Balloon cotton bush, wild cottonbush
Gomphocarpus physocarpus prev. Asclepias physocarpa, Fam. Apocynaceae prev. Asclepiadaceae
Slender, erect perennial or short lived sub-shrub with milky sap, usually growing 1-2m high, finely hairy when young, stems few.
| Weed Category: |
Other invasive plants Invasive plants that are not prohibited or restricted invasive plants, but are known to spread readily and cause negative impacts, within the region.
|
| Weed: | Yes |
| Form or habit: | Shrub |
| Family: | Apocynaceae prev. Asclepiadaceae |
| Leaf: | Simple Opposite Simple, opposite, narrow, mostly 50-125 x 5-16mm and tapered at both ends. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
White, Cream |
| Flower description: | White or cream, about 10mm diameter, borne in axillary clusters. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Green, White |
| Fruit: | Dry |
| Fruit description: | Green bladder-like follicles, 50-75mm long, covered with long, soft bristles contain numerous seeds, each bearing a tuft of white hair at the top. |
| Habitat: | |
| Distribution | |
| Food source for: | |
| Toxicity: | Toxic if ingested |
| Origin: | South Africa |
| Notes: | Spread by: wind-blown seeds. Invades/threats: disturbed areas, degraded pastures, cultivation and roadsides, particularly on alluvial soils. Notes: it is poisonous to stock, but rarely eaten. Environmental weed. |
| Information sources: | Mackay Regional Pest Management Group (2018) Weeds of the Mackay Whitsunday Region Second Edition. |
