow species with weed potential. Floating plants can be raked to shore or pulled in with an encircling rope and piled on the shore above flood reach under plastic where they will break down rapidly. Plants growing around the water’sedge can be dug up.

For large infestations herbicide may be needed, but a permit is required from the Department of Environment and Climate Change to apply any herbicide to a water body. Only a few herbicides are registered for use over water.

HERbACEOuS

39

Periwinkle (Vinca major)

Wandering jew, trad (Tradescantia fluminensis, syn. T. albiflora)

Description

Spreading groundcovers that form dense mats. Periwinkle leaves are in opposite pairs while those of wandering jew are alternate and stem-clasping at the base.

Moist shady situations are preferred by both, especially river banks.

Dispersal

NeitherspreadfromseedinAustralia.Brokenoffsectionsofstemwilltakeroot. Spread down rivers by floods and into other areas by dumping.

Look-alikes

Non-flowering periwinkle could be mistaken for the small native vine Tylophora barbata. However, Tylophora twines up nearby plants while periwinkle does not climb. A variegated form of periwinkle is also invasive. Wandering jew is similar to two native plants, Commelina cyanea and Aneilema biflorum but both these plants have longer, narrower leaves that are more widely spaced along the stems. Commelina has blue flowers.

Control

Small infestations can be dug out but every bit of stem needs to be removed and destroyed as any fragment can re-grow. Solarisation may work in summer in sunny sites (6 weeks for wandering jew and 4-6 months for periwinkle). After removing the plastic any regrowth can be dug or sprayed. Spraying will work eventually but repeat treatments will be needed. Plants should not be under any moisture stress when sprayed. Adding a penetrant will increase the effectiveness of spraying.

HERbACEOuS

40

PERIWINKLE WANDERING JEW

Sea spurge (Euphorbia paralias)

beach daisy (Arctotheca populifolia)

Description

Sea spurge: A slightly succulent blue-leaved erect herb with milky sap. Beach daisy: A low, spreading slightly succulent plant with grey leaves and yellow daisy flowers. It forms dense mats.

Bothgrowonbeachesanddunesandadjacentareas.Plantstolerateburialand grow until they reach the surface again. They can alter dune behaviour by trapping large volumes of sand and represent a threat to endangered shorebirds which nest on beaches.

Dispersal

Sea spurge seed remains viable in the sea and can be spread along the coast incurrents. It is releasedexplosively to2m from theparentplant.Beachdaisy seed is wind-dispersed.

Look-alikes

Seedlings of the dune-dwelling native shrub Leucopogon parviflorus can resembleseaspurge,butarenotblue-foliaged.Beachdaisy isa little likebitou bush (see page 12), but is distinguished by its grey leaves and low mat-forming habit.

Control

Hand pulling is easy in sand although a shovel may be needed for deeply rooted old plants. Wear gloves and glasses when handling sea spurge as the sap is caustic. Plants may be left where pulled (turn beach daisy upside down)ordrapedovernearbyshrubstodie.Baggingfordisposaloff-siteisnot essential as most ripe seed is probably shed during pulling, but take care not to spread seed from isolated sea spurge plants.

HERbACEOuS

41

SEA SPuRGE bEACH DAISY

Whisky grass (Andropogon virginicus)

Description

Tussock grass to 1m high with a distinctive columnar habit and curly leaves. It is an orange-brown colour during the warmer months and fades to straw-coloured during winter. It is of low nutritional value to stock and may createafirehazard.

Mostly restricted to disturbed sites such as road verges and powerline easements. However, it invades adjacent pasture after disturbance such as cultivation or burning. It can also invade forest along tracks.

Dispersal

Main spread is caused by slashing of seeding plants. Wind disperses seed into adjacent areas. Once into paddocks it can spread by adhering to animals.

Look-alikes

The native kangaroo grass (Themeda australis) is also a tall tussock grass with an orange-brown colouration. It has seed with a long black awn (tail). Whisky grass has fluffy seed heads (above right).

