Weed Spotter Queensland Network Newsletter Autumn 2012 edition

Weed Spotter Queensland Network
Newsletter
Autumn 2012 edition
Welcome to the Autumn
edition of the Weedspotters
newsletter
Many weeds are emerging after Queensland’s very wet
summer, and treating them as they appear can prevent
major weed infestations later. The need for early weed
detection has never been greater as new and emerging
weeds are cropping up everywhere. It is important to be
observant in your local area, and if you see something
you have not seen before, send it in to the Queensland
Herbarium to be identified. It may be a potential new
weed in the state.
This issue of Weedspotters newsletter highlights
a few weed issues across Queensland including:
• update on Amazon frogbit in Redlands
• what’s happening
• Osage orange in the Granite Belt
• Parkinsonia in the Desert Channels
• obtaining a weed list of your area
• water lettuce in the Mulga Lands
• Heliconia warning
• new weed names
• new records
• contact details of Regional Coordinators.
The Queensland Weed Spotters Network is a joint
initiative of the Queensland Herbarium and the
Biosecurity Queensland.
Page 1
Redlands claim to fame: the
Amazon frogbit discovery and
eradication
I am sure everyone has misidentified something at
one stage. Unfortunately for the Redlands, an early
identification of the now confirmed Amazon frogbit
(Limnobium laevigatum) was misidentified as the
Vulnerable native frogbit (Hydrocharis dubia, syn.
Limnobium dubium). For a period of time the population
grew and become a proud addition to the local plant
lists. It was not until a resident mentioned a weed that
was taking over a slow flowing pond in Wellington
Point that some officers from Redlands IndigiScapes
investigated.
Earlier this year, the two officers visited the water body
and were puzzled by the plants mixed growth habit.
The older growth was emergent when crowded but the
younger growth on the outer edges of the thick floating
mass was similar to a miniature floating ‘lily-pad’, and
indeed this did resemble the native frogbit. Not happy
with not knowing what species it might be, the officers
forwarded a specimen to the Queensland Herbarium.
The Herbarium shortly after confirmed it as the Amazon
frogbit, a likely aquarium dumping.
Discovery of frogbit infestion. Photo: Redland City Council.

When the BioSecurity Queensland risk assessment of
the Amazon frogbit came back as ‘high’ and it was the
first naturalised record in Queensland, the Redland City
Council promptly mapped its distribution and discovered
it in an adjoining water body. Within a week, in May
2011, the first treatment was undertaken. Follow-up
treatments continued every two weeks for two months,
then monthly. Monitoring was carried out at the same
time.
There has been no evidence of the Amazon frogbit
for some months now and it is hoped that due to a
confirmed identification and quick response it has
been eradicated from the Redlands area. This situation
Initial treatment of frogbit. Photo: Redland City Council.
Eradication of frogbit achieved. Photo: Redland City Council.
What’s happening?
Weeds of Northern Australia: A Field Guide by Nicholas
Smith is now available. Further information on costs and
postage is available by contacting .
The Australasian Weeds Conference is to be held in
Melbourne, 8–11 October 2012.
The next Queensland Weeds Symposium will be held in
South East Queensland in July 2013.
Page 2
shows the importance of early detection and how each
weedspotter can contribute to preventing the spread of
new and emerging weeds.
In an unusual twist, the native frogbit (Hydrocharis
dubium syn. Limnobium dubium) is now thought to be
non-native (Bean 2011).
References
Bean, A.R. (2011). Hydrocharis dubia (Blume) Backer
(Hydrocharitaceae) is an alien species in Australia.
Austrobaileya 8(3): 225–440.
Boyd Essex, Redland City Council.
Midway in treatment of frogbit. Photo: Redland City Council.
Emergent habit of frogbit when crowded. Photo: Redland City
Council.
Weeds of the Mackay District publication is presently in
production.
The first weeds phone app for Queensland is now a
reality. Weeds: the ute guide is now available for iphone.
It covers western weeds of grain crops, refer to
.
There is an online interactive lucid key to Australian
weeds now available from .

