CECROPIA

REPORT THIS WEED (02) 6623 3800

Eradicate This Weed

Description Rapidly growing, short-lived, pioneer trees, mostly 6–20 m tall but can extend up to 40 m tall.

Leaves Large, up to 60 cm wide, circular, deeply palmately-lobed (7–15 lobes), spirally arranged. Dark green with light underside covered in whitish hairs. Leaf stalks are attached towards their centre (peltate).

Flowers Separate male and female plants. Male flowers occur in cylindrical clusters of 3–50 yellowish spikes, 2.5–18 cm long. Female flowers occur in cylindrical clusters of 2–6 greyish-green spikes, 3–30 cm long.

Stems Younger stems are hollow and have triangular leaf scars. When branches are cut, they release a watery-mucilaginous sap that turns black on exposure to the air.

Dispersal Seed dispersed by birds and bats eating and excreting the seed, contaminated soil and waterways. Vegetative reproduction from stem fragments dispersed by dumped garden waste.

Confused with Weed species Rice paper plant (Tetrapanax papyrifer), Castor oil plant (Ricinus communis), and Amazonian Grape (Pourouma cecropiifolia).

Control Contact your local Rous County Council Weed Biosecurity Officer for control advice and disposal. Manually remove where appropriate. Cut and paint with herbicide or stem inject larger plants with herbicide.