Perennial Ragweed: State Prohibited Weed LC0286
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
February 1998 Perennial ragweed: LC0286 State Prohibited Weed ISSN 1329-833X Keith Turnbull Research Institute, Frankston Common Name robust, creeping, lateral roots develop buds that form new plants. Perennial ragweed Botanical Name Life Cycle Root buds and seeds both shoot and produce new plants in Ambrosia psilostachya DC. autumn. During winter and spring masses of creeping Status perennial roots are produced. Flowering stems are formed in spring, prior to flowering from mid summer through to Perennial ragweed is one of only fourteen weeds autumn. Top growth normally would die off in late summer proclaimed as State prohibited weeds in Victoria. This is to early autumn. the highest category to which a noxious weed can be allocated. Known infestations have been eradicated from the State. Origin Perennial ragweed is native to western North America from Mexico to Canada and is considered a weed in North and South America, Europe, western Asia, Japan and Mauritius. In Australia it was first recorded as naturalised in 1922. Description An upright perennial herb growing to a height of 30 to 150 cm. Plants branch near the base and have a number of main stems . Stems - hairy, branched in the upper half, becoming Figure 1. Perennial ragweed. woody at the base. Many branches are terminated with long, spike-like male flowerheads. Leaves - grey-green, hairy, deeply lobed, 5 to 12 cm long, Dispersal shortly stalked, with aromatic glands. Lower leaves grow An infestation of perennial ragweed will increase in size directly opposite each other while upper leaves are spaced and density as new plants develop from lateral roots. apart on opposite sides of the stem. However the major spread is from seeds, which are suited Flowers - two sexes are on the one plant. Male flowers are to being picked up on animal hides and machinery. Pieces small, pale greenish yellow, tubular and are grouped in of root can establish and may be spread during cultivation. prominent heads at the ends of main stems. Female flowers The plant is often dispersed in soil. occur individually in upper leaf axils. General Seeds - greyish brown, egg shaped, 3 to 4 mm long with a sharp beak centered between 4 or 5 projections. Perennial ragweed is an aggressive competitor and this is further aided by allopathic chemicals in the topgrowth. Roots - thick branching lateral roots and fibrous secondary These chemicals inhibit the growth of other plant species. roots. There is no significant taproot although the root Stock do not graze perennial ragweed. system may extend to a depth of about one metre. The © State of Victoria, Department of Natural Resources and Environment 2002 Page 1 Perennial ragweed: State Prohibited Weed LC0286 Perennial ragweed pollen is known to cause a severe nasal This list of chemicals is based on information supplied to allergy (‘hay-fever’) in humans. the Department of Natural Resources and Environment by the National Registration Authority for Agricultural and Chemical Control Veterinary Chemicals (NRA). The State of Victoria through the Department of Natural Resources and Under Victorian legislation there are controls on Environment has not assessed or checked the accuracy of various aspects of the uses of agricultural chemicals. the information supplied to it from the NRA as that Some particular uses are prohibited and some require permits. Users of certain agricultural chemicals are responsibility rests with the NRA. required to obtain an Agricultural Chemical User Permit (ACUP) or work under the direct supervision of Important an ACUP holder. Additional restrictions on the use of Any person who believes they have located an infestation some herbicides apply to particular geographic areas of perennial ragweed, regardless of the area, please notify known as Chemical Control Areas (CCA). a Catchment Management Officer at a local office of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment. It is the responsibility of chemical users to familiarise themselves with these controls. See Agriculture Note: Agricultural chemical user permits (ACUP) and Reference chemical control areas(CCA) for further information. Parsons, W.T. and Cuthbertson, E.G. (1992) Noxious Weeds of Australia. Melbourne, Inkata Press. An ACUP is required for the use of prescribed chemicals containing the active constituents marked Acknowledgements with an asterisk (*) in the following list. Records of the use of these chemicals must be made by the user and Prepared by Ross Williamson; KTRI, 1996. Revised by these records must be kept for 2 years. Restrictions on Ian.Faithfull, KTRI, January 1998. use in CCAs apply to the chemicals marked with a hatch (#). Contact the Regional Chemical Standards Officer of The advice contained in this publication is intended as a source of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment information only. Always read the label before using any of the products mentioned. The State of Victoria and its officers do not if further advice is required. guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore You should read the product label and follow all label disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which instructions carefully before using any herbicide. may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Use a product containing one of the following active constituents or combinations of active constituents that is registered for use in Victoria to control perennial ragweed in the particular situation in which you need to use chemical control, eg. in pastures. Consult the product label for detailed information. • 2,4-D ETHYL ESTER*# • DICAMBA DIMETHYLAMINE SALT# © State of Victoria Department of Natural Resources and Environment 2002 Page 2.