Wild Teasel

Wild Teasel (Dispacus fullonum) This noxious weed is not that common in South Gippsland the only sighting I have seen is in the Dumbalk area mainly on roadsides. It has the potential to invade pastures. It is an erect biennial herb to 2m high, reproducing by seed. Its stems and leaves are covered in prickles not unlike thistle. Has a very attractive purple or lilac flower in a cylindrical form. Seedlings emerge after autumn rains, or at other times following soil disturbance if moisture is adequate, and develop in to large rosettes by spring. Flowering stems are not produced until the second or even later years, the size of the plant has to be big enough. In each head, flowers open first in a ring around the middle of the head and as subsequent flowers open the ring moves up and down the head. Plants die in autumn and the dead stems remain standing for many months or even years. The Australian woollen industry imported teasel heads from England for many years, in the 1930’s was paying 15 shillings per 100 heads. The heads with its hooked floral bracts were used in the textile industry for carding and teasing wool and to raise the nap on woollen fabrics. The heads were either bound together into brushes and used by hand or were set into frames on a machine. Wild teasel can be grubbed out taking care to remove the tap root. It can be controlled with a selective herbicide.

Pasture Invaders

There are a number of weeds that have recently been turning up in local pastures possibly coming in of the roadsides or imported hay. One of the obvious ones has been Paterson’s Curse which landholders have reported a number of sightings this year. 

Not so well known weeds turning up is Sticky Bartsia (Parentucellia viscose) and its cousin Red Bartsia (Parentucellia latifolia), native from the Mediterranean region, are erect annual herbs partly parasitic on the roots and surrounding vegetation resulting in degraded pasture. Leaves are oppositely arranged, stalkless with coarsely toothed margins. The Red Bartsia is slender and hairy with red-purple flowers with narrow lips. The Sticky Bartsia is sticky and hairy with yellow flowers and broad lips. These plants mainly spread by a very fine seed carried by wind and water. These are spring to summer flowering liking moist sites in pastures. These weeds can be fairly invasive if left unattended and can be controlled with a selective herbicide. Other seasonal imports are Bathurst Burr, Saint Johns Wort, and Thornapple.

Bridal Creeper

Stopping Bridal Creep! Bridal Creeper (Asparagus asparagoides)  This creeper is a declared noxious weed (Restricted) across the state competes above ground with a smothering impenetrable web of stems and below ground with a thick mat of tubers. In the 1870’s this was a common garden plant and was popular for wedding bouquets’ and hanging baskets, and has since spread widely from gardens into bushland threatening native species Bridal creeper spreads by birds who love the sweet red berries produced late spring and also re shoots from rhizomes beneath the soil at or before the onset of autumn. Growth ceases in November to December and plants turn yellow and die back down to the rhizome. The plant survives below ground until the following autumn.

An undetected infestation of this weed can have a devastating effect on natural bushland, gardens, and farmland and can be very difficult to eliminate due to the underground rhizomes and tubers.

Control methods can include carefully digging removing tubers although this is very difficult once well established, spraying with an appropriate herbicide and biological control. Two methods of biological control available is the leafhopper and rust fungus. The introduction of the rust fungus has proven to be very effective completely defoliating infested sites.

Currently there is approximately five sites in the South Gippsland region where bridal creeper has been detected. Undoubtedly there will be sites that are undetected. South Gippsland Landcare, Friends groups and other concerned agencies are currently attempting to detect all sites in the region and will be undertaking large scale rust release program in cooperation with our shire neighbours this coming season. Anyone who suspects they have seen bridal creeper can you please ring me with a location or if you would like further information or identification.

Boneseed

Boneseed (Chrysanthemoides monilifera) This is another South African plant which is recognised as a Weed of national Significance in Australia. More common in East Gippsland it has been appearing on our local roadsides in South Gippsland in particular it has been observed along the Dumbalk Leongatha Rd. As we not have a lot of boneseed in this area we still have a chance to eliminate it if it is recognized. It is a very invasive weed that readily establishes on roadsides and bushland. Its success is due to its vigorous growth, aided by an absence of natural enemies and the ability to regenerate quickly and out compete other species after fire. The spread of boneseed threatens a number of significant rare or threatened species, such as the brittle greenhood orchid (Pterostylis truncata) in Victoria.

