Common Riverbank Weeds of the Hawkesbury-Nepean River and Tributaries. www.lls.nsw.gov.au Common Riverbank Weeds of the Hawkesbury-Nepean River and tributaries. A practical management guide GREATER SYDNEY LOCAL LAND SERVICES Common Riverbank Weeds i Hawkesbury-Nepean River and its tributaries covered by this guide. CONTENTS Introduction ..................................................................................1 Common riverbank weeds ...................................................... 2-69 Vines, scramblers and groundcovers ..........................................................2-29 Trees and shrubs ......................................................................................30-59 Aquatic weeds .........................................................................................60-69 Weed control methods ......................................................... 70-75 Control of vines and scramblers .................................................................... 70 Control of small hand-pullable plants ........................................................... 71 Control of woody weeds .........................................................................72-73 Control of weeds with underground reproductive structures ....................74-75 Contacts for information and advice ........................................76 Index ...........................................................................................77 © Copyright Greater Sydney Local Land Services 2014 All rights reserved. No reproduction without permission. Published by the Greater Sydney Local Land Services PO Box 4515, Penrith Westfield NSW 2750 Illustrations of weed control methods by Virginia Bear, courtesy of the National Trust and the Australian Association of Bush Regenerators. ii Common Riverbank Weeds Common Riverbank Weeds iii INTRODUCTION Weeds Weeds are plants that grow out of their place of origin. They can become so dense that they exclude all other species, including those that were there originally. Weeds pose a serious threat to Australia’s biodiversity, as well as to primary production. The cost to the environment is very high, with weeds second only to land clearing as a cause of biodiversity loss. The estimated cost to the Australian economy is $4 billion per year. The weeds included in this booklet are those most commonly found near waterways in the Hawkesbury River, the Lower Nepean River, and their tributaries. The most effective methods of control for each weed are listed and demonstrated. Common Riverbank Weeds 1 VINES, SCRAMBLERS & GROUND COVERS VINES, SCRAMBLERS & GROUND COVERS Photos courtesy of Hilary Cherry (below) and Glen Sanders (right). Identification and description Best control methods (see pages 70-75 of this booklet) Growth Form: Multi-branched, spiny perennial herb. Treatment: Asparagus Fern Forms a thick mat of tuberous roots. • Hand remove or crown rhizome Reproduces vegetatively and by seed. using “crowning” treatment method. The tuberous roots can Height: be left in the ground. To 2m high. • Small plants can be treated using Stem: a knife blade. Larger plants may Green-brown, ridged, often twisted be removed using a mattock or and 30-60cm long with spines peter lever. 5-10mm long. • Spot spray (requiring repeated Leaf: applications) using glyphosate. Leaves are bright green spiny flattened Use of surfactant is recommended. stems (called cladodes) up to 2.5cm • Follow up inspection every three long with a distinct midrib. months and treatment of seedlings may be necessary. General information Why is it a problem? Flower: 3-5mm long, white, or pale pink with Disposal: Common name: It is a persistent plant spread primarily a bell shape. • Remove seed from site. Asparagus Fern by birds that eat the berries and • Leave rhizomes to dry, and regularly distribute over a large area. The thick Fruit: Scientific name: inspect for resprouting. mat of tuberous roots suppresses the Globular berry 5-8mm in diameter, Asparagus aethiopicus natural regeneration of native plants green when immature and red when Native species similar Where do I find it? and reduces habitat for native fauna. mature. Berries occur during late in appearance Occupies a wide range of soils and winter to early spring. habitats, including sandstone and Scrambling Lily (Geitonoplesium Note: alluvial sands. Favours disturbed areas, cymosum) a hairless branching climber, Berries are viable in soil for up to five roadsides, riverbanks and can tolerate which can climb to several metres high. years. Seed is often spread by birds and light conditions ranging from direct Leaves are alternate narrow, 5-8cm animals and in garden waste. Seed also sunlight to deep shade. Also tolerates long, shiny above, with a distinct germinates after fire. saline conditions. mid-vein. Flowers are white and it has black-blue berries. Flowers October to December. 