Run Rabbit Run!

A visible increase in rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) numbers across south east Victoria has prompted Landcare groups along with the South Gippsland Community Weeds Taskforce to raise the issue.  As were all well aware, rabbits are nothing new to mainland Australia.  Since the late 18^th century they have hopped about the landscape digging warrens, decimating native vegetation, devouring pastures, sustaining fox populations and so on. Rabbits are that common these days that one doesn't bat an eyelid at the sight of bug's bunny peacefully nibbling grass on the roadside edge.

 Is it rabbits 'commonness' that has management efforts falling by the way side? Or is the effort to control rabbits by land managers undermined by the sheer magnitude of the problem? Or rather are we stepping back from the problem and depending on the release of a new biological control agent to save the day? The likely answer is yes to all of these factors.

It's a given that control programs cost money, as a result land managers often rely on once a year poisoning programs. Typically only on their own properties and when rabbit populations are high with no integration/follow up with other control methods. To achieve effective rabbit control effort must be continuous. Therefore it's not the effort that is undermining the result but rather the ineffective methods that are generally used. One needs to be able to; adopt and use integrated rabbit control, kill rabbits at a faster rate than they can replace themselves at all densities, ensure rabbit immigration into your control site is zero, monitor rabbits at low densities and take immediate action if the population increases and maintain a social environment with your neighbours and community that supports the goal of aiming for rabbit free.

The success of the myxomatosis virus released in 1952 was poignant, reportedly wiping out 99.8% of rabbits. However by the 1990's rabbits showed resistance to the virus and their numbers once again climbed back into the millions.  From 1996-1998 the Rabbit Calicivirus Disease (RCD) reduced rabbits by >50% in arid areas however once again, as with the myxo virus, numbers have bounced back.  If the history of biological control agents is anything to go by then we shouldn't depend on it to keep rabbit numbers under control, at least not in the long run.

If we stop tolerating the 'commonness' of rabbits and start to adequately control numbers we stand to win big time. A dairy farmer in Colac, Victoria (similar growing conditions to parts of South Gippsland) increased his milk production by 300% and doubled his fodder harvest over 5 years simply by tackling his rabbit problem. A sheep farmer in Colac, who also managed his rabbits effectively, increased his dry sheep equivalent from 1.75 to 7.75 over a 5 year period.

Whilst researching the topic of the impact on native vegetation from rabbits I came across this insightful quote; 'What's the difference between chainsaws, bulldozers and rabbits? Not much really. Though chainsaws and bulldozers are the preferred tool for clearing land, rabbits are just as effective. They eat tree seedlings so that when the mature trees die there are no young ones to replace them. The net effect is identical, only the time scale differs' (Pickard 1995, Managing Vertebrate Pests; Bureau of Resource Sciences and CSIRO).  Adequate control would give native vegetation a chance to regenerate and ultimately lend itself to providing habitat and food for native wildlife that was previously displaced by rabbits.

It's important to recognise that rabbits do impact us economically, socially and environmentally. We must not wait for the next biological control agent but rather act now to control their numbers using a variety of techniques, continuously and in coordination with our neighbours, (including public land managers) and local community. For further information on rabbit control visit the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) website at www.dpi.vic.gov.au or contact the South Gippsland Landcare Network Project Officer Kate Williams on 5662 5759 or email katew@wgcma.vic.gov.au. To record rabbit sightings in your area visit www.feralscan.org.au. Feral Scan is a citizen science website where you help map feral animals and the damage they cause.

Reference

Bloomfield, T., Paroz, G. Rabbits and Their Impact October 2010, LC0298 Department of Primary Industries, Attwood.

Photo caption: A single pair of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) can produce 30-40 young a year.

 

 Kate Williams, South Gippsland Landcare Network Project Officer

Wandering jew or trad (Tradescantia fluminensis, syn. T. albiflora) Environmental foe or Chicken delight?