It is a woody shrub grows up to 3m tall reproduces by seed and is spread by slashing, garden waste disposal and birds.. Its flowers are bright yellow usually with 5 to 8 petals, its leaves are green, alternate on stems oval shaped and tapering at the base 2-8cm long with irregular serrations. To control cut and paint method can be used, for larger infestations there are registered herbicides available. Anyone who sites this weed can give me a ring for identification and assistance.

Weed Quote: Weeds don’t need to be cultivated they simply grow for the love of life.

Broom species

Weed Talk: By Martin Chatfield Landcare Community Weed Officer Give Broom the clean sweep Cape Broom (Genista monspessulana) English Broom (Cytisus scoparius) Flax-Leaf Broom (Genista linifolia) These Broom species are all classified noxious weeds. All the above species are similar in nature by having yellow pea like flowers, appearing around August September. By Christmas they form numerous hard seeds in pods and on a hot day pop the seeds out in their thousands. The seeds can last up to eighty years in the ground. They are mainly spread through slashing, water, and vehicle tyres. Broom can also be poisonous to stock. Brooms are native to scrub and open woodlands in the Mediterranean region, Europe, Portugal and the Azores. It was probably introduced to Australia as a garden or hedge plant and was widely planted last century. In Victoria, broom infestations occur mainly on grazing lands, roadsides, dry sclerophyll and damp forests and woodlands of southern, central and north-eastern regions. Once in infestation has taken hold it can potentially take up to twenty years to eliminate, so early detection is important. Small plants can be hand removed if the soil is soft enough, larger plants could be slashed before flowering and spray any re growth or foliar spray the whole plant with the registered chemical. Cut and paint with herbicide is also an option.

Ox-Eye Daisy

Weed Talk: By Martin Chatfield Landcare Community Weed Officer Ox-eye Daisy. An erect perennial herb to 1 m high with distinctive white daisy flowers with a yellow centre. It spreads by seed and extensive creeping roots producing new aerial growth annually, germinates in autumn, young plants develop slowly through winter and spring and do not flower the first year. During this time the extensive root system is developed. The flowers are formed in late spring and early summer after which the aerial growth dies back. Ox-eye daisy grows so densely that it excludes almost all other vegetation. It is not readily grazed by stock so carrying capacity of infested areas is reduced, and the weeds chance of survival is enhanced. If eaten by stock it imparts a disagreeable taste to milk. This plant was introduced in to Australia probably as a garden plant around 1850, more suited to English meadows. It is a noxious weed in South Gippsland, growing well in poor or heavy damp soils. If you would like to see this plant in all its glory, have a look at the top of Foster hill around Ogrady’s Ridge rd and see lots of white daisy type flowers in bloom. Seed is small and is spread by mud, water, agricultural produce, animals and vehicles especially graders and slashing. Management can be by cultivation and maintaining good pasture or by using selective herbicides in the early flowering stage. Early detection is desirable and control to prevent further spread. For more detailed information on weeds and their control go to .

Gorse

Weed Talk: By Martin Chatfield Landcare Community Weed Officer Gorse-Furze (Ulex europaeus) Classification noxious, regionally controlled. Gorse was introduced to Australia during the early 1800s as a hedge and ornamental plant. In Foster area where there is a fait bit of gorse around, it had been planted as hedges and as the gold mine tailings have been moved to different areas seed has been spread infesting further a field. The annual cost of gorse management to agriculture and forest industries across Australia was estimated at 7 million in the year 2000. Living gorse is highly flammable, retains dead vegetation in its canopy, and contains flammable oils. Dense gorse patches increase the risk of wildfire and are a particular hazard near buildings, infrastructure and along fence lines. It invades and dominates bushland, pastures, forest plantations and spreads along roadways. Gorse produces yellow pea type flowers twice a year distributing its seed in the warmer months. A mature bush can have up to 40 thousand seeds in the soil around it per square metre. Seed is viable in the soil for up to 25 years. Gorse can be cut and painted with herbicide but can be difficult because of the sharp spines. Young seedlings are soft and can be pulled out. There are registered chemicals available but to assist the chemical uptake add a penetrant. Landcare, Department of Primary Industries, and Parks Victoria have had and continue active programs locally to keep this pest in check. .

