Weeds growing in gardens and the forests around Kuranda and the Wet Tropics. How many can you identify?
ENVIRONMENTAL WEED is a term frequently used to describe a plant which has been introduced to a location, is a non-native plant, and which often crowds out native species or species of economic value. These plants may be also termed noxious weeds. Not all exotics (plants which are not native to your area) are or will become weeds. And just because a plant is native to Australia does not mean that it will not become a weed in your area, e.g. the Cadaghi, a strikingly beautiful native from Kuranda is now classed as a weed in the Brisbane area where it was planted extensively as a street and garden tree. It pays to check.
Syngonium, a serious weed which is extremely difficult to eradicate.
THE PROBLEM WITH WEEDS IN AUSTRALIA
• 65% of weeds were introduced as garden ornamentals and 7% for agriculture
• 31% of weeds were introduced from the Americas, 27% from Europe & 26% from Africa
• Weeds cost the Australian agricultural industry over $4 billion dollars annually.
• This cost of $4 billion does not include environmental costs, such as costs to control environmental weeds and the costs incurred as a result of environmental degradation and biodiversity loss.
• Weeds clog up waterways, leading to increased flooding risks and in times of floods can damage and destroy infrastructure.
• Weeds reduce pasture productivity and can injure and poison stock
• Weeds can trigger allergies
• Weeds increase the fuel load many areas, greatly contributing to fire risks
• Weeds create harbours for feral animals such as pigs and dogs
• Weeds transform the landscape, destroying habitat for native plants and animals, reducing biodiversity and threatening the survival of native species.
• Weeds reduce aesthetics of significant natural landscapes
Kuranda Conservation has a range of visual material at the nursery at 1 Pademelon Drive to help identify weeds, contact us for more information.
Duranta erecta - Another very serious weed in the Wet Tropics and whose berries are poisonous (formerly known as D. repens).
Very useful links
A-Z LISTINGS OF WEEDS IN QLD, DPI website http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_6998_ENA_HTML.htm
Herbarium Weed specimen sheets http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/publications/p00728.html
Weed education resources for kids http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_8618_ENA_HTML.htm
LIST OF DECLARED DPLANTS in QLD http://www.isaac.qld.gov.au/community/documents/IPA-Declared-Plants-Qld-PP1.pdf
Weed CRC website http://www.weeds.crc.org.au/index_noflash.html
Land Protection Act QLD http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/L/LandPrPSRMA02.pdf
Weeds Australia http://www.weeds.org.au/weedident.htm
Weeds Australia homepage – Federal website http://www.weeds.gov.au/index.html
VERY USEFUL PERSON: Community Engagement Officer Dave Green (David.L.Green@dpi.qld.gov.au) at Biosecurity Queensland Control Centre, Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries
And last but not least REPORT A WEED ONLINE
