Hi All,
An excerpt from the Weed Spotters Network June Newsletter.
Good to know that weed spotters and the Noosa Council are taking prompt action when it comes to serious, Restricted (Biosecurity Act 2014) weeds.
Best wishes,
Jude
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Madras thorn
Alert
Have you seen Madras thorn?
Be on the lookout for Madras thorn and report it to Biosecurity Queensland. Early detection and reporting are the key elements in controlling Madras thorn.
Call us on 13 25 23.
Madras thorn seed
© Gerald D Carr
Madras thorn leaves, flowers and pods
© Gerald D Carr
Madras thorn stem and thorns
© Paul Zborowski
Native to a large region of America (from southern California to Columbia and Venezuela), madras thorn is a fast-growing tree that is generally planted as an ornamental. Uncontrolled populations of madras thorn can form dense thickets and out-compete native vegetation and pasture.
Madras thorn is rare in Queensland, possibly restricted to gardens. An opportunity exists to prevent it becoming a serious problem here. To achieve this, madras thorn must not be sold or grown as a garden ornamental anywhere in the state.
Madras thorn a restricted invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014.
Scientific name
Other names
Description
- Attractive fast-growing tree up to 20m tall.
- Most specimens have pair of short, sharp spines at base of each leaf.
- Flowers are small white heads, 1cm in diameter.
- Mature seed pods are pinkish.
- Seeds are numerous.
Habitat
- Tolerates drought.
- Grows on poor soils in dry climates and along coastlines, including areas where roots are in brackish or salt water.
Distribution in Queensland
- Rarely found in Queensland, possibly confined to gardens.
Life cycle
- Propagation is by seed or cuttings.
- Germination takes 1-2 days.
Impacts
Environmental
- Forms dense thickets.
- Out-competes desirable native vegetation.
Economic
- Invades pasture.
- Can spread quickly across vast tracts of tropical and sub-tropical areas, and become costly to agriculture and the environment.
How it is spread
- Spreads by seeds or cuttings.
Prevention
Control
- Call 13 25 23 if you find a plant you suspect may be madras thorn to seek advice on control options.
Legal requirements
- Madras thorn a restricted invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014.
- All sightings of madras thorn must be reported to Biosecurity Queensland within 24 hours of the sighting.
- By law, everyone has a general biosecurity obligation (GBO) to take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise the risk of spread of the plant until they receive advice from an authorised officer.
- It must not be kept, moved, given away, sold, or released into the environment without a permit.
More information
- Contact the Customer Service Centre
- Last reviewed: 31 Oct 2015
- Last updated: 12 Oct 2016