Poisonous Plants

Weed Talk: By Martin Chatfield Landcare Community Weed Officer. WOSPA (weeds of significant poisonous attributes) Hemlock (conium maculatum) Classification: noxious, regionally controlled. Hemlock contains five toxic alkaloids which vary in concentration due to climatic conditions. The fruit, vegetative parts and roots are all poisonous to humans and stock. The Greek philosopher Socrates is said to have been executed with hemlock. In Victoria a child died from hemlock poisoning in 1994. Handling the plant can cause dermatitis in some people. This weed is often mistaken for carrot weed emerging in autumn with its leaves deeply divided with a ferny appearance; masses of small white flowers develop in late spring -early summer and then it dies back. Hemlock will colonise areas of bare ground in pastures and bushland and prevent the growth of more desirable species. Small infestations can be hand pulled but heavy rubber gloves should be worn. Larger areas can be foliar sprayed with the specified registered chemical. Caper Spurge (Euphorbia lathyris) Classification: environmental weed. This nasty plant has a milky-like sap is heavy in alkaloids and can cause irritation and swelling to the human body, particularly sensitive areas such as the eyes. It has also been associated with stock poisoning. The juvenile plant has a stout erect stem with leaves opposite with a bluish-green colour. A white line runs the lengths of the leaf. When the plant matures it takes on a bush form. I have often seen this plant being sold at markets. Grubbing or pulling out plant is effective once again wear rubber type gloves and avoid skin contact with the white sap. . . .

Inaction on thistles costs money

Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare. A large spear thistle rosette covers about one-third of a square metre, and because it is not readily grazed by stock, the carrying capacity of paddocks with dense patches of thistle is reduced considerably. In a survey carried out in a New Zealand study where for every additional thistle per square metre in pasture there was a decrease of 1.68 kg in the live weight gain of sheep. In addition to direct competition, the spiny nature of the thistle also deters animals from grazing pasture in the vicinity and patches may become so dense that that are impenetrable to stock. Another disadvantage is that contaminated hay is downgraded in quality and price. Sheep grazing encourages spear thistle by reducing competition from neighbouring plants. This is reflected in increased thistle growth, flowering and seed production on heavily grazed pastures. In contrast, thistles are usually sparse on ungrazed sites. This weed readily establishes in high fertile soils which is bare of vegetation at the end of summer. Local landholders recently have expressed great concern about the amount of thistles on some neighbouring properties, landholders are reminded that it is an offence under the CALP act not to control and eliminate this weed. Isolated patches can be grubbed out but most of the root system should be removed. Target the rosette stage with a selective herbicide; ensure there is competition from other plants that can replace the weed. Follow up your work and be persistent in implementing a long term management plan.

Controlling Ragwort

Driving around South Gippsland one can see many ragwort infestations large and small along roadsides and properties. It is most important that these plants are prevented from seeding setting another 10 years worth of infestation in to the district.

Blackberry and ragwort are the responsibility of adjacent landholders on all shire roadsides and on private land owners are expected to prevent the growth and spread to neighbours. The complaints about neighbours has started to escalate over the last few weeks. Once ragwort has flowered you do not have long left before it goes to seed. It can be foliar sprayed with herbicide at the flowering stage but once the flower heads start to brown it is better to cut of the heads put in a black plastic bag and leave in the sun to solarise and then spray the rest of the plant. If slashed or pulled ragwort will still seed and grow from root fragments. It is possible to use aerial application on steep hard to get to areas. Experience has demonstrated that tackling the ragwort problem occasionally or intermittently will not achieve long term control. Ragwort’s capacity to reinfest requires control programs to be well planned and sustained over a number of years. Landholders undertaking a high level of on-going control can expect excellent results.

In recent years considerable work has been put into the formation of Ragwort Control Groups and Landcare Groups enabling landholders to work together to help each other clean up their respective properties. It is up to the whole community to work together to keep this noxious weed under control, not to do so will result in loss of productive land and increased disputes between landholders.