Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Volume 4 Number 5 September-October, 1955 Article 5

9-1955

Weeds of Western Australia - Onion-weed or Asphodel (Asphodelus fistulosus L.)

G. R. W. Meadly

Follow this and additional works at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture3

Recommended Citation Meadly, G. R. W. (1955) "Weeds of Western Australia - Onion-weed or Asphodel (Asphodelus fistulosus L.)," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3: Vol. 4 : No. 5 , Article 5. Available at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture3/vol4/iss5/5

This article is brought to you for free and open access by Research Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3 by an authorized administrator of Research Library. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ONION WEED (Asphodelus fistulosus L.)

Onion Weed, native to the Mediterranean region, has become firmly established in many coastal localities and also occurs in a number of inland districts. Control by cultivation is not difficult, but it is troublesome in pastures and grows freely on roadsides.

Journal of agriculture Vol. 4 1955 •We0mJu$A

By G.R.W. MEADLY M.SC. Officer in Charge, Weeds and Seeds Branch

ONION-WEED OR ASPHODEL (Asphodelus fistulosus L.) TN the form of its flowers and leaves Onion-weed shows a marked resemblance to -i- the cultivated onion types, especially the shallot. They are members of the lily family although belonging to different genera—the true onions being species of Allium. Two notable differences are the absence of any conspicuous bulb formation in the case of Onion-weed, and the fact that it does not develop the characteristic smell of the garden plant.

It is interesting to note the diversity of In Western Australia it has been re­ forms and the difference in significance corded from a number of localities includ­ of various members of the lily family. To ing Geraldton, Greenough, Fremantle, this group belongs a large number of her­ Rockingham, Esperance, Pithara, Koorda baceous plants both useful and undesir­ and Carnamah. For many years it was able. Although those having economic restricted to the coastal areas and it was value are restricted in number we have assumed by some that maritime condi­ already mentioned the various types of tions and limestone soils were necessary onions which, along with asparagus are for its growth. This assumption was dis­ used as food plants. Certain others pelled when specimens were received from such as Smilax (Sarsaparilla), Urginea Pithara in 1938 and subsequently plants (Squills), Aloe (Aloes) and Colchicum have have been located in other inland dis­ medicinal value. tricts. The heaviest infestation, how­ Among the more robust types are New ever, still occurs in the Geraldton and Zealand flax (Phormium) and Yucca both Greenough area. of which yield a commercial fibre. Prob­ Anthericum divaricatum, a related ably the strangest members of the family plant resembling Asphodelus fistulosus is and certainly those most unlike the gen­ also known as Onion-weed and grows eral conception of a lily are the blackboys under similar conditions although to a and grass trees which are such conspicuous lesser extent. It has a similar type of in­ components of the vegetation in many florescence but the leaves are flattened parts of this State. and it is generally more robust. Agri­ Like many other aggressive introduced culturally it is comparable with Aspho­ species, Onion-weed is native to the Medi­ delus. terranean region but now occurs in all States of the Commonwealth. It is most plentiful in South Australia where it DESCRIPTION dominates areas to the almost complete The name "Onion-weed" is obviously exclusion of other plants. Roadsides and derived from the resemblance to the uncultivated land are most affected and garden onion, while Asphodel is an ab­ the weed is conspicuous in some Adelaide breviation of the generic name. It is well suburbs as well as affecting agricultural to bear in mind also that Guildford grass land. (Romulea rosea) is sometimes referred to 529 Journal of agriculture Vol. 4 1955 ONION-WEED OR ASPHODEL. (Asphodelus ftstulosus L.) A—Habit of plant; B—Single flower; C—Pistil, showing fruit developing; D—Fruit.

(From a pen-drawing by Mr. C. A. Gardner, Government Botanist.) 530

Journal of agriculture Vol. 4 1955 as Onion-Grass or even Onion-weed. In the vides severe competition for the desirable Eastern States onion-grass is the ac­ elements of a pasture. With few excep­ cepted vernacular name of this plant. tions, in the affected areas these elements Onion-weed is a hairless perennial herb are of annual duration compared with the 1 to 3ft. in height with numerous long, perennial habit of the Onion-weed. comparatively fine roots. The stem is It has been declared a secondary hollow, simple or branching dichoto- noxious weed for the Road Districts of mously towards the summit. The leaves Dalwallinu, Yilgarn and Esperance and are slender, semi-cylindrical, dark green, the Municipality of Bunbury. inserted spirally at the base. The flowers are white or flesh-coloured, in loose CONTROL racemes and are subtended by whitish When plants first appear they can be bracts. The six spreading perianth seg­ destroyed readily by pulling or grubbing ments are each about Jin. long with a and this should be done before seeds have pinkish or brownish stripe along the main been produced. The plant is not stoloni- vein. There are six stamens with lance- ferous like a number of our more serious shaped filaments, hairy at the base where weeds and is relatively shallow rooted. they curve over the ovary. The stigma is three-lobed and the capsule globular, As already mentioned, cultivation is an about £in. in diameter, transversely effective control measure and Onion-weed wrinkled and opening in locules. In each is not troublesome on land that is worked locule are one or two black, triangular regularly. Experiments undertaken at the seeds. These are covered with irregular Waite Research Institute by B. Roark and elevations and depressions. The normal C. M. Donald showed that the weed can flowering period is July-November. be reduced to small proportions by com­ petition from vigorous perennial species, either grass or legume. Good results were SIGNIFICANCE obtained with perennial veldt grass, Onion-weed is not known to be poison­ lucerne and Phalaris tuberosa, the last ous but, on the other hand, is seldom two being the most effective. Annual eaten by stock and cannot be regarded as species such as Wimmera rye-grass did having any forage value. Besides being not prove very satisfactory but checked a perennial it seeds freely and under the weed to a greater extent at higher favourable conditions will soon dominate levels of nitrogen. An increased supply of uncultivated land. It is most conspicuous nitrogen was even more important in the as a roadside weed but also intrudes into case of perennial rye-grass. pastures, causing a considerable reduction Perennial pasture species cannot be in productivity. Fortunately our experi­ grown readily in the districts in this State ence to date indicates that it is not a where Onion-weed is most vigorous and serious weed on land cultivated regularly, therefore every effort should be made to but ley farming introducing a rotation prevent its encroachment into pastures. including several years of pasture could It is relatively resistant to the hormone­ well favour the development of this weed. like herbicides, and chemicals such as Its main disadvantage is that, after a sodium chlorate are too costly for other period of years the density of growth pro- than small areas.

531 1 Journal of agriculture Vol. 4 1955 SCIENCE IS CATCHING UP WITH HER. a LUCY" IS LIVID!

Every sheep-breeder in Australia knows successfully treated with 0.1 per cent. "Lucy". Dieldrin. She's Lucilia Cuprina—the blow-fly who Experiments also showed that sheep can costs the Australian wool industry about be protected against "fly-strike" when £10,000 a year. jetted with Dieldrin or its twin-sister, Aldrin. But now "Lucy" is livid. Science is SHELL laboratories are proud of the catching up with her. assistance they are giving Australia's Recent scientific research has found that greatest primary industry in the develop­ sheep "struck" by "Lucy" can be ment of these two important insecticides.

Please mention the "Journal of Agriculture, W.A.," when writing to advertisers Journal of agriculture Vol. 4 1955