Osage orange (Maclura pomifera) in the Granite Belt
Osage orange is native to Texas/Arkansas areas of North
America. This deciduous tree has escaped from garden
plantings in the Granite Belt area of Queensland near
Stanthorpe and near Armidale in New South Wales. It
has formed thorny thickets principally in riparian areas,
where its seeds continue to spread by water. It generally
only attains a height of about 10 metres (Armidale area)
but specimens in Queensland have grown to 20 metres
high in the Pikedale area.
It is related to the mulberry tree (family Moraceae)
and not a citrus as the name suggests, although the
fruit does have a distinctive citrus smell. It is generally
planted for its ornamental and timber value. The leaves
and stems exude a milky sap when damaged that can
be an irritation to skin and eyes. It has light green
ovate leaves with an acuminate tip and possesses
two-centimetre-long thorns at each leaf scar along the
stems. The trees bear a round rough green fruit similar in
size to an orange. Separate male and female plants are
required for reproduction.
Craig Hunter, Biosecurity Queensland.
Osage orange infestion. Photo: Craig Hunter.
Page 3
Foliage and thorns of Osage orange. Photo: Craig Hunter.
Fruit of Osage orange. Photo: Craig Hunter.

Parkinsonia Dieback Project
in the Desert Channels
Parkinsonia (Parkinsonia aculeata) is a highly invasive
weed of national significance, which has massive
potential to spread through inland waterways and
rangelands.
Thanks to the combination of sharp eyes of NT Barkly
Landcare Officer, Colleen Westover, who noticed
unexplained deaths of Parkinsonia in 2004, a threeyear
PhD study at the University of Queensland (UQ)
by Naomi Diplock and the persistence of Dr Vic Galea,
Associate Professor in plant pathology at UQ, around
200 local fungal cultures have been identified which can
cause Parkinsonia dieback. This is a naturally occurring
event which kills Parkinsonia.
Over the past 18 months landholders in western
Queensland have been participating in a trial funded by
Meat and Livestock Australia to test the effectiveness
of pathogens. Coordinated by UQ, in partnership with
regional NRM groups, 14 field days have been held (eight
in 2010, and six follow up in 2011), and 70 trial sites
have been set up with individual landholders. Results
are promising, with trial participants reporting a range of
responses including death and sickness of Parkinsonia
trees in a variety of land types. The project leader is
Dr Vic Galea, UQ, and supporters are Desert Channels
Group, Southern Gulf Catchments, South West NRM,
National Prickle Bush Management Group, Capricorn
Pest Management and Biodiversity Queensland.
Sue Ackers, Desert Channels Queensland Inc.
Dr Ken Goulter removing a sample from a healthy Parkinsonia
tree for laboratory testing at Holmleigh field day.
Photo: Sue Ackers.
Page 4
Obtaining a weed list of
your area
The WildNet application delivers wildlife information
and incorporates Queensland Herbarium specimen
data (HERBRECS). This application is available online
from and can be used by weed
spotters to access weed information (images and notes),
weed lists for their area of interest, and to determine
if specimens have been lodged with the Queensland
Herbarium.
A summary of how to access weed information from the
site is provided below.
Wildlife Online can be used to access species lists
for protected areas, forestry areas, local government
areas and areas defined using coordinates (which can
be accessed from websites such as Google Maps). To
access weed lists, users should select the ‘introduced’
and ‘plant’ options. The ‘specimen’ option should be
used to determine the species that have a specimen
lodged with the Queensland Herbarium database. The
outputs, which are emailed to the requester, are PDF or
text files and include the number of records and number
of specimens recorded for the area.
WetlandInfo’s Wetland Information Summary Search
allows internet users to view a range of summarised
environmental information including wildlife statistics
for basins, natural resource management regions and
local government areas. Specific wildlife lists such as
‘Introduced Plants’ can be accessed from the wildlife
statistics table to display a number of attributes
including number of specimens, number of occurrences
and date of last sighting. Some species on the lists have
links to species notes, images and internet pages and
the lists can be downloaded.
WetlandMaps is an interactive map service that gives
users access to wetland information via a web-based
Geographic Information System (GIS). As well as
delivering spatial data including wetland mapping,
WetlandMaps has tools for accessing wildlife and survey
data. Species records can be mapped and records and
survey data can be viewed using the inventory tool.
The report tool can be used to generate fauna or flora
lists for a range of area types (current displayed extent,
selected polygon(s), buffered polygon(s) and drawn
areas). The species list outputs are PDF or text files and
include the number of records, number of specimens
recorded for the area and date last seen.
Any errors found within the information generated from
these sites should be reported to the WildNet Team at
to rectify.
Noleen Brown.