2 Common Riverbank Weeds Common Riverbank Weeds 3 VINES, SCRAMBLERS & GROUND COVERS VINES, SCRAMBLERS & GROUND COVERS Identification and description Best control methods (see pages 70-75 of this booklet) Growth Form: A climbing vine. Treatment: • Cut off at shoulder level and leave Balloon Vine Height: in tree to die. Pull up or scrape Up to 8m high. and paint stem with glyphosate. Stem: Seeds germinate prolifically and Sturdy brown stem covered with soft re-shooting of taproot may occur so golden hairs. follow-up is necessary. Leaf: Disposal: Dark green leaves consisting of nine • Remove all capsules if possible. toothed leaflets. Flower: Native species similar Small and white with tendrils at in appearance the base. Slender Grape Vine (Cayratia Fruit: clematidea) has 5 leaflets and no hairs. General Information Why is it a problem? An inflated paper-like spherical capsule Common name: This weed forms a dense layer of pointed at one end. The capsule is Balloon Vine leaves, which smothers the host divided into three partitions, each plant and starves it of light. It can containing a glossy black seed. Scientific name: form extensive stands, covering all Cardiospermum grandiflorum vegetation including canopy trees. Where do I find it? Weed of coastal wastelands and riverbanks, often found growing into tree canopies. 4 Common Riverbank Weeds Common Riverbank Weeds 5 VINES, SCRAMBLERS & GROUND COVERS VINES, SCRAMBLERS & GROUND COVERS Information and description Best control methods (see pages 70-75 of this booklet) Growth form: Slender Vine. Treatment: • Hand-pull or dig young plants. Black-eyed Susan Height: Foliar spray larger plants. To 4m long. Disposal: Stem: Stems root at node establishing a new plant. Native species similar in appearance Leaf: Triangular to heart-shaped, with soft None locally. fine hairs and broadly toothed margins. Flower: Large five-petal bright yellow-orange flower, with a striking black centre. Fruit: General Information Why is it a problem? The papery sepals remain to cover the Common name: A spreading groundcover which forms beaked capsule containing few seeds. Black-eyed Susan extensive mats, this species smothers other ground vegetation and prevents Scientific Name: the growth of shrubs and trees. Thunbergia alata Where do I find it? A garden escape that will smother native vegetation. 6 Common Riverbank Weeds Common Riverbank Weeds 7 VINES, SCRAMBLERS & GROUND COVERS VINES, SCRAMBLERS & GROUND COVERS Information and description Best control methods (see pages 70-75 of this booklet) Growth form: Perennial woody vine. Treatment: • Dense infestations can be very Cats Claw Creeper Height: difficult to control. Physical Vine extending to top of trees. methods require the removal of all Stem: tubers. Chemical control includes Numerous, up to 15cm thick creating foliar spraying seedlings and a dense mat on the ground or ground runners, or cut and painting smothering mature trees. the stumps of well-established vines Leaf: with recommended herbicides. Opposite and compound with three Sites must be followed up to leaflets. Each leaf has a pair of lance ensure the control of any seedlings shaped leaflets 2-7cm long and 1-3cm or re-growth. wide. The plant’s name comes from the Disposal: modification of the third leaflet which • Tubers must be composted on site General Information Why is it a problem? forms a three-pronged tendril with or double bagged and disposed of hooked tips. in landfill. Common name: Cats Claw Creeper is a vigorous Flower: Cats Claw Creeper perennial vine that has the capacity Large yellow trumpet flowers, 4-8cm Native species similar to completely alter native ecosystems. Scientific Name: long, borne in the leaf axil in clusters in appearance Cats Claw Creeper smothers and kills Dolichandra unguis-cati or as single flowers. mature trees, opening up the canopy None locally. Where do I find it? for light-loving weeds. It produces Fruit: Warm moist native forests and numerous seed, and has underground A long narrow “pea-pod” like capsule riparian zones. tubers making it difficult to control. 30-60cm long and 8-12mm wide. Capsules contain numerous two-winged seeds. 8 Common Riverbank Weeds Common Riverbank Weeds 9 VINES, SCRAMBLERS & GROUND COVERS VINES, SCRAMBLERS & GROUND COVERS Information and description Best control methods (see pages 70-75 of this booklet) Growth form: Vigorous fast-growing evergreen Treatment: Common Jasmine twining climber. • Hand-pull or dig young plants. Foliar spray larger plants. Height: To 4m long. Disposal: Stem: Stems travel long distances across the Native species similar ground, frequently rooting down at leaf in