References:

p- Department of Natural Resources, Pest Facts.

n- Parsons and Cutbertson, 1992, Noxious weeds of Australia.

c- Mitchell and Hardwick, 1995, Animal and weed pests of Cape York Peninsula (CYPLUS).

s- Kleinschmidt, 1991, Suburban weeds.

Species name

Common name

Current weed status

References

Weed control techniques

Acacia farnesiana top

mimosa

l

p

As for A. nilotica

Acacia nilotica

prickly acacia

m, P2

p,n,c

Mechanical grubbing (cut roots 30cm below surface); injection, basal bark or cut stump application of triclopyr/picloram or fluroxypyr, current biological control agents have had little impact as yet.

Acanthospermum hispidum

star burr

l

n

Hand removal; shading; foliar spray with 2,4-D or glyphosate

Albizia lebbek

Indian siris

m

injection, basal bark or cut stump application of triclopyr/picloram

Alternanthera pungens

kahki weed

m

n,c,s

Hand removal (ensuring roots are also removed), foliar spray with glyphosate, triclopyr/picloram or 2,4-D (most effective on young plants)

Antigonon leptopus

coral vine

m

Hand removal, herbicide susceptibility unknown

Argemone mexicana

Mexican poppy

l

n,s

Hand removal or mowing before seeding, foliar spray with glyphosate or 2,4-D

Argyreia nervosa

wood rose

l

Hand removal, herbicide susceptibility unknown

Bauhinia spp

bauhinia

l

c

Injection, basal bark or cut stump application of triclopyr/picloram probably effective

Bidens pilosa

cobblers peg

l

s

Hand removal or mowing before seeding, foliar spray with glyphosate or 2,4-D

Bougainvillea sp

bougainvillea

l

Injection, basal bark or cut stump application of triclopyr/picloram probably effective

Brachiara mutica

para grass

s

Very difficult to control; combination of techniques usually required, including mechanical or hand removal, foliar application of glyphosate, carefully managed burn. Shading is best long term solution. Effectiveness of limited grazing currently unknown, trials being planned.

Bryophyllum spp

mother of millions

l

p,c,s

Hand removal (strong regrowth from leaf fragments, so bury or burn plant material), foliar spray with triclopyr/picloram, 2,4-D (using extra wetting agent to penetrate waxy cuticle).

Cassia fistula

golden cassia

l

Injection, basal bark or cut stump application of triclopyr/picloram probably effective

Catharanthus roseus

periwinkle

m

Hand removal, herbicide susceptibility unknown

Cenchrus ciliara

buffel grass

m

Mowing, foliar spray with glyphosate probably effective

Cenchrus echinatus

Mossman river grass

l

p,n,c,s

Mowing, hand removal, foliar spray with glyphosate (paraquat also effective but highly toxic)

Clitoria terneata

butterfly pea

s

Hand removal (ensuring roots are also removed), low herbicide susceptibility

Chloris virgata

purple-top chloris

l

s

Mowing, foliar spray with glyphosate probably effective

Cryptostegia grandiflora

rubber vine

s, P3

p,n,c

Mechanical and hand removal, basal bark and cut stump application of triclopyr/picloram. Hot fires will kill rubber vine, but may also kill native trees. Two biological controls, a fungal rust and a moth, are both multiplying in the region, but their effectiveness is so far unknown.

Cyperus rotundus

nut grass

l

n,s

Foliar spray with glyphosate will kill aerial shoots; however, strong regrowth occurs from tubers. Shading by larger plants is best long term solution.

Desmodium tortuosum

Florida beggar weed

l

Hand removal, herbicide susceptibility unknown

Eichornia crassipes

water hyacinth

s,P3

p,n,c

Mechanical or hand removal, foliar spray with 2,4-D (not recommended due to contamination of waterways). Introduced weevils, moths and native fungi provide some control.

Eucalyptus torelliana

cadaghi

l

Injection, basal bark or cut stump application of triclopyr/picloram probably effective

Euphorbia cyathrophora

dwarf poinsettia

l

s

Hand removal, foliar spray with triclopyr/picloram (or glyphosate?)

Euphorbia heterophylla

milkweed

l, P3

n,c,s

Hand removal, foliar spray with triclopyr/picloram (or glyphosate?)

Gomphrena celosioides

gomphrena

l

s

Hand removal, foliar spray with 2,4-D

Grewia asiatica

grewia

l

c

Basal bark or cut stump application of triclopyr/picloram

Hymenachne amplexicaulis

hymenachne

s

Mechanical or hand removal, herbicide susceptibility unknown

Hyptis suaveolens

mintweed

m

n,c

Hand removal (ensuring roots also removed), foliar spray with 2,4-D or picloram

Ipomea quamoclit

star of bethlehem

l

Hand removal, herbicide susceptibility unknown

Jatropha gossypifolia

bellyache bush

s

p,n,c

Mechanical or hand removal, repeated slashing, controlled burn, foliar spray with fluroxypyr or triclopyr/picloram

Lantana spp

lantana

s

p,n,c

Mechanical or hand removal (removing as much of lateral roots as possible), basal bark or cut stump application of triclopyr/picloram or 2,4-D. Controlled burn or slashing will remove aerial shoots, but regrowth must be controlled (eg spray with glyphosate or 2,4-D) or infestation will increase. Numerous biological control agents have been introduced, but give only limited control.

Leucaena leucocephala

leucena

s

Injection, basal bark or cut stump application of triclopyr/picloram. Young seedlings can be controlled by glyphosate or flame weeder. An accidentally introduced beetle and a psyllid have been observed in the area, but their effects are unknown as yet.

Macroptilium atropurpureum

siratro

s

s

Hand removal (ensuring roots are also removed), foliar spray with 2,4-D (or fluroxypyr?)

Macroptilium lathyroides

phasey bean

l

Hand removal, foliar spray with 2,4-D or fluroxypyr

Mangifera indica

mango

l

Injection, basal bark or cut stump application of triclopyr/picloram

Martynia annua

devils claw

l

c

Hand removal, foliar spray with glyphosate, 2,4-D or triclopyr/picloram

Melinis repens

red Natal grass

m

s

Mowing, foliar spray with glyphosate probably effective

Merremia dissecta

m

Hand removal, herbicide susceptibility unknown

Muntingia calabura

strawberry tree

l

Injection, basal bark or cut stump application of triclopyr/picloram probably effective

Neonotonia wightii

glycine

m

Hand removal (ensuring roots are also removed), herbicide susceptibility unknown