Briar Rose, Rosa rubiginosa, is one target weed at the working party (Photo Trevor King 11.11.2012).
Join us at our working party to remove Briar Rose, Blackberry, Japanese Honeysuckle and some Spear thistles downstream of the Majura twin dams; see below Notes on Target Weeds and Control.
When: Sunday, 20 January 2013, from 9.00am to 1.00pm.
Where: Meet at the nature park entrance off Mackenzie St, Hackett; view this map
Bring and wear: Sun protection, sturdy shoes and full-body covering.
All equipment will be provided.
Novice weeders please come early for an induction on target weeds and on the save handling of equipment.
Enquires: ph 6247 7515 or e-mail admin@majura.org
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We will be revisiting the creek line where Friends of Mt Majura held the very first working party nearly ten years ago. Over the years we removed large amounts of firethorn, Briar Rose, Blackberry and other woody weeds which were thriving in the moister environment. In addition we tackled herbaceous weeds such as St John’s Wort, horehound, thistles, Hedge Mustard and Serrated Tussock.
Snow Tussocks, Poa sieberiana at the seepage site.
Photograph Waltraud Pix, 15.01.2013
At this working party we’ll be attending to overlooked and new arrival weeds particularly arround a seepage site where an interesting plant community occurs. Swamp Isotome, our latest addition to the Mt Majura Flora list, was recently found there amongst Snow Tussocks, Billy Buttons, Vanilla Lilies and Swamp Raspworts.
Isotoma fluviatilis, Swamp Isotome (Photograph Waltraud Pix 16.11.2012)
Notes on Target Weeds and Control
Blackberry, Rubus fruticosus
Declared pest plant in the ACT and Weed of National Significance (WONS); must be contained; noxious weed throughout South Australia particularly along water courses.
Origin: Europe
Reproduction can be by seeds, root parts, cuttings, and layering (root formation when tip of stem contacts soil; seeds are spread by birds, foxes and water.
Japanese Honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica smothering eucalypts, Mt Ainslie nature park (Photograph Waltraud Pix, 21.04.2012).
Japanese Honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica
Declared pest plant in the ACT.
Origin: China, Japan, Taiwan
Evergreen or semi-deciduous vigorous growing wine and creeper that can completely smother trees and shrubs; grows in moister areas such as gullies, drainage lines, and seepage sites.
Reproduction primarily by plant stems dumped with garden debris and by seeds; birds eat the berries.
Sweet Briar, Rosa rubiginosa
Declared pest plant in the ACT; must be suppressed; noxious weed throughout South East Australia.
Origin: Europe, western Asia
Reproduction by seeds and suckers; seeds will germinate at most times of the year; suckering occurs mostly in spring. The bright coloured fruit is attractive to many birds which are the main dispersal agents; also spread by foxes which eat the fruits.
Chemical control of woody weeds using the cut & daub method. Cut stems close to ground level and immediately treat cut surface with herbicide glyphosate (Roundup or equivalent product) applied at high concentration i.e. 1 part glyphosate : 2 parts water; apply herbicide mix with spray.
The plant’s natural protective mechanism acts very quickly to seal off the cut surface which stops herbicide penetration into the sap stream. It is therefore important to treat the cut surface immediately, i.e. within 30 seconds after cut; the longer the treatment is delayed, the poorer the result will be. If necessary cut and treat each stem of a multi-stemmed plant separately to avoid delayed herbicide treatment.
Spear Thistle, Cirsium vulgare, flower heads.
Photograph Waltraud Pix, 15.01.2013
Spear Thistle, Cirsium vulgare.
Other common names: Scotch thistle, Black thistle.
Origin: Europe, Asia, North Africa.
The thistle can dominate herbaceous vegetation particularly in moister environments.
Treatment at rosette stage with broad-leaf selective herbicide. At flowering stage: cut and bag flower heads, cut stem off and spray cut with Roundup.
