Weeds of National Significance African boxthorn National best practice manual Return to contents page 1 2 Return to contents page Weeds of National Significance African boxthorn National best practice manual Managing African boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum) in Australia Produced and published by the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment with funding from the Australian Government Caring for Our Country program. This manual is sponsored by the Department of For copies of this manual contact: Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Invasive Species Branch Department of Primary Industries, Parks, This manual is intended to provide information only Water and Environment on the subject matter under review. It is not intended PO Box 44 Hobart TAS 7001 to be, nor does it constitute, expert advice. Readers Phone: 1300 368 550 are warned against relying solely on the information contained in this manual. Further professional Manual compiled by the Weeds of National Significance advice should be sought before acting on any of the African Boxthorn National Coordinator in partnership information supplied in this manual. with the Australian Government, funded by Caring for Our Country. The Coordinator is hosted by Department While all care has been taken in the preparation of of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, this manual, neither the authors or the Crown in right Tasmania. Literature review performed using library of Tasmania, the Department of Primary Industries, catalogues, academic databases and internet searches. Parks, Water and Environment, nor their officers or This manual represents a rigorous review of African staff (collectively “the State”) accept any responsibility boxthorn biology and management in Australia. for any loss or damage that may result from any inaccuracy or omission in the information contained Photography: Jim Balnaves, Russell Best, Murray in this manual. Readers rely upon all information Fagg, Jon Fallaw, John Fitzhardinge, Alan Fletcher, contained in the manual entirely at their own risk. Ross Gardiner, Andrew Lyne, Michael Noble, Matt Rose, Greg Stewart, Colin Wilson, Alan Wood, The State provides no form of warranty, guarantee or Karen Ziegler. Thanks to Australian National Botanic endorsement about, and accepts no responsibility for: Gardens, Friends of Bass Strait Islands, NSW National (a) the effectiveness or otherwise of any control Parks and Wildlife Service, Phillip Island Nature techniques including any products, (including Parks, and South Coast NRM Inc. for access to and herbicides) referred to in this manual; or permission to use photos. (b) the accuracy or otherwise of the costs of any control techniques referred to in this manual. Illustration by: Dennis Morris Cover photo by: Greg Stewart, NRM North The fact that any product (including herbicide) is Maps prepared by: Christopher Auricht, Auricht Projects mentioned in this manual does not constitute any Editing: Janice Bird form of criticism of any competitor of, or alternative Design: Nova Design and Print, Devonport, Tasmania to, the named product (including herbicide). National Library of Australia Readers are fully responsible for any loss or damage Cataloguing-in-Publication data: that either the reader or any third party may incur, Noble, Michael R, author of African Boxthorn as a result of the reader’s use of any of the control National Best Practice Manual: Managing African techniques, including products (including herbicides) boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum) in Australia. referred to in this manual. The State accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage that either the ISBN 978-0-9875693-0-1 (ebook) reader or any third party may incur, as a result of 978-0-9875693-1-8 (print) the reader’s use of any of the control techniques, including products (including herbicides) referred to in 1. Solanaceae – control – Australia – handbooks, this manual. manuals etc. 2. Invasive plants – control – Australia – handbooks, All costs in this manual are based on 2013 figures, manuals etc. unless otherwise stated. 3. Noxious weeds – control – Australia – handbooks, manuals etc. © State of Tasmania 2013 Copyright enquiries phone: 1300 368 550 581.6520994 ii AUTHORS AND CONTRIBUTORS Authors Michael Noble (Weeds of National Significance African Boxthorn National Coordinator) and Matt Rose (Operations Manager, Natural State) Contributors Jim Balnaves, Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE), Tasmania Ross Gardiner, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, New South Wales Matthew Kennewell, South Coast Natural Resource Management Inc., Western Australia Graeme Simpson, South Coast Natural Resource Management Inc., Western Australia Greg Taylor, Tasmania Jarvis Weston, Phillip Island Nature Parks, Victoria Karen Ziegler, Friends of Bass Strait Islands, Tasmania ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Contributors and photographers shared their time, information and photos generously. Their contribution to the manual is gratefully acknowledged. Thanks go to Michael Askey-Doran for feedback and advice, the Australian Government for Caring for Our Country funding, Janice Bird for editing, Margaret Quill and Angela Loveless (DPIPWE) for research assistance, Ashlee Griffiths from Nova Design and Print for design and layout, Chris Auricht for developing maps, and Brett Littleton (DPIPWE) for use of his illustrations. Dr Robin Adair’s (Australis Biological) work on the feasibility of biological control of African boxthorn made additional information available for this manual. Craig Magnussen developed the African Boxthorn Weed Management Guide and has provided ongoing advice and information. The authors and contributors to earlier Weeds of National Significance manuals – such as the gorse and boneseed manuals – are acknowledged for establishing a terrific format for this series of publications. iii CONTENTS INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1 Biology, distribution and impacts of African boxthorn 1.1 Name, origin and description .......................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Biology and ecology ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 1.2.1 Dispersal ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5 1.2.2 Germination ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 1.2.3 Disturbance and competition ................................................................................................................................................................. 6 1.3 Preferred climate and habitat........................................................................................................................................................... 7 1.4 Current and potential distribution in Australia ....................................................................................................... 7 1.4.1 Climate change and African boxthorn distribution in Australia .................................................................................... 7 1.5 Impacts of African boxthorn in Australia ......................................................................................................................... 8 1.6 Native look-alikes ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 10 CHAPTER 2 Managing African boxthorn 2.1 Planning ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16 2.2 Pathways of spread ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 16 2.2.1 Weed hygiene ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 17 2.2.2 Movement with fauna ................................................................................................................................................................................ 17 2.3 Management considerations for specific situations .................................................................................... 18 2.3.1 Native fauna using African boxthorn ............................................................................................................................................. 19 2.3.2 Native flora benefiting from African boxthorn ........................................................................................................................ 20 2.3.3 Cultural heritage ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 21 2.3.4 Riparian areas .................................................................................................................................................................................................