SPOTTED KNAPWEED

Centaurea stoebe subsp. micranthos

PROHIBITED MATTER – REPORT THIS WEED (02) 6623 3800

Prevent This Weed

Description Grows to 1 m (but sometimes up to 1.8 m). Slender, upright, branched perennial herb that looks like a thistle but without sharp spines on the leaves.

Leaves Grey to green. Leaves grow up to 20cm long and 5cm wide in clumps at the base (rosette) are deeply lobed, but are smaller and oval or lobed along the stem and grow alternately. Leaves are finely haired to velvety.

Flowers Pink-purple flowers on the tips of stems that are surrounded by rows of scale (bracts) that have pointed dark-brown or black tips.

Stems Slender, grooved, erect stems. Densely hairy with branches, approximately 0.3–1.2 m tall.

Roots Spotted knapweed has a long stout taproot.

Dispersal Seed and vegetative reproduction from root fragments dispersed by waterways contaminated soil, hay and attached to machinery. Seed is also spread by wind, vehicles, attached to animals and clothing, and grazing animals eating and excreting the seed.

Confused with Weed species Larkdaisy (Centratherum punctatum). Other introduced Knapweeds and Thistles. Also confused with native plant Centratherum riparium.

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.

TOBACCO WEED Elephantopus mollis

Description Fast-growing herb from 30 cm to 1.5 m in tall.

Leaves Rough, hairy, toothed or wavy-edged leaves. Mainly occur at the base of the plant.

Flowers Small white (rarely pink) flowers form in multi-headed clusters at the tips of the stems.

Seeds Brown to greyish-black, 3 mm long, with five fine, straight, white, bristle-like hairs on top.

Stems Covered in fine white hairs.

Dispersal Seed dispersed by waterways, wind or attached to livestock and machinery.

Confused with Weed species Elephantopus scaber. Confused by name with weed species Tobacco bush (Solanumn mauritianum)

Control Contact your local Rous County Council Weed Biosecurity Officer for control advice and disposal. Manually remove where appropriate. Foliar spray, splatter gun or wick wipe with herbicide.