The waterways in South Gippsland are well aquatinted with this weed from South America.  It loves nothing better than shady spot down by the river where it thrives on silty alluvial soils.  It's not a huge fan of being submerged in water but it does tolerate the occasional flood and will put up with being waterlogged ever now and again.

Wandering trad has hairless leaves which are glossy, slightly fleshy and dark green in colour. A distinctive feature of the plant is its stem-clasping leaves at the base. Flowers are white, about 1cm across displayed during spring and summer. Fruit is not formed on the plant in Australia therefore it does not spread by seed but rather by broken off sections of stem taking root.

As the name suggests, it wanders about and forms dense mats that smothers all native groundcover vegetation in its path. Subsequently preventing natural regeneration of trees and shrubs. Over time, (in a stream bank situation) this process causes eventual loss of native tree and shrub cover which can lead to erosion.  This makes wandering trad an unpopular addition to the natural environment in Australia. 

In terms of its control, there are several options (see below). Using a combination of these, (based on site specifics and resources at hand) is the best method.

Manual removal: small infestations can be dug out ensuring that all stem fragments are removed, (if not they will regrow) and disposed of appropriately. 

Solarisation: covering the plants with plastic sheeting for 6 weeks in the warmer months will weaken the plant (sunny situations only, this will not be effective in full shade). After removing the plastic any regrowth can be dug out or sprayed.

Herbicide: spraying with selective or non-selective herbicides, (using a surfactant) will work eventually but repeat treatments will be required. Herbicides registered in Victoria for use on wandering trad can be found on the APVMA website; www.apvma.gov.au.  

Alternative uses: Julie Cave, Blue Mountains City Council Bush Regeneration Team member has made some suggestions for the use of trad which include; turning the plant into liquid fertiliser or compost. Read more on this by visiting http://www.weedsbluemountains.org.au/index.php.

Whilst researching control methods for wandering trad I came across findings that suggest ducks and chickens love the stuff. Apparently Muscovies and chickens consume wandering trad readily with no ill effects (given that the plants have not been sprayed with herbicide). If someone works out how to drive a flock of ducks down to an infested gully for some crash grazing we might have another viable management tool. In a domestic situation, those with chooks (and wondering trad) may have themselves a cheap and useful solution to the problem.

For further information on the identification of wandering trad visit www.southgippslandweeds.com.au or contact Kate Williams, South Gippsland Landcare Project Officer on (03) 5662 5759 or email katew@wgcma.vic.gov.au. Information from this article taken from Wandering jew (Tradescantia fluminensis, sny. T. albiflora)  http://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/site/Weeds/Sheets/herbs/H%20Wandering%20jew.htm, Eurobodella Shire Council, NSW.

Kate

African lovegrass

No love for African Lovegrass (Erogrostis curvula)

 

African lovegrass, or 'ALG' as it's referred to by those who know it,  is a major weed of grazing land throughout mainland Australia. South Gippsland's not immune to invasion by African lovegrass. There has been a recent report of isolated plants as close as 10km from the South Gippsland Shire boundary; it may very well be within the Shire boundary.  Being a tussock grass, its presence is often overlooked; (unlike weeds with bright purple flowers that are easy to spot) it can also be confused with some other native or introduced grasses. Early detection allows early control. What to look for;

·        Perennial tussock grass (forms as a clump)

·        Grows from 30-70cm high with a diameter of 25-35cm at ground level

·        Begins flowering in spring or early summer with erect, open or compact seed heads that are a lead-grey or grey green colour  (see photo below showing the seed heads)

·        Leaves are blue-green, long and narrow with curly tips

·        Has a ring of hairs below the base of the leaf blade

Whilst is can be confused with some native and introduced species, it is clearly distinct from them;

·        Spear and corkscrew grass (Austrostipa sp.) look similar to African lovegrass in the early vegetative growth but have awns on the seed.

