Pest Weeds

Harrisia cactus banner

Pest – Common and Scientific Names

Category

Level of Impacts/Threats (potential and actual)

(e.g. Environment, Primary Industry, Social, Amenity )

Distribution and Density

Achievability or Management Objectives

Priority

African boxthorn

Lycium ferocissimum

African Boxthorn Fact sheet

Bisecurity Plan  Community Objectives (pg17)

3

Invades pastures and provides harbourage for pest animals.

Most prevalent within 25km of Goondiwindi & Inglewood.

B. Containment & reduction

High

Annual ragweed

Ambrosia artemisiifolia

Annual Ragweed Fact sheet

Bisecurity Plan  Community Objectives (pg18)

3

Invades weak or overgrazed pastures.

Is highly allergenic, causing asthma and hay fever.

Eradicated from near the Dip Yards at Goondiwindi.

Present at Watson’s Crossing.

A. Intensive Control & Eradication

High

Athel pine

Tamarix aphylla

Athel Pine Fact sheet

3

Athol pine form dense stands along inland rivers. Athol pine concentrates and excretes salt, causing the ground beneath it to become salty, excluding salt-sensitive plants.

Mainly around homesteads, main entrances to properties and in towns

D. Technical Advice

Very Low

Balloon vine

Cardiospermum grandiflorum

Balloon Vine Fact sheet

3

Balloon vine is a densely-growing, climbing herb. Infestations of this weed smother other plants and prevent them from receiving the sunlight they need to photosynthesise.

Along the Dumaresq and Macintyre rivers.

Around towns and homesteads.

D. Technical Advice

Low

Blackberry

Rubus anglocandicans & Rubus fruticosus agg.

Blackberry Fact sheet

3

Invades bushland and pastures reducing grazing capacity. Forms thickets that provide harbour to pests.

Near Silver Spur, Texas.

A. Intensive Control & Eradication

Low

Broad-leaved pepper tree

Schinus terebinthifolius

Broad-Leaved Pepper Tree Fact sheet

3

Chokes out native plants. Contact with the sap can cause persistent swelling, rashes, welts, running sores, swollen faces, colic and haemorrhages in the eyes. The pollen can cause respiratory difficulty.

Mainly around homesteads, main entrances to properties and in towns.

B. Containment & reduction

Very Low

Pest – Common and Scientific Names

Category

Level of Impacts/Threats (potential and actual)

(e.g. Environment, Primary Industry, Social, Amenity )

Distribution and Density

Achievability or Management Objectives

Priority

Camphor laurel

Cinnamomum camphora

Camphor Laurel Fact sheet

3

Invades native woodlands and riparian zones.

Frequently causes destabilisation of surfaces and drainage in urban areas.

Mainly around homesteads, main entrances to properties and in towns.

B. Containment & reduction

Very Low

Cat’s claw creeper

Macfadyena unguis-cati

Cats Claw Creeper fact sheet

3

Invades waterways and choke out native vegetation

Along the Dumaresq and Macintyre rivers. Around towns and homesteads as ornamental vines.

B. Containment & reduction

Low

Chinese celtis

Celtis sinensis

Chinese Celtis Fact sheet

3

Forms dense infestations and prevents regeneration of native riparian vegetation. Destroys habitats of native animals.

Whetstone area. Mainly in towns, around homesteads  & properties entrances.

B. Containment & reduction

Low

Harrisia cactus

H.martinii, H.tortuosa,

Harrisia Cactus Fact sheet

Bisecurity Plan  Community Objectives (pg21)

3

Forms dense, often impenetrable, thorny thickets, restricts stock access to drinking water and makes mustering difficult

Wide spread. establish a containment line east of Yelarbon and west of the South Toobeah Road

B. Containment & reduction

High

Honey locust

Gleditsia spp.

Honey Locust Fact sheet

Bisecurity Plan Community Objectives (pg20)

3

Invasive tree that smothers pasture and native vegetation, inflicts painful injuries with long spines. Can rapidly form dense thickets restricting stock, vehicle and human movement.

Near Silver Spur, and within town gardens.

A. Intensive Control & Eradication

High

Mother-of-millions

Bryophyllum delagoense syn. B tubiflorum

Mother of Millions Fact sheet

Bisecurity Plan  Community Objectives (pg30)

3

Forms dense carpet like stand that prevents favourable plant growth. Plant parts are highly toxic to livestock.

Currently found in all parts of the region

C. asset protection Strategic control

Moderate

Pest – Common and Scientific Names

Category

Level of Impacts/Threats (potential and actual)

(e.g. Environment, Primary Industry, Social, Amenity )

Distribution and Density

Achievability or Management Objectives

Priority

Parkinsonia

Parkinsonia aculeate

Parkinsonia Fact sheet

Bisecurity Plan  Community Objectives (pg23)

3

Forms dense, impenetrable, thickets along water courses and bore drains, restricts stock access to drinking water and makes mustering virtually impossible. Provides a harbour for feral pigs,

Beside the Barwon Hwy near South Callandoon is monitored for germination of seed from the seed bank

 A. Intensive Control & Eradication

High

Parthenium weed

Parthenium hysterophorus

Parthenium Fact sheet

Bisecurity Plan  Community Objectives (pg24)

3

Vigorous species that colonies pasture’s and reduces pasture potential, can cause health problems due to allergic properties, toxic to stock.

Nine reported small isolated infestations

A. Intensive Control & Eradication

High

Prickly pear

Opuntia spp

Prickly Pear Fact sheet

3

Completes strongly with pasture.

Scattered throughout

B. Containment & reduction

Low

Privets

Ligustrum lucidum & L. sinense

3

Replaces native vegetation and native animal habitat. Forms thickets in riparian areas. Pollen causes irritation to hay fever and asthma suffers.

Around towns and homesteads.

D. Technical Advice

Very Low

Tiger pear

 O. aurantiaca

3

Impediment to native species and stock, competes with pasture.

Scattered throughout

D. Technical Advice

Low

Velvety tree pear

 O. tomentose

Bisecurity Plan  Community Objectives (pg31)

3

Impediment to native species and stock, competes with pasture.

Common throughout

B. Containment & reduction

Moderate

Pest – Common and Scientific Names

Category

Level of Impacts/Threats (potential and actual)

(e.g. Environment, Primary Industry, Social, Amenity )

Distribution and Density

Achievability or Management Objectives

Priority

Water hyacinth

 Eichhornia crassipes

Water Hyacinth Fact sheet

Bisecurity Plan  Community Objectives (pg25)

3

Chokes waterways, destroys native habitat, increases water loss and depletes water of oxygen.

isolated populations in Billa Billa and Yelarbon areas

A. Intensive Control & Eradication

High

Water lettuce

Pistia stratiotes

Water Lettuce Fact sheet

Bisecurity Plan  Community Objectives (pg26)

3

Forms dense mats on water restricting flow, increase water loss by transpiration and serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Crooked Creek north of Goondiwindi and in the Dumaresq / Macintyre river system.

A. Intensive Control & Eradication

High

Willows

Salix humboldtiana syn.

 S. chilensis & Salix matsudana

Willow Fact sheet

3

Willows invade riverbanks and wetlands, reduces aeration, causes flooding and erosion.

Along the Dumaresq and Macintyre rivers.

D. Technical Advice

Very Low

Pest Species

Category

Level of Impacts/Threats (potential and actual)

(e.g. Environment, Primary Industry, Social, Amenity)

Distribution and Density

Achievability or Management Objectives

Priority

Cereus Cactus

Cereus uruguayanus

Bisecurity Plan  Community Objectives (pg19)

Locally declared

Forms dense, often impenetrable, thorny thickets, restricts stock.

Isolated infestation near Inglewood

A. Intensive Control & Eradication

High

 

Pest Species

Category

Level of Impacts/Threats (potential and actual)

(e.g. Environment, Primary Industry, Social, Amenity)

Distribution and Density

Achievability or Management Objectives

Priority

African lovegrass

Eragrostis curvula

African Lovegrass Fact sheet

Non-declared

Produces vast quantities of seeds, making the plant difficult to eradicate. It is extremely competitive with other pasture species and is an aggressive invader.

Common and widespread within the region and all neighbouring regions

D. Technical Advice

Low

 

Bathurst burr

Xanthium spinosum

Bathurst Burr Fact sheet

Non-declared

This plant contaminates wool, competes with summer crops, is host to some fungal diseases and has poisonous seedlings which can kill stock animals

Scattered throughout

C. asset protection Strategic control

Low

Coolatai grass

Hyparrhenia hirta

Non- declared

A perennial tussock grass, up to 1.5 m tall. Invades pastures and outcompetes native grasses. Increases fire risk.

 

D. Technical Advice

Low

Green cestrum

Cestrum parqui

Non-declared

This plant out-competes vegetation on alluvial flats and is poisonous to livestock.

Along the Dumaresq & Macintyre Rivers & gardens.

D. Technical Advice

Low

Feathertop Rhodes grass

Chloris virgata

Non-declared

Feathertop Rhodes grass is a particularly aggressive invader of bare areas and degraded or disturbed native vegetation, and is a major

agricultural weed.

Scattered throughout

D. Technical Advice

Low

Lippia 

Phyla canescens

Non-declared

Dense carpet-like spread, prevents growth of other riparian vegetation, results in soil erosion, decreases bank stability and degrades the waterways.

Throughout low level floodplains.

D. Technical Advice

Very Low

Mimosa bush

Acacia farnesiana

Bisecurity Plan  Community Objectives (pg22)

Non-declared

Competes with native vegetation, can form thickets, harbouring pest animals and hindering stock movement.

Scattered throughout

A. Intensive Control & Eradication

High

Noogoora burr

Xanthium pungens

Non-declared

Competes with pasture and summer crops. Burrs contaminate fleeces leading to increased processing costs. Seedlings can be toxic if eaten in sufficient quantities.

Scattered throughout

C. asset protection Strategic control

Low

Paterson’s curse

Echium plantagineum

Non-declared

Competes with native and pasture plants. Toxic to livestock, particularly horses and pigs.

Scattered throughout

D. Technical Advice

Very Low

Tree-of-heaven 

Ailanthus altissima

Non-declared

Competes with native plants, can form dense thickets. Bark and leaves toxic to animals. Flowers contaminating water can cause dermatitis and gastritis.

Often found around old homesteads, gullies, rubbish tips and roadsides

D. Technical Advice

Very Low