Common Weeds
Some of the more common weeds of Queensland are listed below. Weeds that are not yet common or established but pose a significant threat are identified by an asterix. Weeds that are identified as Weeds of National Significance are noted as "WoNS".
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Origin | Description | Signif- icance | Primary Distribution | Image | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| African tulip tree | Spathodea campanulata | tropical Africa | Fast growing, highly invasive, evergreen tree forming dense stands in gullies and streams, crowding out native vegetation | Class 3 | SE Qld and gardens | ||
| Alligator Weed* | Alternanthera philoxeroides | South America | Grows on land in damp soil, or in water as dense floating mats | Class 1 WoNS | Potential to establish in all Queensland coastal areas and inland agricultural and urban areas | ||
| Camphor laurel | Cinnamomum camphora | Asia | Large attractive shade tree, aggressively replaces native vegetation | Class 3 | Gardens throughout Qld | ||
| Fireweed | Senecio madagascariensis | Madagascar, Southern Africa | Daisy-like herb with bright yellow flowers, competes with pasture species | Class 2 | New South Wales coast and north to Brisbane | ||
| Lantana | Lantana camara | Central, South America | Heavily branched shrub that can grow as compact clumps, dense thickets and as scrambling and climbing vines that smother native vegetation | Class 3 WoNS | Most coastal and sub-coastal areas of eastern Australia | ||
| Mesquite | Prosopis spp. | North, South America | Spread significantly in Queensland, may form dense impenetrable thickets, aggressive competitor and drought tolerant | Class 1 WoNS | Western Qld | ||
| Mother of millions | Bryophyllum spp. | Madagascar | Succulent type plant well adapted to dry areas, highly toxic to stock, forms masses of embryoids (plantlets), hard to eradicate | Class 2 | Ornamental garden plant, Central Highlands, Burnett | ||
| Ochna (aka Mickey Mouse plant) | Ochna serrulata | Africa | Ornamental species, easily dispersed to new areas by birds eating the fruits | n/a | Widely planted in gardens | ||
| Parkinsonia | Parkinsonia aculeata | tropical America | Introduced ornamental small shade tree, seeds float, forms dense, thorny thickets along watercourses | Class 2 WoNS | inland Qld | ||
| Parthenium | Parthenium hysterophorus | tropical America | Vigorous coloniser of weak pastures, disturbed areas, brigalow, gidgee and softwood scrub soils. Linked to health allergies | Class 2 WoNS | predominantly Central Qld | ||
| Prickly pear | Opuntia spp. | Americas | Spiky cactus, drought resistant, widespread infestation in early 20th c. but reduced through biological control | Class 2 | Central, Southern Qld | ||
| Willow | Salix spp. | Northern hemisphere | Popular garden ornamentals, but invasive in waterways with aggressive root systems | Class 1 WoNS | Cooler parts of Qld |
Read more about this topic: List Of Common Weeds Of Queensland
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Crowned with rank fumiter and furrow-weeds,
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Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow
In our sustaining corn.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)