Giant pigweed, black pigweed
Trianthema portulacastrum, Fam. Aizoaceae
Prostrate, somewhat fleshy annual herb, trailing to 50cm long, sometimes forming a dense mat.
| 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: | Herb |
| Family: | Aizoaceae |
| Leaf: | Simple Opposite Simple, opposite unequal in size, broadly elliptic to broadly obovate 5-50 x 5-45mm, margins entire, apex obtuse and may have notch, base rounded to wedge shaped. Leaf stalks 6-20mm long, with sheathing bases expanded into a shallow ‘cup’. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Inconspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
White, Pink |
| Flower description: | Pink or white, small, 3-4mm long, solitary and more-or-less hidden in the sheathing leaf bases. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Inconspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Brown |
| Fruit: | Dry |
| Fruit description: | Brown capsules, somewhat cone shaped and attached at pointed end, around 4mm long. Numerous black weakly ridged seeds, 1.5-2.0mm wide. |
| Habitat: | |
| Distribution | |
| Food source for: | |
| Toxicity: | Toxic if ingested, toxic or irritant to domestic pets, toxic to native animals |
| Origin: | Tropical Africa and Asia |
| Notes: | Spread by: water and contaminated soil. Invades/threats: wastelands, roadsides and cultivated crops particularly in drier areas. Notes: rarely recorded in this region. Reported to be poisonous. Environmental weed. |
| Information sources: | Mackay Regional Pest Management Group (2018) Weeds of the Mackay Whitsunday Region Second Edition. |