Coolatai grass (Hyparrhenia hirta) is another very invasive weed which has appeared in the Illawarra. It is also orange-brown in colour but less columnar in shape than whisky grass. Seed heads consist of two short (1.5-5cm)greyspikes,oftenheldinaVshape.

Control

Dig or spot spray before seeding. Once a dense infestation has developed cultivation and establishment of a vigorous perennial pasture may be needed. Do not graze in the first year, and remove any whisky grassseedlings which appear. Manage grazing intensity to maintain pasturevigour to out-compete whisky grass seedlings.

GRASSES

42

African lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula)

Description

Tall grass to 1.2m with variable tussock shape, leaf colour and leaf width. The distinctive feature is the black colour of the young seed heads that start with the branches folded close to the main stem but open out as they age. Avoidedbylivestock,itreplacesmorepalatablespeciesingrazedpasture.Itishighlyflammableandcreatesafirehazard.

Itthrivesonsandylownutrientsoils,roadsidesandover-grazedpasture.Itmay also invade forest along tracks.

Dispersal

Slashing of seeding plants, in contaminated hay, in soil on vehicles and machinery and in the gut of livestock.

Look-alikes

The most similar coastal grass is poa or silver tussock (Poa labillardieri) which differs in having the young seed heads purple tinged. Only one native lovegrass looks similar. Eragrostis parviflora has long nodding seed heads that are more linear in outline but are also black or leaden grey in colour. It is usually a smaller plant. Parramatta grass (see page 47) can look very similar prior to flowering, but it has narrow linear seed heads with little or no visible branching.

Control

Dig or spot spray and destroy seed heads. Once a dense infestation has developed, cultivation and establishment of a vigorous perennial pasture may be needed. Do not graze in the first year and remove any Africanlovegrass seedlings that appear. Manage grazing intensity to maintainpasture vigour to out-compete lovegrass seedlings.

GRASSES

43

Pink pampas grass (Cortaderia jubata)

Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana)

Description

Verylargetussockgrasseswithlargewhiteorbeige(C. selloana) or pink-mauve (C. jubata) plume-like seed heads on long stems to 3m high.

Usually found close to towns but both have shown the ability to spread extensively especially in disturbed sunny situations. Pampas grass used to be benign in Australia but the importation of new strains in the 1970s hasmade it a more aggressive weed.

Dispersal

Seed spread by wind, water, in soil, on machinery. Underground stems may be spread by machinery.

Look-alikes

The native common reed (Phragmites australis) and the weedy giant reed (Arundo donax) also have seed in plumes but these are carried at the tip of bamboo-like leafy stems. Native saw-sedges (Gahnia species) are similar robust tussocks but they have larger red or black, non-fluffy seeds.

Control

Remove seed heads carefully and bag for burning or deep burial beforeattempting any other control. Small plants can be dug out. A backhoe may be required for large plants if they are in sites where this would not cause damage to native vegetation. If spraying it will be more effective to slash or burn then spray regrowth.

GRASSES

44

Serrated tussock (Nassella trichotoma)

Description

Tussock grass to 0.5m with bright green leaves less than 1mm wide andlong, branched seed heads that can weep to the ground. The young seeds are enclosed in a red sheath, giving the flowering plant a pink fluffy look. The seed is tiny and almost round with a fine thread-like awn attached off-centre at one end. In winter plants bleach to pale straw-coloured and stand out from other grasses.

Mostaggressiveinover-grazedpasturebutitwillinvadeanysortofgrassyvegetation and adjacent forest. It has no feed value and reduces stock carrying capacity as well as reducing biodiversity in grassy native vegetation.

Dispersal

The entire seed head snaps off and can blow long distances. In the gut of stock and on vehicles.

Look-alikes

Natives, blown grass (Lachnagrostis filiformis) and hairy panic (Panicum effusum) have seed heads which snap off and blow around but both have wide leaves, and neither has the pink appearance. Natives, corkscrew grass (Austrostipa scabra) and various poa tussocks (Poa species) can look similar with the same erect leaf growth and very fine foliage but they have erect seed heads which stay on the plant after seed has been shed.

