Pages1&2: ArumLily(Zantedeschiaaethiopica)
Pages3&4: Blackberry(Rubusfruticosusaggregate)
Pages5&6: BridalCreeper(Asparagusasparagoides)
Pages7&8: WeedWattles(AcaciaSpecies)
ArumLiliesareawidespreadconspicuousplantprimarilyfoundinwet,swampyhabitats These lilieswereoriginallyintroducedfromSouthAfricaforhorticulturepurposes ArumLiliesare DeclaredPlantsinWesternAustraliaandallmovementisprohibited
ArumLilyistheworstenvironmentalweedintheCapesregion.Itoccursinbothpasture, plantationandbushland,particularlyindampareasbutalsoinvadingdriersites.Arumlilyis spreadbybirdsandthedisturbanceofrhizomes(justthesmallestpieceofrhizomecancreatea newplant)andinvadesareasofgoodqualitynativevegetation.
TheimpactsofArumLilyinclude:
Formingofdensemonocultures&outcompetingnativespecies,reducingbiodiversityand decreasinghabitatandfoodresourcesfornativeanimals.
Arumlilyispoisonoustomoststock,petsandhumans.Symptomscanincludeswellingofthe tongueandthroat,stomachpain,vomitingandseverediarrhoea.Ingestionoftheplantmaybe fatal.
ArumlilyislistedasaDeclaredPlantundertheBiosecurityand AgricultureManagementAct2007 UndertheActlandholdersare requiredtomanagearumlilytoreducethesizeofinfestationsand preventthespreadoftheweed Sightingscanbereportedonthe MyWeedWatcheronline/smartphoneapp:www agric wa gov au/n/5412
ArumLilyisa rhizomatous(tuber-like)perennialto1m highthatformsdenseclumpsofdistinctive largegreen leavesandtrumpetlikewhiteflowers.
Itspreferredhabitatinthesouthwestiswetlands,along rivers,streamsorcreeks,wetareas,low-lyingpastures, undertreeswherebirdsperch,indunesandcoastal heath,andgardens.
ArumLily’sbiologicalweaklinkiswhenitisactivelygrowingfromJunethroughtoNovember, withtheoptimumtimeforcontrolwhenatleast50to70%offlowersarepresent(Julyto October)oruntiltheflowersstarttowither.
Plantsproducelargeamountsofseedtowardstheendofthefloweringseason Theseedsare heldwithinsucculentberriesandbirdsarethemainvectorsofdispersal.Aswellas reproducingviaseed,ArumLilyreproducesvegetativelyviasmallrhizomesproducedonthe sidesofthemaintuber.A2cmtubercanproduce25-30smallrhizomesinayear.
Yourcontrolplanmusttakeintoaccountbothformsofreproduction–plantsgrowingfrom survivingdaughterrhizomesarenotusuallyvisibleuntiltwoyearsaftertheinitialsprayingso thelikelihoodofreinfestationfromsurroundingareaswillnecessitateanon-goingprogramof control.
CHEMICALCONTROL:
What?Useamixtureof1gmofchlorsulfuronormetsulfuronper10Lwater Awettingagent ordetergentshouldbeaddedtoimprovetheperformanceofthechemical Apenetrantsuchas Pulsecanbeusedtoimproveeffectiveness,particularlyonolder,wellestablishedplants
How?Sprayleavestothepointofrunoff Off-targetspeciescanalsobekilledsoitisimportant toapplytheherbicidecarefullytothearumlilyleavesonly PleasenotethatChlorsulfuronand metsulfuronareveryslowactingchemicals Youmaynotseetheresultofthechemicalfor upto2months
PHYSICALCONTROL:
Handremovaloftheplantisonlyeffectiveifthetuberousrhizomeanddaughterrhizomesare removed.Theresultingsoildisturbancemayencouragegerminationandestablishmentofother weeds.Removalofflowerswillpreventbirdsspreadingseeds.
Wherearumlilyoccurssparselyorisolatedpatchesingoodqualitynativevegetation,thegap createdbyremovalissmallandquicklycolonisedbynativespecies.However,wherearumlily growsasadensemonocultureremovalwillleaveanareasusceptibletoinvasionbyother weeds.Controloftheseweedsmayhelpfacilitateestablishmentofnativeplants.Consideration shouldalsobegiventodirectseedingorrevegetationwithlocalnativespecies.
SourcesofInformationforthisflier:
AGuidetoArumLilyControl–NatureConservation
DPIRDWebsite:https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/declared-plants/arum-lily-declared-pest
FurtherReading:
Moore,J&Wheeler,J(2019)SouthernWeedsandtheircontrol.DepartmentofAgricultureandFood WA.
HerbiGuidewww.herbiguide.com.au
Brown,K&Brooks,K(2002)BushlandWeeds,Apracticalguidetotheirmanagement.Environmental WeedsActionNetwork
LowerBlackwoodLCDC 403KudardupRoad,KudardupWA6288 POBox42,KarridaleWA6288
T:97584021| E: info@lowerblackwoodcomau wwwlowerblackwoodcomau
InthesouthwestofWesternAustraliathemostcommonspeciesofblackberryfoundisRubus anglocandicans(CommonBlackberry),alsopresentbutlesscommonisRubusulmifolius(Small LeafBlackberry).
BlackberrywasoriginallyintroducedintoWAforitsfruitbuthassincebecomeaserious environmentalweedgrowingalongrivers,creeks&wetlandsbetweenPerth&Albany. Itspricklystems(canes)cantakerootsimplywheretheytouchtheground,andcanformdense impenetrablethicketsuptoseveralmetreshigh.
Blackberrywillpersistindefinitelyinanareaunlessitistreated.Plantsthatdiearereplacedby seedlingsordaughterplantsproducedbynearbyindividuals.Plantsmayproduceupto13,000 seedspersquaremetre.This,combinedwithveryrapidgrowth(50–80mmadayinspring), meansblackberrycantakeoveranareafast,asaconsequenceBlackberryisregardedasoneof theworstweedsinAustralia.
Impactsinclude:
Crowdingoutofnativespecies
Provisionofhabitatforpestanimals
Reductionofpastureproduction
Restrictingaccesstowater&land
Increasingfirehazardthroughdeadmaterialinthickets
Decreasingpropertyamenity&value
Blackberryisaperennial,semi-deciduousshrubwithprickly stems.
R.anglocandicanshaspalmateleaveswithasmoothgreen uppersurface&asomewhathairy,whiteundersurface.The stemsaregreen,lightbrownorpurple.Itproduceswhite flowersinthesummer,withthefruitsripeninginlate summer.
R.ulmifoliushaspalmateleaveswithawhitehairyunder surface&pinkflowersthatareproducedinsummer.
Blackberry'sbiologicalweaklinkforanestablishedplantis whenitisactivelygrowing-duringitsfruiting&flowering season(SeptembertoApril),&attheseedlingstagefornew plants(SeptembertoDecember).
Bepreparedtohaveamultiseasonstrategy&bepersistentoveranumberofseasons.A3prongedapproachisrequiredtomeetthechallengeofmanagingblackberry: Takeactiontopreventitsspread
Takeactiontocontrolexisting&reduceexistinginfestations
Rehabilitatetreatedareastopreventre-infestation
CHEMICALCONTROL:
How?Highvolumespotsprayingisrecommended,aimingforgoodcoverageinsidethebush thenoutsideonallsidesoftheleaf,runners&tips Takecarenottooverdose&affectoff targetspeciesorcontaminatewaterways
What?Metsulfuron10gms/100litresofwaterplusEndorse300mls/100litreswater
Why?Ithaslowoff-targeteffectonnativevegetation(retainingsedgeshelpsstopreinvasion ofotherweedsanderosioncontrol),theadditionoftheEndorseprovidesbiggerdropletsize andreducesdrift,&givesexcellentresults(butslowtowork).
PHYSICALCONTROL:
Slashingwillnotkillblackberrybutcanopenupdensestandsforfollow-upcontrolbyother methods.Mechanicalcontrolisdifficultandmostoftherootsystemmustberemovedfor effectivecontrol–blackberrywillregrowfromanyrootfragmentsleftinthesoil.Afollowup controlwillbeessential.
BIOLOGICALCONTROL:
Biologicalcontroloffersthegreatestlikelihoodforsuccessinlarge,inaccessibleinfestations. TheblackberryleafrustPhragmidiumviolaceum,whichattackstheleaves,canstilltakeupto5 yearsbeeffective&herbicidesmaystillberequirediftherustishavinglittleimpact.
Rehabilitationofanareaaftercontrolmethodshavesucceededcanincludeburningofdead canes Akeyrehabilitationstrategyistoavoidbaresoil-inapasturescenariomaintaingood pasturecoveryear-round,inotherareasmaintainafast-growinggroundcoverwhichcanoutshadeseedlingsandoutcompetethemforwaterandnutrients Blackberryrootsdonotdevelop muchoverwintersonativeseedlingsthatareabletogerminateandactivelygrowduringthis periodwillhaveadefinitecompetitiveadvantage
SourcesofInformationforthisflier:
WeedManagementGuide(Rubusfruticosusaggregate)-CRCforAustralianWeedManagementandthe CommonwealthDepartmentoftheEnvironmentandHeritage Betterblackberrycontrolwithlessoff-targetdamage–WarrenCatchmentsCouncil
FurtherReading:
HusseyB M J,KeigheryG J,DoddJ ,LloydS G ,CousensR D(2007)WesternWeeds–Aguidetotheweedsof WesternAustralia,(2ndEdition)TheWeedsSocietyofWesternAustralia,VictoriaPark,WesternAustralia. DPIRDWebsite:https://www agric wa gov au/declared-plants/blackberry-declared-pest
LowerBlackwoodLCDC 403KudardupRoad,KudardupWA6288 POBox42,KarridaleWA6288 T:97584021| E: info@lowerblackwoodcomau wwwlowerblackwoodcomau
ThisbookletwasfundedthroughtheStateNRM CommunityStewardshipGrants2019
BridalCreeperisaWeedofNationalSignificance.Itisregardedasoneoftheworstweedsin Australiabecauseofitsinvasiveness,potentialforspread,andeconomicandenvironmental impacts.
Bridalcreeperenteredthecountryasagardenplantandis nowamajorweedofbushlandinsouthernAustralia,where itsclimbingstemsandfoliagesmothernativeplants.Itforms athickmatofundergroundtuberswhichimpedestheroot growthofotherplantsandoftenpreventsseedling establishment.
Bridalcreeperinvadesdrycoastalvegetation,heathlandand healthywoodland,malleeshrubland,lowlandgrasslandand grassywoodland,drysclerophyllforestandwoodland,dampsclerophyllforest,riparian vegetation,rockoutcropvegetation,andwarmtemperaterainforest.
InSouthAustraliaandsouthwesternWesternAustraliabridalcreeperisconsideredthemost importantweedthreattobiodiversity.
Bridalcreeperisaclimbingherborvinetothreemetres, arisingfromashortrhizomeattachedtotuberousroots. Bridalcreeperplantstakeatleastthreeyearstoreach floweringsize -theflowersappearingalongthelengthofthe shootsinAugustandSeptember.Thegreenberriesturnred inlatespringtoearlysummer.
Anundergroundmatofrhizomesandtubersmakeupthe bulkoftheplant.Thesetubersprovidewater,energyand nutrientsthatenabletheplanttosurviveoversummerand allowrapidshootgrowthinautumn.
BridalCreeperhasanumberoffeatureswhichmakeit difficulttocontrol–itstuberreservesprovideabuffer againstadverseseasons,ithasawidegerminationrange and,unlikesomeotherweeds,itcaninvadeundisturbed sites.Buttherearealsoweaknessesinitsbiology–ithas arelatively short-livedseedbank,seedproductiononlyoccursonearlyemergingstems,andthe seedoutputinoldinfestationsissmall.
Becauseofextensivestoragereservesintheroottissues,themosteffectivemeansof managingbridalcreeperinvolvesintegratingarangeoftreatmenttechniques:
BIOLOGICALCONTROL:
BridalCreeperRustandLeafHoppers assoonaspossible.LeafHopperand Rustmaybetransferredfrominfected areasbycollectingabagfullofinfested andinfectedgreenstemsandleaves, sealingitsotheleafhoppersdon't escapeandthentransferringittothe infestationasquicklyaspossibleand rubbingitintotheBridalCreeper greenery
CHEMICALCONTROL: Formoredetailsgoto: https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/herbicides/bridal-creeper-control
Preventnewoutbreaks:Donotplantbridalcreeperinyourgarden;replaceexistingplantswith desirablespeciesandsafelydisposeofgardenwaste Keep500mbufferzonesforbridal creeperaroundtheedgeofaninfestation
Follow-up:Afterfiretreatregrowthcarefullywithherbicidetolimitabovegroundgrowthand furtherreducethestoredrootreserves Monitorinfestationsregularlyandoverseveralyears becauseoftheprobabilityofregrowthfromremnantsoftherootsystem Regularlycheckfor newoutbreaks Itmaybepossibletohanddigrootsinneworsmallinfestations
SourcesofInformationforthisflier:
WeedManagementGuide(Bridalcreeper-Asparagusasparagoides)-CRCforAustralianWeedManagementand theCommonwealthDepartmentoftheEnvironmentandHeritage DPIRDWebsite:https://www agric wa gov au/declared-plants/bridal-creeper-declared-pest AReviewofBridalCreeperControlintheSouthwestofWesternAustralia2018–ReportbyGeraldineandSteve JanickeSeptember2018,OysterHarbourCatchmentGroup
FurtherReading:
Moore,J&Wheeler,J(2019)SouthernWeedsandtheircontrol.DepartmentofAgricultureandFoodWA. HerbiGuidewww herbiguide com au-Detailedinformationaboutweedspeciesandcontrolmethods
LowerBlackwoodLCDC 403KudardupRoad,KudardupWA6288 POBox42,KarridaleWA6288
T:97584021| E: info@lowerblackwoodcomau www.lowerblackwood.com.au
ThisbookletwasfundedthroughtheStateNRM CommunityStewardshipGrants2019
NottobeconfusedwithourownGoldenWreathWattle(AcaciaSaligna),EasternStates WattleshavebecomeproblematicintheSouthWestduetotheirpreviouspopularityas ornamentaltrees&assoilstabilisers.Theseinclude:
SydneyGoldenWattle(A longifolia)
FlindersRangeWattle(A.iteaphylla)
CootamundraWattle(A.baileyana)
SilverWattle(A dealbata)
QueenslandSilverWattle(A.podalyriifolia)
GoldenWattle(A pycnantha)
WeedWattlesarenotaproblemintheirownnatural geographiclocationswherelocalseed-eatinginsects keepthemincheck.Butthisnaturalcontroldoesnot occurinWesternAustraliawherethesewattles reproduceprolificallybyseed.
TheImpactofWeedWattles: INCREASEDBUSHFIRETHREAT:Wattlesarenitrogen fixers.Whentheygrowinanareathathasbeen disturbedthecombinationofdisturbedsoilandextra nitrogenencouragesexoticgrassestoinvade.Asthegrassesdryoutinsummer,theyincrease theriskofbushfire.Firestimulatesmorewattleseedstogerminateandadestructivecycleisset inmotion.
OUTCOMPETENATIVESPECIES:underoptimumconditionscanformdense,almostimpenetrable thicketsoftreeseffectivelywipingoutallothernativeplantsandhabitatfornativeanimals.
Perennial,treesorspreadingshrubsupto8mhigh(variety dependent).ThemainfloweringperiodisJunetoOctober. Seedlingsgerminateinwinterproducingacaciatypejuvenile leavesforthefirstseasonortwo.
Thejuvenilesquicklygrowtomaturityandbecomeprolific producersofpodsandseedsin2-3years.Thicketsareoften formedandfewspeciesgrowintheunderstorey.
Aweedwattle'sbiologicalweaklinkispriortoflowering (matureplants)&atseedlingstage.Treesaremosteffectively controlledusingherbicidesbetweenMarchandAugust.Itis importantthatfelledtreesandbranchesareremovedasthey canreproducevegetativelybydevelopingadventurousroots wheretheplantmeetsthesoil.
SEEDLINGS:
Wattlesarebestcontrolledasseedlingswhentheyareeasytoleverandhand‐pullorover‐spraywitha10%solutionglyphosate Asseedmayremaindormantformorethan10years,annualfollowupcontrolofnewly emergedseedlingsisessential
MATUREPLANTS:
Pruningtheflowersbeforetheysetseedisnotapracticaloptiononcethesewattlesreacha certainsize Theonlysurewaytopreventseedspreadingistofellthetreeandthenpainting thefreshlycutstumpwithasolutionof50%glyphosatetopreventsuckeringandregrowth oftheplant.
Alternatively,treescanbepoisonedandkilledwithoutfellingbyinjectingthemwitha50% glyphosatesolution,orbypaintingthebarkaroundthebaseofthetreewitha250mlmixof Access®in15Lofdiesel.
Youcanhelpbyreplacingpotentialweedwattlesgrowingonyour propertywithnativetreesorwithotherspeciesthathaveless potentialtobecomeweedsinnativebushland Areasthathavebeen clearedofweedwattlesneedtoberevegetatedassoonaspracticably possibletooutcompeteanygerminatingseedsthatmaybeleft behind Tryplantingourownnativewattleinstead-GoldenWreath Wattle(AcaciaSaligna)
SourcesofInformationforthisflier: HerbiGuidewww herbiguide com au-Detailedinformationaboutweedspeciesandcontrolmethods FactSheet–WeedWattles,TheCityofBunbury DPIRDWebsite:https://www agric wa gov au/declared-plants/acacia-declared-pest FurtherReading: Moore,J&Wheeler,J(2019)SouthernWeedsandtheircontrol.DepartmentofAgricultureandFoodWA.
T:97584021| E: info@lowerblackwoodcomau wwwlowerblackwoodcomau
ThisbookletwasfundedthroughtheStateNRM CommunityStewardshipGrants2019
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