Water lettuce success in the Mulga Lands
Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) on the Warrego River at
Cunnamulla has been increasing for more than 10 years
in spite of yearly spraying and many litres of chemical.
Water lettuce seemed to be winning the battle.
However a bug, sourced from Brisbane City Council
Biocontrol unit has been successful in eating its way
through the entire infestation. The water lettuce weevil
was reintroduced in November 2010 and no spray has
been used for over 12 months. Last year a dense mat
covered over two kilometres of the main waterhole, and
water lettuce could be found for another eight kilometres
down stream to the Allan Tannock Weir.
The Allan Tannock Weir Irrigators Group called a meeting
and a Water Lettuce Action Group was formed including
representatives from the Paroo Shire, landholders
and the Biosecurity Queensland. The group drafted an
action plan for the Paroo Shire and we hope to see water
lettuce eradicated within 10 years. Weevils will be used
in the main attack, and then follow-up winter spraying
will be trialled.
Water lettuce forming mats across the river (photo Nov 2010)
Photo: Tobias Bickel.
Water lettuce absence November 2011. Photo: Suzanne Nicholls.
Page 5
Biosecurity Officer Stephen Downey said the weevil was
excellent at reducing the mass of lettuce that is very
expensive to spray.
“By waiting until winter, after the weevil has killed
most plants, there will be fewer plants to spray, and
control will be more effective. There will still be seed
germinating for many years to come, but water lettuce
weevil can be sourced from the Brisbane City Council at
the start of each summer to reintroduce into the river,”
he said.
The Warrego River flows into New South Wales and the
Darling River, so the results are promising for those
south of Cunnamulla. While no plants have ever been
found south of the Weir at Cunnamulla, tonnes of plant
material go over the weir each summer in floods, and it
is only a matter of time before it makes it to the
Darling River.
Suzanne Nicholls, Bulloo Shire Council.
Water lettuce plant with weevil damage. There are multiple
marks on the leaves, some of the emerging new leaves are
crippled and the plant is partly submerged. Entire damaged
leaves are breaking off as well. Photo: Stephen Downey.

Heliconia warning
Fresh warnings have arisen about the potential spread
of common introduced plants found in the tropics,
Heliconia species. Several species are being grown in
local gardens. Heliconias are closely related to bananas
and originate from tropical, central and south America.
A few years ago a television program did a show about
Heliconias and a Heliconia farm in the Northern Territory.
The program reported that Heliconias had no seeds and
if you wanted to grow your own you had to buy plants.
Also, that Australia did not have pollinating agents, so
it was safe to grow Heliconias as they would not spread
into the environment.
Heliconia showing bright purple-blue fruit. Photo: S&A
Pearson.
New weed names
New names for cat’s claw creeper and thorny Acacias:
Page 6
At the time we were seeing Sunbirds visiting our three
different Heliconias species (H. collinsiana, H. humilis,
H. psittacorum) and this was followed by fruiting of each
species. Later, we saw Black Butcher Birds visiting the
ripe fruit and eating them. Now we are finding small
Heliconia plants coming up in the rainforest around
our home. Residents of the north where Sunbirds and
Black Butcher Birds are present should be vigilant for
seedlings coming up in their area.
Anyone who suspects the presence of an emerging
Heliconia seedling problem should contact their local
weeds officer for further information.
Steve and Alison Pearson
Sunbird on Heliconia flower. Photo: S&A Pearson.
Cat’s claw creeper, Macfadyena unguis-cati has had a name change and is now called Dolichandra unguis-cati (L.)L.
Lohmann.
This is based on molecular data (see Lohmann (2006, 2009) American Journal of Botany). This name change has now
been generally accepted by Australian and overseas herbaria (Gordon Guymer pers. comm.19-12-2011).
Acacia name changes:
Following the International Botanical Congress in 2011, it has now been agreed that the thorny Acacias belong to
a separate genus Vachellia. The new names for the thorny acacias known to occur in Queensland are given below.
Please be aware that there are also some native Vachellia species, so get a confirmed identification before controlling
the introduced Vachellia species.
Ailsa Holland, Queensland Herbarium.
Old name New name Status
Acacia bidwillii Vachellia bidwillii native
Acacia clarksoniana Vachellia clarksoniana native
Acacia ditricha Vachellia ditricha native
*Acacia farnesiana *Vachellia farnesiana naturalised
*Acacia karroo *Vachellia karroo doubtfully naturalised
*Acacia nilotica *Vachellia nilotica naturalised
Acacia sutherlandii Vachellia sutherlandii native
*non-native

