Beechmont Weeds A guide to identification
Pictured: Easter Cassia
A collaboration between Healthy Land and Water, Scenic Rim Regional Council and Beechmont Landcare.
Beechmont has fertile soil and sub-tropical rainfall. This plateau once supported a beautiful timber resource as well as a thriving dairy industry. Increased urbanisation, changes in farming activities and a changing climate are diminishing our cloak of green. Many weeds are escaping from our gardens, to dominate our agricultural land and invade our World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park. This booklet is focused on a number of weeds well known in this area. It is not a definitive list of species, nor does it cover control methods for all situations. For specific identification of weeds and their treatments, please contact your local biosecurity officer. What makes a plant a weed? A weed is any plant that requires some form of action to reduce its effect on the economy, the environment and human health and amenity. Weeds are also known as invasive plants and spread easily. They are often excellent at surviving and reproducing in disturbed environments. Invasive weeds are among the most serious threats to Australia’s natural environment and primary industries. Weeds love to travel. A coastal weed will come to the mountains, and your neighbour’s favourite exotic weed will happily live in your garden, creating a problem for everyone. The Biosecurity Act requires everyone to take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise the risks associated with invasive plants and animals under their control. This is called a general biosecurity obligation (GBO). Play a part in controlling weeds by: • Learning more about your local weeds • Developing a weed management plan for your property • Undertaking safe and environmentally responsible control methods • Observe effectiveness of weed control • Keeping garden waste out of bushland by taking it to a waste transfer station. The most effective ways of dealing with weeds are prevention and early intervention.
NEED HELP WITH A WEED? Contact Beechmont District Landcare Association or Scenic Rim Regional Council
PHOTOGRAPHY: Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Susan Cully, Paul Donatiu, Lesley Hutley, Dr Sheldon Navie, Hugh Nicholson TEXT/EDITORIAL: Michael Cully, Susan Cully and Paul Donatiu. Lisa Stubbs - Scenic Rim Regional Council GRAPHIC DESIGN: Angie Ross - Scenic Rim Regional Council Published in 2020. First printed by Scenic Rim Regional Council. Beechmont District Landcare Association acknowledges the input from its members, supporters, the Beechmont community, Healthy Land and Water and Scenic Rim Regional Council, in creating a useful resource for the benefit of the Beechmont environment and surrounds.Enquiries regarding this booklet can be directed to Beechmont District Landcare Association. 2
CONTENTS TREES
Bamboo species 4 Broad-leaved Pepper 5 Broad-leaved Privet 6 Cadaghi 7 Camphor Laurel 8 Chinese Elm 9 Golden Rain 10 Slash Pine 11 Sweet Viburnum 12 Umbrella Tree 13
SHRUBS
Castor Oil 14 Cotoneaster 15 Duranta 16 Easter Cassia 17 Giant Devils Fig 18 Groundsel Bush 19 Lantana 20 Mock Orange 21 Ochna 22 Small-leaved Privet 23
HERBS
VINES AND CREEPERS
Asparagus Fern 34 Black-eyed Susan 35 Cape Ivy 36 Cats Claw Creeper 37 Corky Passion Vine 38 Dutchman’s Pipe Vine 39 Glycine 40 Honeysuckle Vine 41 Madeira Vine 42 Mexican Twist 43 Morning Glory 44 Moth Vine 45 Silver-leaf Desmodium 46 Singapore Daisy 47
GRASSES
Giant Reed 48 Molassus Grass 48 Paspalum 49 South African Pigeon Grass 49
GLOSSARY 50 REFERENCES 51
Annual Ragweed 24 Blue Billygoat Weed 25 Crofton Weed 26 Fireweed 27 Formosa Lily 28 Kahili Ginger 29 Mistflower 30 Mother of Millions 31 Polka Dot Plant 32 Trad 33
3
Phyllostachys species
Bamboo DESCRIPTION
Tall perennial shrubs and tree-sized plants with a very strong cylindrical rhizome; flattened or grooved (the latter on alternating sides of the stem and above the axillary bud) woody stems with short hollow internodes. Sheathed articulated leaves with short- petiole; venation tessellated.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Terminal flowering heads usually appear after many years (possibly >100); spikelets are 1-4 flowered.
HABITAT AND RANGE
At least 30 species worldwide, many found in the warm temperate regions of Asia. Two naturalised species in Australia are found in Queensland and New South Wales. A difficult species to remove once fully established.
4
Beechmont Weeds
Schinus terebinthifolius
Broad-leaved Pepper DESCRIPTION
Spreading tree 3-7m tall by 10m wide with arching branches, dark brown or blackish ridged bark. Younger branches are covered in lenticels, hairy new stems. Alternate compound leaves with 5−9 dark green oval, ovate or slightly elongated leaflets 15-80mm long by 10-35mm wide. Petioles 20-30mm long, swollen at base; sub-sessile petiolules.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Inconspicuous clustered male and female flowers are borne on different plants throughout the year. Dense bunches of glossy round red fruits 4-6.5mm wide during winter months contain a single, hard light-brown seed.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Eastern Australia from Sydney to Lakeland Downs far north Queensland around habitation but also roadsides, waterways, urban bushland, open woodlands, disturbed sites and wetlands. Native to Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.
Trees 5
Ligustrum lucidum
Broad-leaved Privet DESCRIPTION
Shrub or small tree to 10m tall; branchlets with conspicuous white lenticels. Ovate to elliptic or narrow-ovate leaves 4–13cm long by 3–5cm wide, apex acuminate, base rounded, margins entire, leaves are discolorous with a paler lower surface. Petioles 10–20mm long.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Dense panicles 15–25cm long of white flowers; pedicels 1–3mm long; shallowly lobed tubular calyx 1–1.5mm long; corolla tube 1mm long with lobes 2–4mm long; strongly exserted stamens; filaments 2–3mm long. Globose blue-black berries about 8mm long.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Coastal districts from Melbourne north to the wet tropics (inland to West Wyalong). Native to China and Japan. Frequently planted as a hedge and often invasive in rainforests.