·        Other native and introduced lovegrasses often look similar but have different seed heads.

African lovegrass is a problem in an agricultural situation as readily establishes in overgrazed pastures and only produces a limited quantity of green feed during the spring and summer months. Overall carrying capacity is reduced where infestations are dense. Forage quality declines as the plants mature and also with the commencement of frosts. The amount of green leaf dry matter utilised by the animal is at best 65% in early spring and 50% in early summer. Come winter, the amount utilised by the dead material is only 38%. Crude protein of the dead leaf in winter is only 3.6%.  Minimise the risk of seed entry and establishment on your property by paying attention to likely sources of seed import. The movement of fodder is a main cause of weed seed spread in agriculture. If you're looking to purchase hay or livestock from a known African lovegrass area (check with Bob Wilson, DPI Gippsland Coordinator Pest Management to find out general distribution on T: (03) 56 629 930). Supplementary feeding in a smaller 'sacrifice' paddock is a good precautionary measure followed by monitoring.  Be conscious of livestock movements, seeds take up to 7-10 days to pass through livestock and can still be viable for 10 days, as with the fodder keep livestock in a smaller paddock and monitor.

For further information on the identification of African lovegrass contact Kate Williams, South Gippsland Landcare Project Officer on (03) 5662 5759 or email katew@wgcma.vic.gov.au. To find out the general distribution of African lovegrass in Gippsland contact Bob Wilson, DPI Gippsland Coordinator Pest Management on T: (03) 56 629 930). Information from this article taken from Primefacts, February 2010 Edition via www.industry.nsw.gov.au and African lovegrass, May 2009. 3D weed management, Meat & Livestock Australia, Sydney.

Photos of African lovegrass courtesy of Peter Kershaw, VicRoads Eastern Region 2011.

Broadleaf Dock

A recent visit to a farm, (that rears dairy calves) in South Gippsland has prompted me to talk about dock. Several paddocks on the farm were thick with broadleaf dock (Rumex obtusifolius), whilst out on a paddock the farmer asked "why is it growing with such vigour?" and "How can I get it under control without relying on herbicide?"

 

To address the first question one needs to try and understand what that plant is telling us. Docks are a perennial herb with a thick taproot. Plants with taproots are typically found in areas of poor drainage- the plant is trying to correct this problem by penetrating deep into the subsoil to improve drainage and aeration. Why might drainage be poor you ask- In pastures, calcium is a mineral removed in great quantities with the least return in the manure. Calcium is the element which, among other things, causes soil particles to move apart for good aeration and drainage. Soils deficient in calcium are in effect prone to water logging. Therefore even before doing a soil assessment or test we can assume that calcium may be deficient and that drainage is poor. High stocking rates may be another factor for compaction and subsequent poor drainage however the farmer indicated that stocking rates were fairly low and that they haven't even been stocked recently given the amount of water on the place.

Delving deeper, (quite literally!) a soil core sample was taken so that a quick visual assessment of the soils biotic and physical qualities could be made. It was obvious from the sample taken that the soil lacked diversity of microfauna with only earth worms present. A cockchafer grub was also found in the sample. Cockchafers are common pasture pests in Gippsland, affecting shallow rooted pasture species, having minimal impact on deep-rooted plants such as lucerne, cocksfoot, phalaris and dock for that matter. The extent and severity of damage caused by cockchafers varies markedly from year to year and from one property to the next. The main indicators of their presence can be found during a dry spell after the autumn break, when dead pasture is found among areas of green. Dead pasture, unless re-sowed, provides a perfect home for a new dock plant or another broadleaf plant such as capeweed. Perhaps this is another factor contributing to the growth of dock throughout the paddock. Looking at the grass in the sample, (namely the roots) it's clear that they are confined to the top few cm's of soil- yet another indicator that oxygen is poor lower down.

