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List of common weeds of Queensland

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{{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}

There are a number of commonly occurring weeds or invasive plant species in Queensland, Australia. These plants typically produce large numbers of seeds, often excellent at surviving and reproducing in disturbed environments and are commonly the first species to colonise and dominate in these conditions. Weeds may reduce native biodiversity, affect agricultural productivity, the environment, human health and amenity.

Common weeds

Some of the more common weeds of Queensland are listed below. Weeds that are not yet common or established but pose a significant threat are identified by an asterisk. Weeds that are identified as Weeds of National Significance are noted as "WoNS".

class="wikitable"

!Common Name

!Scientific Name

!Origin

!Description

!Signif- icance

!Primary Distribution

!Image

!Ref.

African tulip tree

|align=center | Spathodea campanulata

align=center | tropical Africaalign=center | Fast growing, highly invasive, evergreen tree forming dense stands in gullies and streams, crowding out native vegetationalign=center | Class 3align=center | SE Qld and gardensalign=center | Image:Flower & leaves I IMG 2799.jpgalign=center | [http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/pests/weeds/declared_plants/african_tulip_tree.html Qld Dept of Primary Industries & Fisheries - African tulip tree] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070831042511/http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/pests/weeds/declared_plants/african_tulip_tree.html |date=2007-08-31 }}
Alligator Weed*

|align=center | Alternanthera philoxeroides

align=center | South Americaalign=center | Grows on land in damp soil, or in water as dense floating matsalign=center | Class 1 WoNSalign=center | Potential to establish in all Queensland coastal areas and inland agricultural and urban areasalign=center | Image:Alternanthera philoxeroides NRCS-1.jpgalign=center | [http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_7110_ENA_HTML.htm Qld Dept of Primary Industries & Fisheries - Alligator Weed]
Camphor laurel

|align=center | Cinnamomum camphora

align=center | Asiaalign=center | Large attractive shade tree, aggressively replaces native vegetationalign=center | Class 3align=center | Gardens throughout Qldalign=center | Image:Cinnamomum camphora - Botanic Gardens.jpgalign=center | [http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/pests/weeds/declared_plants/camphor_laurel.html Qld Dept of Primary Industries & Fisheries - Camphor laurel] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070831040947/http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/pests/weeds/declared_plants/camphor_laurel.html |date=2007-08-31 }}
Fireweed

|align=center | Senecio madagascariensis

align=center | Madagascar, Southern Africaalign=center | Daisy-like herb with bright yellow flowers, competes with pasture speciesalign=center | Class 2align=center | New South Wales coast and north to Brisbanealign=center | Image:Fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis) in a Central Queensland (Australia) paddock.jpgalign=center | [http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_7284_ENA_HTML.htm Qld Dept of Primary Industries & Fisheries - Fireweed]
Lantana

|align=center | Lantana camara

align=center | Central, South Americaalign=center | Heavily branched shrub that can grow as compact clumps, dense thickets and as scrambling and climbing vines that smother native vegetationalign=center |Class 3 WoNSalign=center | Most coastal and sub-coastal areas of eastern Australiaalign=center | Image:Lantana berries.jpgalign=center | [http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/xchg/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_7309_ENA_HTML.htm Qld Dept of Primary Industries & Fisheries - Lantana]
Mesquite

|align=center | Prosopis spp.

align=center | North, South Americaalign=center | Spread significantly in Queensland, may form dense impenetrable thickets, aggressive competitor and drought tolerantalign=center | Class 1 WoNSalign=center | Western Qldalign=center | Image:Mesquite1.jpgalign=center | [http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_7315_ENA_HTML.htm Qld Dept of Primary Industries & Fisheries - Mesquite]
Mother of millions

|align=center | Bryophyllum spp.

align=center | Madagascaralign=center | Succulent type plant well adapted to dry areas, highly toxic to stock, forms masses of embryoids (plantlets), hard to eradicatealign=center |Class 2align=center |Ornamental garden plant, Central Highlands, Burnettalign=center | File:Blütenstamm einer Bryophyllum.jpgalign=center | [http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_7324_ENA_HTML.htm Qld Dept of Primary Industries & Fisheries - Mother of millions]
Ochna (aka Mickey Mouse plant)

|align=center | Ochna serrulata

align=center | Africaalign=center | Ornamental species, easily dispersed to new areas by birds eating the fruitsalign=center | n/aalign=center | Widely planted in gardensalign=center | Image:Ochna serrulata2.jpgalign=center | [http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/pests/weeds/non_declared_plants/ochna.html Qld Dept of Primary Industries & Fisheries - Ochna or mickey mouse plant] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009225536/http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/pests/weeds/non_declared_plants/ochna.html |date=2007-10-09 }}
Parkinsonia

|align=center | Parkinsonia aculeata

align=center | tropical Americaalign=center | Introduced ornamental small shade tree, seeds float, forms dense, thorny thickets along watercoursesalign=center | Class 2 WoNSalign=center | inland Qldalign=center | Image:Starr 010209-0260 Parkinsonia aculeata.jpgalign=center | [http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_7332_ENA_HTML.htm Qld Dept of Primary Industries & Fisheries - Parkinsonia]
Parthenium

|align=center | Parthenium hysterophorus

align=center | tropical Americaalign=center | Vigorous coloniser of weak pastures, disturbed areas, brigalow, gidgee and softwood scrub soils. Linked to health allergiesalign=center | Class 2 WoNSalign=center | predominantly Central Qldalign=center | Image:Starr_050423-6650_Parthenium_hysterophorus.jpgalign=center | [http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_7334_ENA_HTML.htm Qld Dept of Primary Industries & Fisheries - Parthenium]
Prickly pear

|align=center | Opuntia spp.

align=center | Americasalign=center | Spiky cactus, drought resistant, widespread infestation in early 20th century but reduced through biological controlalign=center | Class 2align=center | Central, Southern Qldalign=center | Image:Prickly pear cactus beed.jpgalign=center | [http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_7343_ENA_HTML.htm Qld Dept of Primary Industries & Fisheries - Prickly pear]
Willow

|align=center | Salix spp.

align=center | Northern hemispherealign=center | Popular garden ornamentals, but invasive in waterways with aggressive root systemsalign=center | Class 1 WoNSalign=center | Cooler parts of Qldalign=center | Image:Weeping Willow.jpgalign=center | [http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/pests/weeds/declared_plants/willows.html Qld Dept of Primary Industries & Fisheries - Willow] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102155745/http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/pests/weeds/declared_plants/willows.html |date=2007-11-02 }}

See also

References

{{Reflist|2}}

Further reading

  • {{cite book |last=Kleinschmidt |first=H. E |title=Weeds of Queensland|year= 1977|publisher=Queensland Department of Primary Industries|pages=469}}
  • {{cite book |last=Parsons |first=W |title= Noxious Weeds of Australia|year= 1992}}
  • {{cite book |last=Panetta |first=F |title=The Biology of Australian Weeds Vol.2|year= 1998}}

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20071221021428/http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/pests/weeds/index.html Weeds & pest animal management] Queensland Government, Department of Natural Resources and Water
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20071221032256/http://www.weeds.org.au/ Weeds Australia] An Australian Weeds Committee National Initiative
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20071227035155/http://www.weeds.crc.org.au/index_flash.html Weeds CRC] Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed Management
  • [http://www.issg.org/database/welcome/ Global Invasive Species Database (GISD)] Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the Species Survival Commission of the IUCN-World Conservation Union
  • [http://www.invasive.org/weeds.cfm Invasive Species.org] US Information and Perspective on Invasive and Exotic Weeds

Queensland

Weeds

Weeds