List of common weeds of Queensland explained

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".

Common Name	Scientific Name	Origin	Description	Signif- icance	Primary Distribution	Image	Ref.
African tulip tree	align=center	Spathodea campanulata	align=center	tropical Africa	align=center	Fast growing, highly invasive, evergreen tree forming dense stands in gullies and streams, crowding out native vegetation	align=center	Class 3	align=center	SE Qld and gardens	align=center		align=center	^[1]
Alligator Weed*	align=center	Alternanthera philoxeroides	align=center	South America	align=center	Grows on land in damp soil, or in water as dense floating mats	align=center	Class 1 WoNS	align=center	Potential to establish in all Queensland coastal areas and inland agricultural and urban areas	align=center		align=center	^[2]
Camphor laurel	align=center	Cinnamomum camphora	align=center	Asia	align=center	Large attractive shade tree, aggressively replaces native vegetation	align=center	Class 3	align=center	Gardens throughout Qld	align=center		align=center	^[3]
Fireweed	align=center	Senecio madagascariensis	align=center	Madagascar, Southern Africa	align=center	Daisy-like herb with bright yellow flowers, competes with pasture species	align=center	Class 2	align=center	New South Wales coast and north to Brisbane	align=center		align=center	^[4]
Lantana	align=center	Lantana camara	align=center	Central, South America	align=center	Heavily branched shrub that can grow as compact clumps, dense thickets and as scrambling and climbing vines that smother native vegetation	align=center	Class 3 WoNS	align=center	Most coastal and sub-coastal areas of eastern Australia	align=center		align=center	^[5]
Mesquite	align=center	Prosopis spp.	align=center	North, South America	align=center	Spread significantly in Queensland, may form dense impenetrable thickets, aggressive competitor and drought tolerant	align=center	Class 1 WoNS	align=center	Western Qld	align=center		align=center	^[6]
Mother of millions	align=center	Bryophyllum spp.	align=center	Madagascar	align=center	Succulent type plant well adapted to dry areas, highly toxic to stock, forms masses of embryoids (plantlets), hard to eradicate	align=center	Class 2	align=center	Ornamental garden plant, Central Highlands, Burnett	align=center		align=center	^[7]
Ochna (aka Mickey Mouse plant)	align=center	Ochna serrulata	align=center	Africa	align=center	Ornamental species, easily dispersed to new areas by birds eating the fruits	align=center	n/a	align=center	Widely planted in gardens	align=center		align=center	^[8]
Parkinsonia	align=center	Parkinsonia aculeata	align=center	tropical America	align=center	Introduced ornamental small shade tree, seeds float, forms dense, thorny thickets along watercourses	align=center	Class 2 WoNS	align=center	inland Qld	align=center		align=center	^[9]
Parthenium	align=center	Parthenium hysterophorus	align=center	tropical America	align=center	Vigorous coloniser of weak pastures, disturbed areas, brigalow, gidgee and softwood scrub soils. Linked to health allergies	align=center	Class 2 WoNS	align=center	predominantly Central Qld	align=center		align=center	^[10]
Prickly pear	align=center	Opuntia spp.	align=center	Americas	align=center	Spiky cactus, drought resistant, widespread infestation in early 20th century but reduced through biological control	align=center	Class 2	align=center	Central, Southern Qld	align=center		align=center	^[11]
Willow	align=center	Salix spp.	align=center	Northern hemisphere	align=center	Popular garden ornamentals, but invasive in waterways with aggressive root systems	align=center	Class 1 WoNS	align=center	Cooler parts of Qld	align=center		align=center	^[12]

See also

• Introduced species
• Invasion biology terminology for a review of the terminology used in invasion biology.
• Invasive species in Australia
• List of invasive species
• Queensland
• Weed Science

Further reading

• Book: Kleinschmidt, H. E . Weeds of Queensland. 1977. Queensland Department of Primary Industries. 469.
• Book: Parsons, W . Noxious Weeds of Australia. 1992.
• Book: Panetta, F . The Biology of Australian Weeds Vol.2. 1998.

External links

• Weeds & pest animal management Queensland Government, Department of Natural Resources and Water
• Weeds Australia An Australian Weeds Committee National Initiative
• Weeds CRC Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed Management
• Global Invasive Species Database (GISD) Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the Species Survival Commission of the IUCN-World Conservation Union
• Invasive Species.org US Information and Perspective on Invasive and Exotic Weeds

Notes and References

1. http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/pests/weeds/declared_plants/african_tulip_tree.html Qld Dept of Primary Industries & Fisheries - African tulip tree
2. http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_7110_ENA_HTML.htm Qld Dept of Primary Industries & Fisheries - Alligator Weed
3. http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/pests/weeds/declared_plants/camphor_laurel.html Qld Dept of Primary Industries & Fisheries - Camphor laurel
4. http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_7284_ENA_HTML.htm Qld Dept of Primary Industries & Fisheries - Fireweed
5. http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/xchg/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_7309_ENA_HTML.htm Qld Dept of Primary Industries & Fisheries - Lantana
6. http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_7315_ENA_HTML.htm Qld Dept of Primary Industries & Fisheries - Mesquite
7. 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
8. http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/pests/weeds/non_declared_plants/ochna.html Qld Dept of Primary Industries & Fisheries - Ochna or mickey mouse plant
9. http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_7332_ENA_HTML.htm Qld Dept of Primary Industries & Fisheries - Parkinsonia
10. http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_7334_ENA_HTML.htm Qld Dept of Primary Industries & Fisheries - Parthenium
11. http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_7343_ENA_HTML.htm Qld Dept of Primary Industries & Fisheries - Prickly pear
12. http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/pests/weeds/declared_plants/willows.html Qld Dept of Primary Industries & Fisheries - Willow