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Beechmont Weeds
Corymbia torelliana
Cadaghi DESCRIPTION
Tree to 30m tall with rough dark brown or reddishbrown bark on lower trunk and smooth greyishgreen bark above. Ovate juvenile leaves to 20cm long by 11cm wide, opposite or alternate. Ovate adult leaves 7.5-16cm long by 1.8-3.5cm wide, apex acute, base wedge-shaped or asymmetrical.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
White or cream flowers in terminal panicles during spring. Smooth oval to ovoid buds 7-12mm long. Globular or urn- shaped woody capsules 9-13mm long by 10-14mm wide.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Weed of roadsides, waterways, disturbed sites, waste areas and open woodlands in the subtropics. Native bees collect and spread resin-coated seeds. Sticky resin can then clog honeycombs and seal hive entrances, killing all bees inside. This species creates a dense canopy shading out native understorey plants.
Trees 7
Cinnamomum camphora
Camphor Laurel DESCRIPTION
Large tree 20-30m tall with rough greyish- brown bark. Ovate to elliptic glossy leaves 5–10cm long by 2.5–5cm wide are either alternate or appear whorled, apex acuminate, lower surface glaucous; three-veined from base with domatia in the vein axils. Petioles 2–4 cm long. When crushed, the leaves smell of camphor.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Short panicles of pale tiny flowers 3mm long. Globose black fruit 10mm wide normally ripens April to June.
HABITAT AND RANGE
A native of China and Japan, it was originally planted as an ornamental or shade tree, but is now a common invader of rainforest and wetter sclerophyll communities throughout eastern Australia. Camphor is obtained from the tree by distillation and the timber is widely used for storage boxes, woodcraft, etc.
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Beechmont Weeds
Celtis sinensis
Chinese Elm DESCRIPTION
Large, semi-deciduous tree 15-20m tall with smooth grey bark. Alternate dark green mildly glossy serrated ovate to broad-ovate leaves 4.5-9cm long by 3-4.5cm wide, apex acuminate, base oblique, toothed margins in upper half of leaf; glabrous except for some hairs along midvein.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Small inconspicuous green flowers in late winter. Globular shiny green then dark orange to red fruit 7-8mm long borne during summer on stems 10mm long.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Subtropical and dry rainforest particularly, along riverbanks from Armidale north to Mount Morgan near Rockhampton. Spread by birds, water and the dumping of rubbish. A native of China, Korea and Japan.
Trees 9
Koelreuteria elegans subsp. formosana
Golden Rain Tree DESCRIPTION
Medium-sized tree 5-12m tall with rough greyishbrown bark furrowed lengthwise. Large bipinnate leaves 25-60cm long by 15-44cm wide arranged alternately along stems; 8-17 lanceolate to ovate leaflets 5.5-10cm long by 1.3-4cm wide with entire to irregularly toothed margins and long pointed tips; petiolules to 3mm long.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Large terminal branched clusters 30-50cm long by 20-25cm wide of 4-5 petalled yellow flowers appearing late spring to late summer. Inflated three-sided papery ellipsoidal three-sided capsules are initially bright red to deep rose-purple, fading to pink and eventually brown. Each capsule contains six globose to pyriform black seeds.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Coastal districts of northeast New South Wales to Noosa in Queensland.
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Beechmont Weeds
Pinus elliottii
Slash Pine DESCRIPTION
Large tree 30-40m tall with lateral branches, grey to rusty brown bark that sheds in thin scales, and orange-brown branchlets; buds not resinous. Needle- like leaves 17.5–30cm long grouped in twos and threes and held within leaf sheaths 1–2cm long.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Shortly stalked symmetrical ovoid female cones 10–13cm long by 5–7cm wide are dehiscent when mature; reddish brown cone scales with exposed part swollen and terminal prickle. Black seeds with wing 2.5–3cm long.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Grown as a plantation crop, but readily escapes on wind-borne seed. Found from southwest of Grafton to Bundaberg. Native of southeast USA to Central America and also the West Indies.
Trees 11
Viburnum odoratissimum
Sweet Viburnum
DESCRIPTION Upright shrub or small tree to 10m tall with greyish-brown bark covered in small lenticels. Leathery, deep green elliptic to oblong to obovate (occasionally semiorbicular) leaves 7–20cm long by 4–9cm wide, subentire or irregularly serrate, apex shortly acute and mucronate. There are two subspecies with different leaf sizes and textures. FLOWERS AND FRUIT Terminal pyramidal inflorescences or at apices of short lateral branchlets; fragrant white flowers (aging to yellow-white; sometimes reddish); tubular-campanulate calyx 1.5–4mm long. Ovoid or ovoid- ellipsoid fruit 8mm long by 5–6mm wide, initially red, maturing to black. HABITAT AND RANGE Coastal southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales with substantial populations in Beechmont area. Native to China, Japan, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.
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Beechmont Weeds
Schefflera actinophylla
Umbrella Tree DESCRIPTION
Upright multi-stemmed tree to 10m tall. Palmately compound leaves with 7–16 oblong to oblongobovate dark green leaflets 8–30cm long by 4–8cm wide (saplings with smaller leaflets), apex acuminate, base more or less rounded, margins entire. Petioles 15–40cm long; petiolules 4–8cm long.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Sessile flowers (with 7-18 red petals 3-5mm long) in short pedunculate heads 10–20mm wide; peduncles 1–25mm long, subtended by stipule-like bracts; stem of inflorescence to 60cm long. Drupe-ribbed dark red fruit 3–5mm long.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Often cultivated as an ornamental it is popular in gardens and sometimes epiphytic on rainforest trees. Found from Brunswick Heads north to Cape York and the Northern Territory. Native to the wet tropics.