Following the visual assessment a *soil test was taken for chemical analysis. Results of the test found that, as suspected, the available calcium was slightly low. It also revealed that the available potash exceeded the available phosphate- this is characteristic of soil favoured by broadleaf weeds. Available nitrogen was low, (6.1ppm, desired level=26ppm). Nitrogen is the one nutrient that can be hard to manage as it's readily lost through leaching. Soil bacteria play a critical role in converting the nitrogen into amino acids- in this form it is not likely to leach.  The soil test didn't test for the present of soil bacteria yet if it did there would be affair chance they would be in insufficient numbers.

With all the above in mind – finding an answer to the second question can seem overwhelming! I'm not an agronomist- and I don't intent to give specific advice as such- rather I've put together a list of useful resources below that can help you build a picture of ways to correct your specific weed problems.

Remember- you can spray pasture weeds with herbicide until the cows come home yet correcting the health of the soil should be the aim of the game.

McCaman J.L. 1994. Weeds and Why They Grow. Acres Australia www.acresaustralia.com.au

 Department of Primary Industries, Victoria information on soil relevant to agriculture; http://new.dpi.vic.gov.au/agriculture/farming-management/soil-water

Department of Primary Industries, Victoria information on the Red headed cockchafer

http://new.dpi.vic.gov.au/agriculture/pests-diseases-and-weeds/pest-insects/ag1358-the-redheaded-pasture-cockchafer

Primary Industries, NSW information on fertilisers and soil improvement http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/resources/soils/improvement

*It should be said that a plant tissue test is the preferred method for diagnosing trace element status of a pasture rather than a soil test but for the purposes of this exercise a soil test was taken.

Bridal Creeper: Be part of a program to reduce its spread!

Bridal creeper (Asparagus asparagoides) is a perennial climber growing to 3m tall with a tuberous root system growing rapidly in autumn/winter (NOW) dying back to the roots over summer.  The glossy leaves are a distinct bright green colour and 3cm long. Flowers are small and greenish to white hanging on stalks singly or in pairs along branchlets. Fruits are small red berries, 6-10 mm in diameter with up to 9 black, shiny seeds within when ripe.  Bridal creeper is a Weed of National Significance as it readily invades disturbed and undisturbed vegetation across a wide range of habitats.

Left uncontrolled, it can have significant impacts to natural ecosystems. The plant can dominate ground flora forming dense curtains that smother shrubs and the lower canopy of trees. Bridal creeper is not considered an agricultural weed as it is palatable to stock and reproduction is greatly inhibited by herbivores. Bridal creeper has a number of features which make it difficult to control – its tuber reserves provide a buffer against adverse seasons, it has a wide germination range and, as mentioned above, it can invade undisturbed areas. On the up side - bridal creeper has a short-lived seedbank and seed production only occurs in early emerging stems.

With this in mind, preventing invasion in the first place and being vigilant in controlling new outbreaks really is the best line of defence. Typically new outbreaks occur underneath tall trees where seeds have been spread by birds, monitor these areas for potential outbreaks. All underground tubers need to be removed in order for manual removal to be fully effective. Tubers can grow at some depth under the soil therefore using a small mattock to get leverage is the best way to go.  All removed material should be double bagged and disposed of appropriately.  Removed tubers have been shown to survive even with out light for 2 years- therefore correct disposal is important.

If you have noticed Bridal creeper on your property, please contact Kate Williams, Landcare Project Officer at the South Gippsland Landcare Network on (03) 5662 5759 or email katew@wgcma.vic.gov.au.  The Network is managing a control project along the Gippsland coast from Phillip Island to Port Albert, (where it is known to exist) in partnership with a range of stakeholders and financial assistance is available until July this year. This project is supported by Coastcare Victoria Community Grants- a joint program delivered in partnership between the Australian Government's Caring for Our Country and the Department of Sustainability and Environments Coast Action/Coastcare program.

