Rampant fleshy twiner with tuberous roots. Produces numerous (1,000’s) small, knobby, reproductive potato-like ‘bulbs’ in leaf axils.
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.
|
Weed: | Yes |
Form or habit: | Vine (Climbing, Twining or groundcover) |
Family: | Basellaceae |
Leaf: | Simple Alternate Heart-shaped, 70 x 45mm fleshy, light green. |
Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
Flower colour: |
White |
Flower description: | Small, white, fragrant, on long drooping axillary spikes resembling a lamb’s tail, 100mm long. |
Fruit conspicuous: | Unknown |
Fruit colour: | |
Fruit: | |
Fruit description: | Not known to produce viable fruit in Australia. |
Habitat: | |
Distribution | |
Food source for: | |
Toxicity: | No toxicity known |
Origin: | South America |
Notes: | Spread by: ‘bulbs’ spread by water, gravity and in garden waste. Invades/threats: creek banks, smothers and destroys trees and shrubs. Introduced as garden ornamental. Large infestations on Cattle Creek in the Pioneer Catchment. 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). |
Information sources: | Mackay Regional Pest Management Group (2018) Weeds of the Mackay Whitsunday Region Second Edition. |