Rambling dock, Acetosa sagittata, found at a garden dumping site in the reserve (W.Pix, CNM).
A week ago volunteers of Friends of Mt Majura found Rambling dock, Actetosa sagittata and Bridal creeper, Asparagus asparagoides, at garden refuse dumping sites in the nature reserve east of Mackenzie Street, Hackett. The finding of Rambling dock alerted ACT weed officers and triggered a fast response of the ACT Parks Service high risk invasive plant team who spent hours to destroy the weeds and searched the area to ensure all plants were treated.
Rambling dock, recorded the first time in the ACT, requires special treatment and must not be deposited at Green Waste sites or composted.
Bridal Creeper, Asparagus asparagoides (WalterEgo, CNM).
Due to their invasiveness, Rambling dock and Bridal creeper, which classified a Weed of National Significance, can take over a garden as well as neighbouring gardens. If residents think Rambling dock grows in their garden contact secretary@majura.org or the Parks Service through Canberra Connect.
Distinguishing features of Rambling dock
Rambling dock is a scrambling plant with a creeping habit or a low climber with short-lived stems reaching up to 3m long (occasionally up to 5m long). The stems sprout from long-lived underground tubers each spring and die back during as the weather gets cooler. The stems are prominently ribbed and green or reddish-green in colour and the alternately arranged leaves are distinctively arrow-shaped. The small flowers are inconspicuous, but the large cascading clusters of bright reddish-pink immature fruits are very distinctive. The mature fruits are papery, three-winged, and turn pale brown in colour.
Please do not dump garden refusal in the nature reserve!