Control

Dig prior to seeding, spot or boom spray. It is important to maintain other pasture plants in vigorous condition as serrated tussock seedlings are not verycompetitive indensepasture.Controlofrabbitsandofstockgrazingpressure is crucial.

GRASSES

45

Chilean needle grass (Nassella neesiana)

Description

Grass to 1m high with dark green flat to slightly in-rolled ribbed, hairyleaves to 5mm wide. The joints of the flowering stems (nodes) have fine short white hairs on and extending above the swollen node. Seed (at right) is6-10mmlong,witha40-90mmawn.Thebestdistinguishingfeatureisthe collar (arrowed) at the point where the awn attaches to the seed.

Recorded from the Bega Valley and becoming common on the nearbytablelandswhereithasbeenspreadbyroadsidemowing.Veryinvasiveinpasture, on roadsides and in grassy remnant vegetation.

Dispersal

Seeds attach to animals, clothing, in soil, on machinery and vehicles.

Look-alikes

Another weed, cane needle grass (Nassella hyalina) has also been found intheBegaValley.Commonnativespeargrasses(Austrostipa species) all have pointed seeds with a long awn. Most do not have the collar at the seed/awnjunction,andareusuallyhairyallover(seedatleftabove).CNGleavesare held close to the ground unlike the more erect spear grasses and are finelyhairyonbothsurfaces(oneornoneforspeargrasses).Getexperthelpwith identification of this tricky group of grasses.

Control

Dig or spray. Seed is long-lived in the soil so prevention of seeding is vital. Mowing with a catcher mower during flowering will reduce seed set but the clippings must be burnt. This grass can also produce seed hidden within the bases of the flowering stems so mowing to prevent seeding will be only partially effective. Dug out plants should be burnt to destroy this hidden seed.Reportsuspectedinfestationsimmediately.

GRASSES

46

Parramatta grass (Sporobulus africanus, syn. S. indicus var capensis)

Giant parramatta grass (Sporobulus fertilis)

Description

Parramatta grass (1 in left hand photo) is a tough wiry tussock usually under45cmhighwithblue-greenflat,smoothleavesupto5mmwide.Verynarrow seed heads to 18cm long, with short branches held very close to the stem. Seeds are dark grey and often blackened by a fungus. Giantparramatta grass is the same but bigger, to 1.6m high, with a seed head to 45cm long. The lower branches of the GPG seed head are much longer(8-11cm)thanthoseofPGandmayhangawayfromthestem.

They favour sites with compacted soil such as tracks but also invade pasture. Feed value is negligible.

Dispersal

In soil on machinery and vehicles. Seed sticks to animals and clothing.

Look-alikes

Two native rat’s tail grasses (Sporobolus elongatus, S. creber) are also common (2 and 3 respectively in left hand photo). They have more interrupted seed heads, stem visible between the branches, at least in the lower part and branches to only 5cm long.

Control

Parramatta grass is so widespread that control is probably pointless except in very weed-free situations. Giant parramatta grass has arrived morerecently and any suspected infestations should be reported to Council and controlled immediately. It is very invasive in pasture on the north coast particularly in wet sites. Dig or spot spray, collect and destroy seed heads.

GRASSES

47

PARRAMATTA GRASS GIANT PARRAMATTA GRASS

1

2

3

48

Common garden escapeesPlease do not plant these species!

Many garden plants have become serious weeds on the south coast and some show weed potential in other areas but have not been planted for long enough to see how they will behave here. Many are discussed in the Grow Me Instead! booklet, available from your local Council. Some additional weedy plants not covered in that booklet are listed below.

If any of the plants mentioned in this booklet or Grow Me Instead! are already in your garden please think about replacing them with something less likely to spread. Plants with seed which is spread by birds are in bold. They are particularly likely to spread into bush.

