Whakatepea te koo, kia kotahiWe’re in it together09 379 4420WWW.ARC.GOVT.NZ pestfacts Council whichwillarrange foritscontrol. Barrier Islandarea,please report itimmediatelytotheAucklandregional display. However, should youseethisplantintheWaitakere RangesorGreat Moth plantisalsobannedfromsale,propagation,distribution orcommercial legal obligation. encouraged toremoveorcontrolthisplantgrowing on theirland,butwithout National SurveillancePlantPest.Thismeansthatland occupiersare However, throughouttherestofAucklandRegion,thisplantisdeclareda areas, arerequiredtocontrolinfestationsofthisplant growingontheirland. Great BarrierIslandareaonly. Thismeansthatlandoccupierswithinthese isdeclaredaTotal ControlPlantPestwithintheWaitakere Rangesand containment oreradicationisconsideredpossible.ItonthisbasisthatMoth Moth plantisoflowincidenceinsomeareastheAucklandRegionand Status harmfuleffects onhumansandanimalsifeaten. have has anirritatingeffect onthosewhocomeincontactwithitandtheseedpodscan can becomethedominantspecies.Theplantispoisonousinthatwhitemilkysap andgardenswhereit areas oroffshoreislands.Itisalsoaprobleminurbanreserves in disturbedorlowforest, scrub-forest marginsandinopenlandssuchascoastal plantspecies Moth planthastheabilitytocompetewith,smotherandreplacenative sericifera Moth Plant Origin This native of and was brought to New Zealand as an ornamental species during the 1880s and its early popularity may have been enhanced by its sweetly scented flowers, as well as its supposed ability to trap codling moths by their tongues in the flowers. This is where the name moth plant originated. Moth plant is now common throughout urban parts of the Auckland Region and is also found in Northland, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Hawkes Bay and Nelson.

Description Moth plant is a slender, evergreen climbing up to six metres high. It’s life starts in spring as a stiff erect seedling growing from a short inclined taproot and numerous other weak shallow roots. After reaching 30cm in height the green stem becomes a slender tendril in search of support. In the climbing stage the leaves are large shield-shaped (arrowhead like), opposite one another, Leaves, stems and fruit dark green on their upper sides and greyish green on the undersides. On reaching the sun in the canopy or on the top of fences the vine branches profusely and the nearly oblong leaves are thick and wavy on the margins. Clusters of up to 7 small creamy coloured tubular flowers grow from the base of each leaf between December and May. Some of these flowers produce spongy, choko-like fruits as big as a fist which contain about 500 seeds attached to neatly packed silky threads. If bruised, detached or cut, the pods, stems and leaves of moth plant exude a sticky milk-like sap that is caustic.

Invasion Spread of the plant is solely by the mainly wind-borne seeds which are freed from the pods as they dry out and split during autumn and winter. Seeds travel far and wide (normally up to 100 metres) on parachutes of fine silky tufts with some also being spread on animals, and peoples’ clothing. Seeds can germinate freely at least 5 years from the time of being shed. Moth plant prefers loose, fertile soils in warmer, moderate to high rainfall areas.

Control Hand Removal: Pull out seedlings and for larger trace back to root stock, loosen soil and hoe or dig out the crown with as much of the root attached as

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