MYSORE THORN

Caesalpinia decapetala

LANDHOLDERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTROLLING THIS WEED

Description Sprawling shrub, growing to 15 m high, with thorny stems.

Leaves Bipinnate, consisting of the central stalk up to 30 cm long with 3–15 opposite pairs of pinna. Each pinna has 3–12 pairs of oblong leaflets. Leaflets are dark green and pale beneath.

Flowers Pale yellow to whitish, five petals, 1–1.5 cm long and 0.8–1.5 cm wide, on stalks, arranged in spike-like clusters, up to 35 cm long, at branch tips.

Fruit Oblong, flat, hairy, brown woody pods, 6–10 cm long and 2–3 cm wide. Contain 4–9 seeds. Pods present from spring to summer.

Seeds Black and brown, 6–10 mm wide. Remain viable in the soil for up to 10 years.

Stems Covered in fine golden hairs and hooked thorns up to 5 mm long. Has rough bark at the base, then smoother and cream-green above. Branches can root when in contact with soil and resprout when cut or damaged.

Dispersal Seed dispersed by waterways and animals eating and excreting the seed.

Confused with Native species Large prickle-vine (C. scortechinii) and Corky prickle-vine (C. subtropica).

Control This is not a reportable weed. Manually remove where appropriate. Cut and paint, cut scrape paint, frill, stem inject, or foliar spray with herbicide.

Parkinsonia

Parkinsonia aculeata

CONTROL ORDER – REPORT THIS WEED (02) 6623 3800

Description Single or multi-stemmed spiked shrub or small tree that can grow up to 8 m high. Forms impenetrable dense thickets around watercourses.

Leaves Each leaf stalk is green and flat, up to 30 cm long and 2–3 mm wide, with many small (4–10 mm) oblong leaflets staggered along each side. Spines are sharp, 5–15 mm long and grow from the leaf nodes.

Flowers Fragrant, about 2 cm wide and five petals - four yellow and one erect orange or orange-spotted petal. Each flower stalk is 5–20 cm long and has 8–12 flowers.

Fruit Hairless, up to 10 cm long, leathery and straw-coloured when ripe. Straight with pointy ends and have constrictions between the seeds. Each pod usually contains 1–4 seeds, but occasionally up to 11.

Seeds Oblong, 8–10 mm long, olive to brown, have a hard, thick coat and can remain dormant in the soil for several years.

Stem Green, smooth, slender, slightly zig-zagged and drooping.

Dispersal Seed primarily dispersed by waterways but does spread through contaminated soil.

Control You must notify Rous County Council if you find this weed. Physically remove where appropriate. Spot spray application, basal bark or cut stump method with approved herbicide.