Trees 13
Ricinus communis
Castor Oil Plant DESCRIPTION
Large robust shrub to 3m tall with thick hollow stems. Alternate peltate leaves 10-70cm long by 15-60cm wide with 7-9 finger-like lobes, each lobe prominently veined. With finely toothed leaf margins; juvenile leaves may be dark red or purplish. Petioles 10-30cm long.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Large terminal clusters 8-15cm long of cream or yellow unisexual flowers on stalks to 10mm long; flowers throughout the year but mainly November to March. Rounded or egg-shaped three-lobed greenish to greenish-red fruit 10-30mm wide is covered in soft blunt spines. Each contains a single mottled grey and brown oval seed 10-17mm long by 6-10mm wide.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Riparian areas, roadsides, disturbed sites, and pastures in scattered localities across Australia.
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Beechmont Weeds
Cotoneaster sp.
Cotoneaster DESCRIPTION
Evergreen or deciduous shrubs or small trees; some parts hairy, branchlets never spiny. Simple entire leaves with short petioles, stipules present.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Five-petalled white or pink flowers are solitary or found in cymose clusters, from late in spring to summer. Clustered, pointed red berry-like fruit 5-8mm wide with 2–5 seeds 4-5mm long. Seed often dispersed by birds or when the plant is dumped as garden waste.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Urban bushland remnants, open woodland, forest margins, riparian areas, roadsides and disturbed sites, mainly in temperate regions in Australia, but extending into southeast Queensland, especially at altitude. There are about 50 species worldwide.
Shrubs 15
Duranta erecta
Duranta DESCRIPTION
Upright shrub 4-6m tall with arching branches and some paired spines along stems. Opposite oval to ovate leaves 15- 90mm long by 12-60mm wide with pointed or rounded tips, margins occasionally toothed and petioles to 10mm long.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Blue or pale purple (sometimes white) five-lobed flowers 9-18mm long in elongated terminal and axillary racemes 5-30cm long during summer and autumn. Flowers have five green sepals 3-7mm long (fused at base), four stamens. Berries are glossy, rounded and orange or yellow, 5-14mm wide borne in large clusters.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Disturbed sites, roadsides, open woodland and rainforest margins near urban centres across Australia but predominantly from northern New South Wales to the wet tropics in far north Queensland.
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Beechmont Weeds
Senna pendula var. glabrata
Easter Cassia DESCRIPTION
Open shrub or small tree 2-4m tall. Each leaf composed of three to six pairs of light green leaflets 1-5cm long by 5-20mm wide with a yellowish margin and rounded tips.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Bright five-petalled 3cm wide yellow flowers on stalks 20-30mm long, clustered at the branch ends, are found mainly during summer but also throughout the year. Pendulous, narrow rounded cylindrical pods 10-20cm long by 6-12mm wide.
HABITAT AND RANGE
A native of tropical South America, it is found locally in waterways, gardens, disturbed sites, waste areas, roadsides, closed forests, forest margins, rainforest and remnant bushland. An ornamental exotic species that spreads rapidly, it is a serious pest in southeast Queensland.
Shrubs 17
Solanum chrysotrichum
Giant Devil’s Fig DESCRIPTION
Large nightshade 3-4m tall with leaves, petioles and stems partially covered in curved thorns. Alternate deeply lobed leaves 9-35cm long by 5.5-30cm wide with soft hairs above and below. Petioles 1.5-12cm long have dense rust-coloured hairs and distinct venation.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
White flowers are borne in hairy stalked clusters throughout the year. Yellow/orange berry fruits contain numerous seeds. Ripening throughout the year, the fruit is a favourite food of the brown cuckoo dove, and dispersed by this and other birdlife. Habitat and range Disturbed rainforest throughout southeast Queensland and Northern New South Wales. A native of tropical Central America, this species is classified as a noxious weed.
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Beechmont Weeds
Baccharis halimifolia
Groundsel Bush DESCRIPTION
Perennial woody shrub 1–3m high with striate stems and deep taproot. Rhombic, elliptic or broad-obovate leaves 2–5cm long by 1–2.5cm wide, apex acute to obtuse, margins coarsely toothed in upper half; upper leaves are smaller and entire.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Clustered pale yellow (male) to white (female) flowers forming terminal panicles. Female heads are 3–5mm wide, male 3mm wide. Involucral bracts are glabrous or fringed with hairs towards the apex. Glabrous achenes 1–1.7mm long with white pappus (of female florets 10–12mm long, of male 3–4mm long). Brown seeds 3mm long are tufted with white hairs.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Swampy areas, saltmarsh, wetlands, pasture and disturbed sites in coastal areas from Sawtell New South Wales to Mount Wheeler near Yeppoon in Queensland.
Shrubs 19
Lantana camara
Lantana DESCRIPTION
Shrub to 3m that will form a dense thicket along the edges of remnant bushland, and invade open canopies. Weak woody stems are four-angled, rough and prickly. Opposite ovate leaves 2.5-8cm long by 15- 45mm wide, apex acute to obtuse, base rounded, margins serrated, upper surface wrinkled and strigose, lower hairy. Leaves will emit a characteristic smell when crushed. Petioles are 5-20mm long.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Clustered pink, orange and yellow flowers in heads 2-3cm wide during summer, but also throughout the year. Purplish-black berries 4-6mm wide are readily dispersed by birds and foxes.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Coastal areas in all Australian states and territories. A native of tropical South America, it provides important habitat for small birds.
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Beechmont Weeds
Murraya paniculata
Mock Orange DESCRIPTION
Bushy shrub 2-4 m tall. Alternate compound leaves 6-11.5cm long with 3-9 glossy narrow elliptic leaflets 1.5-7cm long by 1.2-3cm wide, base wedge-shaped, tips pointed.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Aromatic white clustered five-petalled flowers in terminal or axillary cymes from late winter to late spring; petals are recurved, five green sepals, 10 stamens. Egg-shaped to oval berry fruit 10mm long mature from green to orange or bright red. Each contains 1-2 yellowish-grey or greenish seeds.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Closed forests, open woodland, riparian areas, forest margins, gardens, roadsides and disturbed areas along coastal Queensland south of its native range. Native to southern China, Taiwan, India, southeast Asia and northern Australia.
Shrubs 21
Ochna serrulata
Mickey Mouse Plant DESCRIPTION
Open shrub 2–3m tall, branches with numerous lenticels. Oblong to narrow- elliptic leaves 2–6cm long by 7–15mm wide, margins toothed and often undulating; short petioles.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Yellow flowers on short axillary spurs during spring months; green persistent sepals 8mm long, reflexed, becoming red in fruit; petals 10mm long; 3-15 free carpels, except for gynobasic style. Ovoid drupe black fruit 5–8mm long during summer. These are embedded on the swollen red receptacle.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Coast and ranges in sclerophyll forests and rainforest margins from Sydney region north to McIvor River near Cooktown in Queensland. Native of South Africa.
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Beechmont Weeds
Ligustrum sinense
Small-leaved Privet DESCRIPTION
Shrub or small tree to 3m tall with hairy younger stems and leaves. Elliptic to ovate leaves 2-7cm long by 1-3cm wide, borne in pairs along stems. Apex acuminate, base cuneate to rounded, margins entire, midrib on lower surface hairy; petiole 3–7mm long.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Terminal small white flowers with four petals in small branched clusters 4-11cm long late winter to spring. Tube 0.5–1mm long, lobes to 2mm long, stamens exserted, with filaments 2–3mm long. Small rounded or egg-shaped fruit 4-6mm long turn bluish-black when mature.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Cultivated as a hedge, often found on margins of rainforest and along fence lines in cleared areas from Bredbo New South Wales north to Maryborough, with disjunct populations in the Wet Tropics. Native of China.
Shrubs 23
Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Annual Ragweed DESCRIPTION
Annual herb to 2m high with rounded stems and basal rosette of leaves during early growth. Green to grey-green fern- like leaves 1–16cm long by 1–5cm wide are finely hairy to near glabrous.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Separate male and female flowerheads on same plant from summer to early winter; drooping yellow-green male flowerheads in elongated spike-like clusters to 20cm long at branch tips; tiny female flowerheads from upper leaf forks. Small brown or blackish top-shaped achenes 2-5mm long contain a single seed; fruit is woody when mature and has a pointed ‘beak’ 1-2mm long.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Disturbed areas, roadsides, wasteland and cultivation in scattered locations from Sydney to the wet tropics. Native to North America, this is a Category 3 weed, which must not be distributed or disposed of.
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Beechmont Weeds
Ageratum houstonianum
Blue Billygoat Weed DESCRIPTION
Normally erect (sometimes branched) herb 0.3–1m tall covered in rough hairs. Soft ovate to triangular leaves 2–7cm long by 1.5–6cm wide, apex acute to obtuse, margins regularly toothed, both surfaces with scattered hairs. Hairy petiole 5–30mm long.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Compact globose flowerheads 6-8mm wide of many blue-mauve flowers throughout the year; coarsely hairy linear to lanceolate involucral bracts 5mm long. Black achenes 2mm long; pappus of about five white-awned scales 2–3mm long.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Mainly coastal areas from southern New South Wales to Atherton Tableland in Queensland in disturbed sites, forest margins, paddocks and roadsides. Often one of the first weeds to colonise a site following disturbance.
Herbs 25
Ageratina adenophora
Crofton weed DESCRIPTION
Leafy perennial shrub 1-2m tall covered in glandular and simple hairs. Soft triangular to rhombic leaves 4-12cm long by 3-9cm wide with distinct venation and lightly toothed margins. Petioles up to 4cm long.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Corymbose heads of numerous white flowers during spring. Glabrous five-angled achenes 1-2mm long. Ageratina from Ageratum, a reference to some blue- flowered species in this genus.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Disturbed moist sites including forest edges, rainforest margins, roadsides and gullies, with most populations congregating near Brisbane/ Sydney. A native of Central America.
26
Beechmont Weeds
Senecio madagascariensis
Fireweed DESCRIPTION
Erect annual or biennial herb 20–60cm high, sometimes branching, glabrous or sparsely hairy. Narrow-lanceolate to elliptic or oblanceolate leaves 2–7cm long by 3–10mm wide, margins entire or toothed (rarely upper leaves pinnatifid), tapered stem-clasping base.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Corymbose inflorescence of 2–10 bright yellow flowers from spring to autumn; 19-21 involucral bracts 4–5mm long; 8-12 bracteoles 8–12; 13-15 ray florets. Brown achenes 1.5–2.5mm long; pappus 4–6.5mm long.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Degraded pasture and disturbed sites in (mainly) coastal districts from Bega New South Wales to Dawson Range (west to Dubbo). A native of South Africa, it is a declared noxious weed toxic to cattle and horses if eaten.
Herbs 27
Lilium formosanum
Formosa Lily DESCRIPTION
Perennial herb with upright annual aerial stem 0.5-2m tall; thickened lanceolate bulb scales. Alternate linear to lanceolate leaves to 15cm long by 5–10mm wide, progressively smaller up stem.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
One to eight terminal fragrant white flowers with a mauve-coloured central line, horizontal to somewhat ascending; pedicels 5–15mm long. Oblanceolate tepals 10–15cm long, stamens 10cm long; yellow to purplish cylindrical anthers 8–10mm long. Flowers from January to April. Cylindrical capsules 5–8cm long by 1–2cm wide contain hundreds of seeds.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Disturbed sites, including roadsides, drainage ditches and wasteland, in coastal areas from southeast Queensland to southern Victoria and the Blue Mountains. Native of Taiwan.
28
Beechmont Weeds
Hedychium gardnerianum
Kahili Ginger DESCRIPTION
Large herbaceous plant with upright flowering stems to 2.5m tall; spreads via long-lived creeping underground stems. Alternate leaves 20-45cm long by 10-15cm wide with long sheathing base.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Bright yellow flowers (with a single bright red stamen) in clusters 15-45cm long by 15-20cm wide at the tips of upright stems. Capsules 1.5cm long split to reveal bright orange inner surfaces and red seeds.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Native to the Indian sub-continent (Bhutan, Nepal and Northern India) it is a weed of native bushland, rainforests, closed forests, forest margins, watercourses and riparian habitats in sub-tropical and warmer temperate regions (especially near urban areas). Can form vast dense colonies that displace native groundcover vegetation.
Herbs 29
Ageratina riparia
Mistflower DESCRIPTION
Upright herb 30-100cm tall with distinctive purplish stems, rooting at nodes. Lanceolate or narrow-ovate leaves 3–12cm long by 8–30mm wide, pointed leaf tips, base tapered, venation prominent. Petioles up to 15mm long.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
White flowers in heads 5–6mm wide from winter to spring; oblong to lanceolate green to purplish involucral bracts. Achenes 1–2mm long are hairy on ribs. Seeds are dispersed by wind and water.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Disturbed damp areas and riparian corridors in rainforest or rainforest margins from Berry, in New South Wales, north to southeast Queensland, with a disjunct population in the wet tropics. A native of Mexico and Central America, it was introduced as an ornamental plant.
30
Beechmont Weeds
Bryophyllum delagoense
Mother of Millions DESCRIPTION
Upright succulent herb to 1m tall with slender simple cylindrical pinkish brown or greyish stems that sucker at the base. Linear, somewhat cylindrical leaves 2.5–15 cm long, apex notched, lamina spotted violet-brown. Plantlets often formed at leaf margins.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Salmon-coloured to scarlet flowers in a corymbose cluster; tubular calyx 5–10mm long, corolla tube to 30mm long, lobes obovate. Clustered follicles are many seeded.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Disturbed sites near habitation, roadsides, fence lines, grasslands, woodlands and open dunes from Lakes Entrance in Victoria to Double Island near Cairns, and inland to Clermont and Emerald in Queensland. A native of South Africa and Madagascar, it is a declared noxious weed that is poisonous to livestock stock.
Herbs 31
Hypoestes phyllostachya
Polka Dot Plant DESCRIPTION
Long-lived herb to 1m tall with four-angled stems covered in white hairs. Simple, paired dark green ovate to broadly lanceolate leaves 5-12cm long by 2-8cm wide covered in pinkish spots, paler below; apex acuminate, base attenuate, margins shallowly crenate to entire. Densely hairy petiole to 25mm long.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Pink to purplish axillary solitary flowers 2cm long; calyx 6mm long, lilac corolla. Flowers separate at tip into two lobes, the smaller lower lobe bent backwards. Fruiting capsule 8–12mm long.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Closed forests, forest gaps and margins, riparian areas, urban bushland, roadsides and disturbed sites along the east coast of Australia from Sydney to the wet tropics. A native of Madagascar.
32
Beechmont Weeds
Tradescantia fluminensis
Trad
DESCRIPTION
Perennial succulent herb with fibrous roots; prostrate or ascending at tips. Branching stems, easily taking root at the nodes. Subsessile, glabrous ovate- lanceolate leaves, 2.5–5.5cm long by 1–2.5cm wide, acuminate tips, subcordate base; sheath 5–8mm long, fringed with hairs at orifice.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
White flowers during spring to summer, 15-20 per inflorescence, pedicels 1–2 cm long, green sepals 5–8mm long, broadly ovate to elliptical petals 7–10mm long, staminal filaments bearded with long white hairs.
HABITAT AND RANGE
A garden escapee found in high rainfall areas on creek banks and in moist shaded places, including rainforest communities, from Endeavour River in Queensland’s Cape York to southern Tasmania in a series of disjunct populations. A native of South America.
Herbs 33
Asparagus aethiopicus
Asparagus Fern DESCRIPTION
Perennial shrub with central crown and sprawling or arching stems to 2m long; axillary spines 5-10mm long; fibrous roots, some tuberous. True leaves reduced to scales; 2-5 axillary flattened linear glossy green stems or cladodes 15–25mm long by 2–3mm wide.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Racemes 4–10cm long of tiny white to pinkish flowers; pedicels 5–10mm long, jointed in lower half. Red berry fruit 5–8mm wide contain one or more black seeds.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Disturbed areas in all Australian states and territories except the Northern Territory and Tasmania. Cultivated as an ornamental (e.g. Sprengeri and Meyers) it is a problematic weed in bushland, especially coastal districts. Listed as a Weed of National Significance.
34
Beechmont Weeds
Thunbergia alata
Black-eyed Susan DESCRIPTION
Long-lived perennial twining vine with paired ovate leaves 2-8cm long by 10– 45mm wide, base hastate to sagittate, margins entire or toothed, both surfaces covered with short stiff hairs. Petioles 15–40mm long.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Solitary axillary orange or yellow flowers with a black centre on peduncles 30–95mm long; bracteoles 12–15mm long, fused along one margin; calyx 12-lobed; tube 15–25mm long. Hairy fruit capsule with a seed-bearing base 5–7mm long and ‘beak’ 9–15mm long; seeds 4mm wide.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Riparian corridors, bushland, forest margins, roadsides, disturbed sites and waste areas in tropical, sub-tropical and warmer temperate regions along the coast from Casula, New South Wales, north to Queensland. A native of tropical and southern Africa.
Vines and Creepers
35
Delairea odorata
Cape Ivy DESCRIPTION
Glabrous climbing and twining perennial with slender stems to 3m long. Fleshy leaves broadly ovate to circular in outline but palmately lobed and veined (3-7), 4-8cm long by same wide; petioles 4-7cm long, reniform stipules 5-10mm wide.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Mainly axillary corymbose inflorescences with 15-50 bright yellow cylindrical flower heads 2-2.5mm wide on stalks 2-5mm long during winter, 8-10 bracts 3-5mm long with 2-4 smaller bracteoles at base, 10- 12 tubular florets about 5mm longer than involucre. Reddish-brown achenes 2mm long, white pappus 5-6mm long.
HABITAT AND RANGE
A weed of moist gullies, from southern Tasmania to the Queensland-New South Wales border and South Australia. A native of South Africa.
36
Beechmont Weeds
Dolichandra unguis-cati
Cats Claw Creeper DESCRIPTION
Aggressive perennial woody vine that can ascend into and overwhelm forest canopies. Vigorous root and tuber system. Leaves with arrow-shaped leaflets 5-25mm long with a three-clawed tendril 3-17mm growing in between.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Yellow bell-shaped flowers 4-10cm long by up to 10cm wide spring to summer. Narrow flat pods 15-50cm long by 8-12mm wide mature to dark brown; each contains numerous oblong papery winged seeds 10- 40mm long by 4-10mm wide.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Disturbed areas, including roadsides, waterways and rainforest margins, throughout coastal Eastern Australia. Native to Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and tropical South America, it is a highly invasive, problematic species.
Vines and Creepers
37
Passiflora suberosa
Corky Passion Flower DESCRIPTION
Climbing passion flower with unbranched tendrils, older stems becoming corky. Leaves are threepointed and ivy-like with deep and acute lobes; leaf blade 3-10cm long. Lower stems are white and corky barked; stipules are 4-6mm long. Petioles 5-20mm long with two glands near the middle.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Pale green flowers 15mm wide lack petals; these can be found during summer. Blue-black globular fruit 10-15mm across ripens in early autumn.
HABITAT AND RANGE
A native of tropical America, this is a problematic weed requiring vigilant maintenance to ensure its removal. Seed stored in the soil will germinate rapidly after over-storey weeds, such as lantana, have been cleared. Dispersed by birds
38
Beechmont Weeds
Aristolochia elegans
Dutchman’s Pipe DESCRIPTION
Fast-growing vigorous climbing vine with slender twining stems that eventually become woody. Alternate glossy green heart-shaped leaves 3-8cm long by 3-10cm wide with glacous (bluish-green) paler lower surface. Leaves are toxic to the larvae of the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly. Petioles 1.55cm long.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Reddish-purple solitary flowers to 10cm wide, marked with white and yellow, can be found during summer. Drooping stems or peduncles up to 7cm long. Flowers are shaped like a traditional Dutchman’s pipe, hence its name. Ribbed capsules 5-8cm long split open to release numerous brown seeds 6-7mm long.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Coastal areas from northern New South Wales to the wet tropics in a wide variety of plant communities. A native of South America.
Vines and Creepers
39
Neonotonia wightii
Glycine DESCRIPTION
Climbing plant with scrambling stems to 4.5m long; stems, leaves and fruit can vary from almost hairless to densely covered in rusty velvet hairs. Alternate compound leaves 3-16cm long with three oval leaflets 1-10cm long by 0.6-7cm wide; margins entire, pointed tips. Petioles 2-12cm long.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Small white to mauve pea-shaped flowers 1cm long (may have yellowish or purplish markings) in elongated clusters 2-18cm long; peduncles 2-10cm long. Rusty hairy elongated flattened pods 1.5-3.5cm long mature from green to dark brown/ black and contain 4-9 dark reddish-brown or black kidney-shaped seeds 2.5-4mm long by 1.5-3mm wide.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Riparian areas, urban bushland, rainforest margins, gardens and disturbed sites from Bellingen, New South Wales, to the wet tropics.
40
Beechmont Weeds
Lonicera japonica
Japanese Honeysuckle DESCRIPTION
Climber reaching 7–10m high with hairy young stems. Opposite ovate to oblong- ovate leaves 3–8cm long by 1–4cm wide with a prominent ridge between opposite petioles; apex short-acuminate to obtuse, base rounded, both surfaces sparsely hairy, less so with age. Petioles 3–10mm long.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Produces paired fragrant white flowers during autumn; peduncles 5–50mm long, green bracts 5–20mm long. Ovoid shiny black fruit 6–10mm long contains brown seeds 3mm long.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Found in domestic gardens but has escaped to inhabit moist gullies across the southern east coast of Australia and southwest Western Australia. A native of East Asia.
Vines and Creepers
41
Anredera cordifolia
Madeira Vine DESCRIPTION
A Vigorous herbaceous perennial climber forming a dense mass on its host; produces tubers on roots and stems. Fleshy heart-shaped leaves 2-10cm long by 1.5-9cm wide, apex usually acuminate, mucronate, base cordate to truncate.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Numerous fragrant white flowers on axillary drooping racemes to 25cm long during March; pedicels 3-4mm long, oblong perianth segments 2-3mm long. No evidence of fruit produced in Australia.
HABITAT AND RANGE
All states and territories near population centres in disturbed areas, rainforest margins and urban bush gullies. Native of South America, introduced to New South Wales as a creeper. Leaves and tubers are eaten in Mexico and Southern Europe. While poisonous to stock, it is rarely eaten.
42
Beechmont Weeds
Lophospermum erubescens
Mexican Twist DESCRIPTION
Hairy vine with slender stems some metres long climbing via twining petioles and flower stalks. Triangular leaves 4–7cm long by similar wide with toothed margins, apex acuminate, base hastate to cordate, 3–5 spreading veins from the base. Petioles 2–5cm long.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Hairy tubular pink-purple flowers 4-7cm long from spring to summer on stalks 2–6.5cm long; five sepals 15–30mm long. Ovoid capsules 15–20mm long.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Moist sites from Taree in New South Wales north to Caloundra in Queensland, with a disjunct population in the wet tropics. A native of Mexico and Central America.
Vines and Creepers
43
Ipomoea indica
Morning Glory DESCRIPTION
Vigorous climbing vine that will dominate and overwhelm other species. Large broadly arrowshaped leaves 4-17cm long by 3-15cm long, apex acuminate, base cordate, margins entire to deeply 3-lobed. Petioles 3-13cm long.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Dark purple or deep blue flowers with a deep pale pink or white throat during spring, but also other times of the year; 15-25mm long sepals. Flattened globose fruit 10mm wide (but which rarely set in Australia).
HABITAT AND RANGE
Disturbed areas in many forest types including rainforest edges and eucalypt forest. An introduced garden ornamental that has become a notorious weed capable of easily overwhelming large trees. Indica means Indian.
44
Beechmont Weeds
Araujia sericifera
Moth Vine DESCRIPTION
Perennial climber with woody twining stems and a tap root. Long triangular paired leaves 3-10cm long by 1-6cm, dark green above, whitish grey below. When broken, stems release a milky white latex which can cause allergic reactions.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Creamy-white to pale pink flowers from late summer to autumn. Choko-like fruits 6-12cm long by 3-7cm wide have black seeds 4-8mm long topped with white silky hairs 20-30mm long that are dispersed by wind, water and birds.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Native to southern Brazil, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay, it favours forest margins, riparian vegetation, roadsides, fences, disturbed sites, waste areas, gardens, orchards and wetlands and will smother supporting vegetation.
Vines and Creepers
45
Desmodium uncinatum
Silver-leaf Desmodium DESCRIPTION
Prostrate to ascending subshrub with stems to 1.5m long, densely hairy with hooked hairs. Three-foliolate leaves with ovate to elliptic leaflets 2–10cm long by 10–60mm wide, both surfaces appressed-hairy, upper surface with a distinctive silver longitudinal stripe. Petioles 20–50mm long, stipules 3–5mm long.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Racemes to 30cm long of pink, blue or white flowers 7-10mm long spring to summer, pedicels 4–10 mm long. Pods 10– 30mm long covered in hooked hairs; 3-10 articles each 5–7mm long.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Introduced as a pasture plant, it is also found along roadsides, mainly in southeast Queensland, but also the Coffs Harbour area in New South Wales to the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland. A native of South America.
46
Beechmont Weeds
Sphagneticola trilobata
Singapore Daisy DESCRIPTION
Creeping mat-forming perennial herb to 70cm tall with rounded stems to 2m long; these stems root at the nodes with just the flowering portions ascending. Fleshy dark green leaves 3–11cm long by 2–8cm wide are glossy above, paler below due to a covering of white hairs; leaf margins are irregularly toothed.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Solitary axillary bright yellow flowers throughout the year; peduncles 3–14cm long. Achenes 4–5mm long with knobby projections.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Coastal areas from central coastal New South Wales to Cape York in Queensland, the Northern Territory, Northern Western Australia and also Lord Howe Island. Often found dominating exposed riparian corridors, it is a native from Mexico to Argentina.
Vines and Creepers
47
Arundo donax
Giant Reed DESCRIPTION
Large upright perennial grass to 6m tall with creeping horizontal rhizomes and stems (culms) to 2cm wide. Numerous linear leaves up to 7cm wide; leaf sheath ribbed.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
Dense pale silky panicles 30–60cm long from spring to summer. When in flower, these are obvious and rise above the rest of the plant.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Along river banks, moist disturbed areas or planted in parks and gardens in multiple locations across the breadth of Australia, from the Northern Territory to Tasmania. A native of southern Europe and Asia.
Melinis minutiflora
Molasses Grass DESCRIPTION
Aromatic perennial mat grass to 1.2m tall. Flat leaf blades up to 30cm long by 13mm wide; sheath hairs up to 5mm long; ligule a ciliate rim with hairs 0.5–2mm long. Foliage is sticky with molasses-like odour.
FLOWERS
Contracted reddish to purplish inflorescence 10–20cm long by 3cm wide (excluding awns). Spikelets 2mm long (excluding awn) by 1.5mm wide; two florets ; lower glume < 0.25mm long; upper 2mm long, two-lobed with mucro or short awn in sinus.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Planted widely for pasture and erosion control, it is found in disturbed areas, pastures and forest margins from Coffs Harbour to Cape York. A native of Africa.
48
Beechmont Weeds
Paspalum dilatatum
Paspalum DESCRIPTION
Tufted perennial with unbranched or sparingly culms to 1m tall. Smooth purple nodes, glabrous or lower sparsely hairy. Linear leaf blades 6-45cm long by 3-12mm wide, glabrous except for a few hairs at base; overlapping leaf sheaths are hairy closer to base. Membranous ligules to 3mm long with small tuft of hairs at extremities.
FLOWERS
Panicles to 25cm long with 2-11 racemes, 2.5-11cm long, borne singly and alternating on either side of culm, each raceme subtended by tuft of long white silky hairs. Spikelets paired 2.8-4mm long, lower glume absent, upper glume 5-9 nerved.
HABITAT AND RANGE
A native of South America, it has now spread throughout eastern Australia. Held in high regard as a fodder grass.
Setaria sphacelata
South African Pigeon Grass DESCRIPTION
Large tufted perennial 2-2.5m tall with erect or ascending culms and glabrous nodes. Linear leaves 15-30cm long by 3-17mm wide, mostly glabrous, sheaths rarely hairy, ligules about 1.5mm long.
FLOWERS
Nodding spike-like cylindrical panicles 7-50cm long by 6-10mm wide (excluding the 6-10 bristles); subtending branchlets with 1-4 spikelets 4-6mm long; each spikelet 1.2-3mm long. Lower glumes three-nerved, upper five, lemma five-nerved.
HABITAT AND RANGE
Inhabiting pastures, roadsides, woodlands, riparian sites and disturbed areas in coastal areas of northern and eastern Australia, it can form dense stands and prevent regeneration of native grass species. A native of tropical and South Africa.
Grasses 49
Glossary ANNUAL - a plant completing its life cycle in approximately one year.
OVATE - egg-shaped, but in two dimensions, broader near the stem.
APPRESSED - pressed closely to another organ, but separate from it.
PEDICEL - the stalk of a single flower.
AXILLARY - arising from the angle (axil) between a leaf and its stem. BASAL - at the base of the plant. BRACT - a modified leaf or scale in whose axil a flower or inflorescence arises. CAPSULE - a dry fruit that splits into two or more sections on maturity. COMPOUND LEAF - a leaf composed of a number of leaflets with only one petiole; compound leaves also have growth buds in the axils. DENTATE - with sharp, spreading rather coarse teeth standing out from the margin. DISCOLOROUS - when both surfaces of a leaf are unlike in colour.
PEDUNCLE - the stalk of an inflorescence. PELTATE - leaf stalk attached to the underside or blade of a leaf some distance in. PERENNIAL - a plant capable of living for two or more years. PETIOLE - the part forming the attachment of a leaf blade to the stem of a plant. PETIOLULE - the part forming the attachment of a leaflet blade to the rachis of a compound leaf. PHYLLODE - a modified, flattened leaf stalk looking and acting like a leaf (found on some wattles). PINNATE - compound leaf with leaflets (pinnae) arranged symmetrically on either side of a central stalk.
GENUS - a group of closely related species.
PINNATIFID - cut deeply (but not to the midrib) into lobes that are spaced out along the axis.
HERB - generally a smallish plant lacking a woody stem.
PROCUMBENT - trailing or lying flat without rooting.
INFLORESCENCE - an arrangement of flowers on a stem.
PROSTRATE - lying flat on the ground.
LEAF MARGIN - outer edge of a leaf.
PUBESCENT - with a covering of short, stiff down-like hairs.
LENTICEL - a lens-shaped dot or pit on young bark, through which gaseous exchange may occur.
RACEME - an unbranched flower stem with flowers on stalks, the oldest being at the base.
NODE - the point on a stem where the leaves or branches can arise.
RACHIS - central stalk of a compound leaf. SCABROUS - rough to the touch.
OBOVATE - similar to ovate, but attached at the narrower end; egg- shaped but broader near the apex.
SESSILE - without a stalk.
OBOVOID - obovate in outline, but in three dimensions.
SHRUB - woody plant with multiple stems emanating from or near ground level.
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SERRATE - with saw-toothed leaf margins.
References SIMPLE LEAF - a leaf which is not divided into leaflets. SPECIES - a population of genetically closely related organisms capable of interbreeding; a species can comprise several subspecies and other finer groupings of ever more genetically similar organisms. Similar species are grouped into genera and then into families.
www.plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/floraonline.htm www.weeds.brisbane.qld.gov.au/ www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-animals/ plants/herbarium/weeds/identify-weeds www.scenicrim.qld.gov.au/our-environment/ biodiversity/pest-plants-and-weeds
STRIATE - with parallel, longitudinal lines or ridges. SUCCULENT - thick and fleshy; often used to describe leaves. TENDRIL - leaf, leaf part or stem modified to be a slender branched or unbranched structure used by many climbing plants for attachment to a support, usually by twining around it. TERETE - cylindrical, circular in cross- section. TERRESTRIAL - growing in the ground. TOMENTOSE - covered with shortish cottony hairs, more or less felted together. TRIFOLIOLATE - bearing leaflets of a compound leaf in threes. TUBER - swollen portion of an underground stem, containing food reserves. UMBEL - an inflorescence where all pedicels arise from the one point (on top of the peduncle). UNDULATE - wavy, often a reference to leaf margins. VALVE - a segment of a fruit which opens to allow seed dispersal. VENATION - an arrangement of veins within a leaf. WHORL - an arrangement of three or more leaves, stems, flowers in a circle around a stem at a node.
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Pictured: Moth Vine
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A collaboration between Healthy Land and Water, Scenic Rim Regional Council and Beechmont Landcare.
