PARTHENIUM WEED

Parthenium hysterophorus

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

Description A fast-growing herbaceous agricultural weed with small white flowers.

Leaves Alternate, pale green, lower leaves are 5–20 cm long and deeply divided. Upper leaves are less divided and smaller. They are covered with soft, fine hair.

Flowers Creamy-white, 4–6 mm wide. Star-like with five distinct ‘points’.

Seeds Dark brown-black, 1–2 mm wide.

Stems Grooved or ribbed, making stems look striped. Hairy. Woody with age. Densely branched off the upper half of the main stem during flowering.

Dispersal Seed dispersed by contaminated soil, hay, or chicken feed or in/attached to machinery or vehicles.

Confused with Introduced species Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Greater beggar’s ticks (Bidens subalternans), Bishop’s weed (Ammi majus) and Hemlock (Conium maculatum)

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.

CONTAINS SESQUITERPENE LACTONE. CONTACT WITH THE PLANT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS ALLERGIC REACTIONS IN PEOPLE AND ANIMALS.