LEAF CACTUS

Pereskia aculeata

Description A spiky, climbing shrub that attaches itself to trees.

Leaves Waxy, slightly succulent, flattened egg-shape with pointed ends, 4.5–11 cm long and 1.5–5 cm wide.

Flowers White or pale yellow, sometimes ageing to pink 2–5.5 cm wide, scented.

Fruit Unusually shaped small yellow to orange fruits 2.5–4.5 cm wide.

Trunk Long, slender spines in groups along the plant’s trunk and short recurved spikes in pairs on the branches.

Dispersal Seed and vegetative reproduction from stem fragments or leaves dispersed by waterways, dumped garden waste or carried by birds. Also deliberately cultivated for its ornamental and nutritional values.

Control Contact your local Rous County Council Weed Biosecurity Officer for control advice and disposal. Small plants may be manually removed or foliar sprayed. Infestations growing into the canopy may be treated with approved herbicide using basal barking or cut, scrape and paint. Successful weed control relies on follow up after the initial efforts.

Description

Mikania Vine

PROHIBITED MATTER – REPORT THIS WEED (02) 6623 3800

Prevent This Weed

A creeping or twining perennial vine capable of growing to 20 m high on supporting vegetation. Known for its rapid growth.

Leaves Opposite, heart-shaped, tapering to a sharp point, 4–13 cm long and 2–9 cm wide, on a stalk 2–8 cm long.

Flowers Produced in a flat-topped cluster, where each flower head is 4.5–6 mm long and contains four individual whitish flowers 2–4 mm long. Can occur year-round.

Seeds Black, 1.5–2 mm long, thin, flattened, with a parachute-like tuft of fine whitish bristles (pappus) that are 2–3 mm long. Prolific seed production.

Stems Slender, ribbed with fine white hairs, although some stems may be hairless.

Dispersal Seed and vegetative reproduction from stem fragments dispersed by waterways, machinery and cultivation practices. Seed also dispersed by wind and animals.

Confused with Introduced species Climbing groundsels (Senecio angulatus and S. tamoides), Cape ivy (Delairea odorata) and Blue trumpet vine (Thunbergia grandiflora)

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.