World Heritage Magnetic Island - 
worth caring for...

WEEDS OF MAGNETIC ISLAND

Across Australia, weeds displace native species, damage and destroy habitat, and contribute significantly to land degradation. Weeds spread rapidly into disturbed areas and can contribute to soil disturbance, loss of native plant cover, and changed burning patterns. They also thrive where fertilizers and other wastes are washed into bushland, leaving extra nutrients in the soil.

Of the ten new weeds recorded in Australia each year, two thirds are escaped garden plants.

Some weeds are so damaging to the environment that they have been declared ‘Weeds of National Significance (WONS). WONS on Magnetic Island are Rubber Vine (Cryptostegia grandiflora) andLantana Lantana camara.

Apart from these, on Magnetic Island some of the worst weeds are:

Above: Mother-in-law's tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata) and (Right) Mother of millions (Bryphyllum species)

Snakeweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis)

Periwinkle (pink and white)(Catharanthus species)

Need pic of Singapore Daisy

Hyptus

For the weeds depicted above and left, the best means of removal is pulling them out. Disturb the  soil as little as possible. Take care to remove all (or as much as you can) of the plant, including its roots. (Many species will re-grow from even broken pieces of the plant left on the soil.) Dispose of the weeds removed at the green waste tip. Chemical weed control is also possible.

Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) (right) is possibly the most widespread and common weed on Magnetic Island, taking over entire cleared blocks and requiring regular slashing. 

Along roadsides, it can cause a barrier, preventing wildlife from fleeing on-coming vehicles or predators.

The best approach is to pull out clumps of guinea grass. Moistening the soil first will help. Disturb the soil as little as possible. Shake soil from roots. 

Use the grass as mulch around trees, making sure that the roots are not in contact with the soil. Regular slashing, mowing or brushcutting may discourage string growth.

Chemical weed control is also possible.

The large, woody or succulent weeds depicted below often need special treatment - such as, cut-stumping, or basal barking. If you aren't sure how to remove these species or would like further information on environmental weed control, call TCC's Integrated Sustainability Services on 47279310.

Lanata (Lantana camara)

Leacaena (Leucaena leucocephala)

Castor oil (Ricinus communis)

Tecoma (Tecoma stans)

A weed in waiting?

Moses in a cradle (Rhoeo spatheacea)

Is Moses in a cradle (left) a ‘weed in waiting’?

A currently fashionable garden planting, this plant has taken over hectares of land in Tonga. 

Drought hardy, and an incredibly fast reproducer, could this plant 'get away' and cause havoc in our National Park? 

For further information on weeds check out www.weeds.gov.au or www.weeds.org.au or JCU's Discover Nature site