Trees

Indian rubber tree (Ficus elastica)desert ash (Fraxinus angustifolius)honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)paulownia or powton tree (Paulownia species)cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)willows (Salix species)rhus (Toxicodendron succedaneum)English elm (Ulmus procera)

Shrubs

Mysore thorn or thorny poinciana (Caesalpinia decapetala)Portuguese heath and other exotic heaths (Erica species)elderberry (Sambucus nigra)

Vines

balloon vine (Cardiospermum grandiflorum)cat’sclawcreeper(Macfadyena unguis-cati)

Herbaceous Plants

balsamorbusylizzie(Impatiens walleriana) Californian poppy (Eschscholzia californica)gaura (Gaura lindheimeri)

Grasses

giant reed (Arundo donax)

Treat any ornamental grasses with suspicion. If you want to use grasses in landscaping try to find attractive locally native species.

49

This booklet provides an introduction to some of the noxious and environ-mental weeds of the south coast of NSW. It covers both weeds of agriculture and bushland and other areas of natural vegetation such as wetlands and beaches.

We hope that by becoming familiar with local weeds you will be encouraged to remove weeds from your own patch and to join with others in cleaning up public land.

Further information is available from the books and websites listed on the back. Encourage your local library to obtain these books to make the infor-mation in them more widely available.

Acknowledgements

The booklet is an initiative of Bega Valley Shire Council and was funded by Bega Valley, Eurobodalla and Shoalhaven City Councils, Illawarra District Noxious Weeds Authority and Department of Environment and Climate Change (Parks and Wildlife Division). Text by Jackie Miles and photos by Jackie Miles and Max Campbell except for: aquatic plants (Paula Ash, Bob Thurling and Louise Breewel) and Chilean needle grass seed (Margaret Ning). Thanks to these people and others who gave photos for the first edi-tion of the booklet, and to those who provided information and comment on the text.

Contacts

Weeds officers at your local Council.

NSW Department of Primary Industries: Berry 4464 1251, Bega 6492 1733, Orange 6391 3100

National Registration Authority: 6272 5158

Coastcare Coordinator: 4232 3652Email: kmcoast@tpg.com.au

Shoalhaven Bushcare Coordinator: 4429 3592Email: stratton@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au

Illawarra Landcare Community Support Officer: 4229 7526Email: mrowlatt@conservationvolunteers.com.au

Eurobodalla Landcare Community Support Officer: 4474 1329Email: peter.gow@eurocoast.nsw.gov.au

Bega Valley Landcare Coordinator: 6491 8200Email: David.Newell@cma.nsw.gov.au

Bushcare Coordinator (Wollongong City Council): 4225 2638Email: pformosa@wollongong.nsw.gov.au

Layout and printing by: Excell Printing, Pambula – 6495 7320Printed on cane waste Second edition: March 2009

For more informationBooks and leafletsWeeds of the South-East: An Identification Guide for Australia. FJ Richardson, RG Richardson & RCH ShepherdRG & FJ Richardson, 2006Grow Me Instead! A guide for gardeners on the New South Wales South Coast. Available from all NSW South Coast Councils.Noxious Weeds of Australia.WT Parsons & EG Cuthbertson – Inkata Press, 1992.Noxious and Environmental Weed Control Handbook 3rd Edition NSW Department of Primary Industries.Bush Regeneration. Recovering Australian Landscapes.Robin Buchanan – TAFE NSW, 1989.Flowers of the South Coast and Ranges of New South Wales, vols 1-3. Betty and Don Wood – Wood’s Books, 1998-2000.Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney. Les Robinson – Kangaroo Press 1991.

Websiteswww.esc.nsw.gov.au/weeds/ for an expanded version of this booklet.www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-weeds/weedswww.southeastweeds.org.au/www.weeds.gov.au

www.nswweedsoc.org.au for links to other weed groups

www.csiro.au/science/InvasivePlants.html

www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/index.html and follow the links to agriculture, food and forestry, then to weeds.www.weeds.org.au/index.html provides an excellent search facility to source information about specific weeds, including identification features.

Bega Valley Shire Council

LANDCAREI L L A W A R R A