Laurel clock vine, blue and white trumpet vine
Thunbergia laurifolia, Fam. Acanthaceae
Vigorous, twining perennial vines with long slender climbing stems and large tuberous root systems. Tubers as large as 70 kg have been recorded.
| Weed Category: |
Restricted invasive plants Category 3 Plants declared invasive under the Biosecurity Act 2014, that are present in QLD.
Not to be distributed or disposed of.
 The National Environmental Alert List (the Alert List) for environmental weeds identifies 28 species that are in the early stages of establishment and have the potential to become a significant threat to biodiversity if they are not managed.
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| Weed: | Yes |
| Form or habit: | Vine (Climbing, Twining or groundcover) |
| Family: | Acanthaceae |
| Leaf: | Simple Opposite Simple, opposite, oval to arrow shaped, 55-170 x 28-100mm, with pointed tip, glabrous. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
Blue, Cream, Purple |
| Flower description: | Trumpet-shaped with short tube and five spreading petals. Petals blue or purple, throat cream, diameter about 60mm, in axillary or terminal racemes. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Brown |
| Fruit: | Dry |
| Fruit description: | Cone-shaped capsules with rounded base contain four flat seeds that are explosively expelled at maturity. Brown, 10 x 40mm, seeds with a hollow inner surface. Viable seeds are produced, contrary to earlier beliefs. |
| Habitat: | |
| Distribution | |
| Food source for: | |
| Toxicity: | No toxicity known |
| Origin: | Northern India and tropical Africa |
| Notes: | Spread by: garden waste, water, contaminated soil containing vegetative material. Propagation is mostly from stem cuttings or shoots from the tuberous roots, particularly if damaged. Invades/threats: creek banks, native remnant vegetation; smothers vegetation pulling down mature trees. Notes: Introduced as garden ornamentals, now serious environmental weeds. They are difficult to control due to their extensive tuberous root systems. If detected, early control is essential and existing garden plants should be destroyed. Four species are declared in Queensland and another species, though not declared, is already in environmental areas within this district. Thunbergia laurifolia is a Category 3 restricted invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014, it must not be given away, sold, or released into the environment without a permit. The Act requires everyone to take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise the risks associated with invasive plants and animals under their control. This is called a general biosecurity obligation (GBO). This species is on the National Environmental Alert List. |
| Information sources: | Mackay Regional Pest Management Group (2018) Weeds of the Mackay Whitsunday Region Second Edition. |