FREE Field Days on Alternatives to Chemical Control April 19th & 21st

FREE Field Days on Alternatives to Chemical Control April 19^th & 21^st

The rising cost of chemicals combined with uncertainty about safety and a desire to manage land in a more sustainable way prompts many people to consider alternatives to herbicide. Depending on the situation though, for any type of weed control it is usually a combination of controls that will be the most efficient way to deal with the problem. A good example is Gorse control where large infestations are mechanically mulched and the resultant regrowth is treated by chemicals and any new seedlings can be removed by hand over time. Mechanical control, being the most obvious method of non-chemical weed control, is not covered in this article. Some of the alternatives and a brief description of each method are described below.

 

Flame weeding. Uses an LP gas fired burner-either a direct flame or infrared burner. Weeds are not 'burnt' but lose the ability to move moisture and carry on photosynthesis causing the plant to wither and die within one to three days. Small plants are more susceptible to heat than more mature growth, therefore flame weeding works best when the weeds are small-typically less than 5cm high. Further info on flame weeders www.gameco.com.au

or www.elgas.com.au/for-business/flame-weeding

Steam weeding. Generally steam weeders require significant energy inputs to heat the water and they can require significant amounts of water. Suitable for Forestry, Fruit & Vegetable growers, Vineyards & similar, Road Authorities Shires and City Councils etc. Further info on steam weeders

www.acaengineering.com.au

BioWeed™ Herbicide. Used in agriculture, horticulture and by municipalities. Spot spraying and selective broad acre spraying of blackberry, gorse, ragwort, patterson's curse, thistles and other invasive weed species. BioWeed™ Herbicide works by desiccation of the cell walls of all contacted plant and seed tissue. On contacting living plant or seed tissue it quickly penetrates and disrupts normal membrane permeability and cellular physiology. Sprayed weed leaf tissue becomes dehydrated, creating a quick, visual browning effect within 1 to 12 hours of application. BioWeed™ Herbicide is a certified organic input. Further info on BioWeed™ Herbicide

www.certifiedorganics.info

To find out more on alternative control, The South Gippsland Community Task Force (CWT) in partnership with the Victorian Blackberry Taskforce is hosting two free sessions focusing on alternative blackberry control. Come along to one of the two days and learn from industry experts and real life examples of how blackberry has and can be controlled using alternative methods such as the BioWeed™ Herbicide. The field days are to be held on Tuesday April 19^th at the Mirboo North Football Club rooms and Thursday April 21^st at the Foster Memorial Arts Centre 10am – 2.00pm (lunch included). Everyone welcome. RSVP essential for catering purposes to South Gippsland Landcare Network (03) 5662 5759 or email

katew@wgcma.vic.gov.au

Weeds and Soil Health

 Rather than talk about a specific weed I thought it would be worthwhile to explore the underlying cause for weed establishment in pastures- unhealthy soils. Soil science is a complex subject and I'm more of a novice than an expert in the field yet what I'm learning through working as a Landcare Officer is the fundamental role soil health has in farming systems-particularly its role in supporting or suppressing undesirable plants, a.k.a weeds, therefore it's a topic I cant ignore and nor would I want to.  It's commonly believed that healthy soils support weeds and desirable pasture species equally well.  However it's quite the contrary, in the same way that an insect infestation indicates unhealthy plants with a nutritional imbalance, a weed infestation indicates that something's not right with the soil which in turn suppresses the growth of high producing pasture species and provides an environment favoured by weeds (Shepherd G. 2009).

 

In determining what's not right with the soil its physical, chemical and biological components need to be properly assessed.  If thistles are your annoyance, a soil assessment may discover that the soil is deficient in the trace element Calcium and bacteria and high in Potassium and Sulphur-a profile typical of supporting thistles. An infestation of thistles would suggest soil conditions and fertility, (status of soil with respect to the amount and availability of elements to plants necessary for plant growth i.e. calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium) are inadequate to maintain a complete, vigorous pasture cover. Competitive suppression by vigorous pasture growth plays a major role in preventing weed establishment. Once the underlying soil deficiency is known appropriate action can be taken i.e. the application of liquid calcium incorporating a form of organic carbon along with the addition of fertiliser with the right trace elements to help alter the soil environment in such a way that weeds don't want to grow.