Some new weed records up to December 2011 Supplied by the Queensland Herbarium
*Amaranthus dubius Mart. ex Thell.
Status: doubtfully naturalised, second
record, first in SEQ
Collector: Trevor Armstrong
Date: 17 June 2011
Location: Rocklea
Notes: Creekbank situation on alluvium
*Andropogon gayanus Kunth
Class 2 range extension
Collector: Keith McDonald
Date: July 2011
Location: Millstream Falls NP
*Asystasia gangetica subsp. micrantha
(Nees) Ensermu
Status: new naturalisation
Collector: Tony Bean
Date: April 2011
Location: Shoal Water Bay Training Area
*Brillantaisia lamium (Nees) Benth.
Status: priority sleeper weed
Collector: S.G. McKenna
Date: 17 April 2011
Location: S 17 50 28.3 E 145 59 30.5
*Bryophyllum daigremontianum
(Raym.-Hamet & H.Perrier) A.Berger
Class 2 large extension of range
Collector: Daniel McCudden, DEEDI
Date: 13 July 11
Location: Charleville
*Cecropia Loefl. sp.
Class 1
Collector: Luke Pavich
Date: July 2011
Location: Clifton Beach (Cairns area)
*Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King &
H.Rob.
Class 1
Collector: Stephen McKenna AQIS
Date: 9 August 11
Location: Cape York
Notes: Single plant, removed after
collection.
*Cylindropuntia imbricata (Haw.)
F.M.Knuth
Class 2 range extension
Collector: Susan Walters
Date: 12 July 11
Location: Springsure.
*Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle var.
confertiflorus (Steud.) Stapf ex Bor
Status: new naturalisation for
Queensland
Collector: Sonia MacDonald
Date: 15 September 11
Location: SE of Noosaville
*Dalbergia latifolia Roxb.
Status: new naturalisation recognised
Collector: I.G.Champion
Date: May 2011
Location: SW of Eton township
*Evolvulus nummularius (L.)L.
Status: potential new weed
Collector: Keith McDonald
Coll. date: 16 January 2008
Location: Mt Surprise township
*Hygrophila polysperma (Roxb.)
T.Anderson
Status: BQ special watch
Collector: Matt Birch
Date: 20 June 11
Location: Babinda
*Hymenachne amplexicaule (Rudge)
Nees
Class 2 plant; WONS
Collector: Craig Magnussen
Date: March 2011
Location: Gayndah
*Indigofera vohemarensis Baill.
Status: new naturalisation, new for
Australia
Collector: Tony Bean
Date: April 2011
Location: Shoal Water Bay Training Area
*Limnobium laevigatum ( Humb. &
Bonpl. ex Willd. ) Heine
Status: first record NQ , second record
Qld (new naturalisation March 2011 in
SEQ)
Collector: J A Walker
Date: 1 September 11
Location: near Cairns
Notes : