CHINESE VIOLET

Asystasia gangetica subsp. Micrantha

CONTROL ORDER – REPORT THIS WEED (02) 6623 3800

ERADICATE THIS WEED

Description A rapid growing perennial creeper, so far only occurring on coastal sandy soils but is thought to tolerate a wider range of soils. It becomes spindly when growing in deep shade.

Leaves Oval shaped, sometimes almost triangular, 2.5–16.5 cm long and 0.5–5.5 cm wide. They have scattered hairs, are paler beneath and occur in pairs on stems.

Flowers White bell-shaped flowers are 2–2.5 cm long, with characteristic purple blotches in two parallel lines inside. Can flower year-round.

Fruit Capsules are 3 cm long, guitar-shaped (with the neck of guitar attached to stem) and contain four flattened seeds held in place by conspicuous hooks. Can fruit year-round.

Stems Have scattered hairs and trailing stems.Can take root at each node when they encounter moist soil.

Dispersal Vegetative reproduction from plant fragments dispersed by dumped garden waste or uncontrolled garden plantings. Seed spread when capsules explode when dry.

Confused with Weed species White shrimp plant (Justicia betonica) or Native violets (Viola spp.)

Control You must notify Rous County Council if you find this weed. Incorrect control of this weed can make infestations worse. Manually remove where appropriate. Follow strict hygiene procedures, bagging all plant material. Foliar spray with approved herbicide.

Hawkweeds

Pilosella spp.

PROHIBITED MATTER – REPORT THIS WEED (02) 6623 3800 PREVENT THIS WEED

Description Perennial herbs of variable height (15–40 cm) have a milky sap visible when their stems or leaves are broken.

Leaves Stalkless, hairy on both surfaces, smooth or slightly toothed margins, sometimes ‘sticky’ to touch and occur in rosettes. Occasionally 2–4 alternate leaves appear near the base of the upright flower stem.

Flowers Yellow, orange, or red and daisy-like, 1–2 cm wide, with square-ended petals. Solitary or in a cluster of 5–30 flower heads with stems covered in short, stiff hairs.

Seeds Purplish-black and ribbed. A bristly tuft, up to 6 mm long.

Dispersal Seed dispersed by waterways, wind, contaminated fodder or attached to animals, vehicles, ski, or hiking equipment. May also spread by seed and vegetative reproduction from rhizomes in dumped garden waste.

Confused with Introduced Flatweed (Hypochaeris spp.) and Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Control Please do not attempt to treat or dispose of this weed yourself. Call (02) 6623 3800 if you see this plant anywhere in the Far North Coast region.

HORSETAIL Equisetum

REPORT THIS WEED (02) 6623 3800

PREVENT THIS WEED

Description Non-flowering herbaceous plants that are highly invasive. Depending on the species, heights vary from 5 cm to 1.2 m.

Leaves Inconspicuous leaves in whorls of 6–18 on the main shoots joined at their edges to form black-tipped sheaths of teeth around the stems.

Fruit Fruiting cones, 1–4 cm long, grow at the ends of the stems and produce pale-greenish to yellow spores.

Seeds Produces spores.

Roots Underground stems (rhizomes) can extend horizontally for up to 100 m below the ground.

Dispersal Vegetative reproduction from stem fragments (rhizomes) dispersed by dumped garden waste, deliberate plantings for ornamental or medicinal purposes. It also spreads by spore germination in prolonged moist periods.

Control Please do not attempt to treat or dispose of this weed yourself. Call (02) 6623 3800 if you see this plant anywhere in the Far North Coast region.

ALL EXCEPT THE COMMON HORSETAIL (EQUISETUM ARVENSE) ARE TOXIC TO LIVESTOCK AND HORSES DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF THIAMINASE (ENZYME).