 

Changing the soil environment can successfully deal with any weed problem and provides for a more effective long term solution than the use of herbicides. However when faced with the initial problem of weeds, the incorporation of herbicides into a solution containing a pH modifier with ammonium humate, can provide good weed control. A mixture such as this enables the amount of herbicide used to be reduced by 25-35%, helping to buffer the effect of herbicide on soil life. Regular use of herbicides has a negative impact on soil microbes which are responsible for maintaining the nutrient balance and availability in the soil. The underlying message of this article is that whilst using chemical herbicides provides a quick-kill it only addresses the symptoms and does nothing to rectify the underlying cause.

 

LOCAL TRAINING IN SOIL HEALTH:

As part of the Targeted Land Stewardship program, the South Gippsland and Bass Coast Landcare Networks are running a series of courses on soil health in 2011. Two courses, Vital Soils 1 and Healthy Soils, Sustainable Farms are afforded to cater for primary producers and hobby farmers alike. Vital Soils 1, delivered by Sonia Lee is a 4 day training course delivered in the classroom and the field teaching an integrated, regenerative approach to soil management (Poowong July 2011). Healthy Soil, Sustainable Farms, delivered by Chris Alenson is a 3 day training course looking at soil health and fertility (Bunyip June 2011). To find out more or to RSVP (essential) please contact project officer Kathleen Bartlett on 5662 5759 or email kathleenb@wgcma.vi.gov.au

REFERENCES AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Baxter, M.N.  2001. Know Your Soils Agriculture Victoria- Bendigo. Centre for Land Protection Research. Part 1, 2 and 3.

Shepherd, T.G. 2009. Visual Soil Assessment. Volume 1. Field guide for pastoral grazing and cropping on flat to rolling country. Second edition. Horizons Regional Council, Palmerston North. 119p

 

INTERNET RESOURCES:

Target 10 online www.target10.com.au. Follow the prompts to Manuals, Soils and Fertilisers.

The Department of Primary Industries www.new.dpi.vic.gov.au. Type Soil Fertility into the search bar and follow the link.

 

Agapanthus- time to remove seed heads

Agapanthus- you great us in summer with your friendly ball shaped flowers, you don't need much attention or care you just grow and grow. Come mid summer your flowers start to fade and your once attractive features are replaced with dull looking seed heads. Then you persevere throughout autumn and into winter with your long strappy leaves unscathed by drought or light frosts only to shoot up yet another blue pom pom come next summer.

If you enjoy the sight of agapanthus in flower lining the driveway or the low maintenance function that they provide then that's fair enough (I know I do!). However there are things to consider when it comes to this plants ability to readily spread. Each agapanthus plant is able to produce 2,400 seeds on average- these are then spread by water, wind or dumped garden waste. Aside from seed production, the primary method of spread in Victoria is vegetative means i.e. they multiply by themselves in clumps. A plant with such qualities, (in many cases and for obvious reasons) has the tendency to wonder beyond the drive way.

To avoid the problem of unwanted spread there are a couple of things that can be done. Firstly- to avoid the problem of seeds spreading, (whilst still be able to enjoying the plant in full bloom) cut off the seed heads once the plant has finished flowering (roughly now!). Secondly-plants in unwanted areas can be dug out, keeping in mind that all the underground roots (rhizomes) must be removed and disposed of appropriately. Any rhizomes left in the ground will regrow- even plants left lying upside down on the surface may take root and regrow, therefore correct disposal is important. The root system is fairly shallow meaning that plants can be peeled over and up-ended with less effort than one might expect.

If left uncontrolled in natural ecosystems- such as woodlands or grassy woodlands, agapanthus will become established and outcompete native vegetation forming a dense monoculture. Action on your property helps to keep our natural areas free from weed threat so that they can be enjoyed by all. So while the sun shining-now is the perfect time to get out in the garden- remove those seed heads and do your bit for the environment!

 

Kate

Yellow-flowering herbaceous plants; Senecios The Good and the Bad

Senecio species are possibly the largest genus of flowering plants with roughly 1500 species, of which approximately 50 are native to Australia (Richardson et al 2007).  A well known specie of Senecio in South Gippsland is Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea). Senecios are distinguished by having yellow flowers and alternately rranged leaves that often have stem-clasping ear-shaped lobes at their bases. Known to colonise disturbed areas and germinate quickly following bush-fires, Senecios are pioneering plants. In the scheme of a plant community, Senecios are understory plants with some species becoming invasive under ideal conditions. 

With so many types of Senecio, correct identification can be difficult. Provided you have a sample of parts of the plant; leaves, flowers etc. below can be used as a guide to at least identify the 'bad' from the 'good'.

The Bad guys

Number of introduced species of Senecio in Victoria? There are roughly 5 exotic/introduced species of Senecio in Victoria.

What are some of the ones that are found/could be found in South Gippsland?

Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) is a major pasture weed in South Gippsland. Cattle selectively avoid grazing it so it proliferates. Poisonous to grazing mammals, both fresh and when dried in hay or chaff, ragwort causes liver damage, leading to photosensitisation, jaundice, wasting and sometimes death. 

Fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis). There are *no recorded infestations of Fireweed in the South Gippsland region, (*at the time of publication) however the growing conditions are suitable for a potential outbreak. Fireweed, like ragwort, is toxic to stock and has the potential to out compete desirable pasture grasses.  This plant is a Victorian Weed Alert Weed see Department of Primary Industries Weed Alert Fact Sheet; Fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis)

African daisy (Senecio pterophorus). Found in the Port Phillip region, African daisy as with ragwort and fireweed can cause heavy losses in agricultural productivity (being toxic to stock, avoided by cattle and costly to control).  African daisy grows in a variety of situations from well-drained hillsides to semi-waterlogged gullies making it a threat to near by West Gippsland. For identification and control see the Landcare Note; African daisy (Senecio pterophorus)

 

The Good guys

Number of Senecio species native to Victoria? 50, (too many to mention!) 16 of these species can be found in the Melbourne area alone (Gray et al 2006).

What are some of the common natives found/could be found in South Gippsland?

Firewheel groundsel (Senecio linearifolius) can be found in wet and damp forests in higher hills and gullies.  The plant has sharply-toothed, long leaves that are dark green in colour growing to 150mm long (the leaves of ragwort are 35cm long). Flowerheads are small with 5 petals (ragwort has 12-15 petals).

Rough Fireweed (Senecio hispidulus var. hispidulus) can be found in grasslands, dry and valley forests, coastal banksia woodland and tea tree heath. The plant has toothed to –lobed, long to egg shaped leaves growing to 60mm. Image of Rough Fireweed 

Cotton fireweed (Senecio quadridentatus) is the most common and widespread Senecio species, found in riparian scrub, dry and valley forests and tea-tree heath.  The plant has narrow, pointed leaves to 100mm long, becoming smaller up the stem.  

 

If the above doesn't get you to a clear point of identification, (this is likely-considering there are so many species!) then there's some great reference material to help you discover exactly which Senecio you're dealing with. See below for details.

 

References  

Introduced Senecio information;

Richardson F.J., Richardson R.G. and Shepherd R.C.H. (2007). Weeds of the South-East an Identification Guide for Australia. R.G and F.J, Victoria

 

Native Senecio information;

Australian Plant Society Maroondah (2001). Flora of Melbourne. 3^RD Edition.  Hyland House, Melbourne

 

Kate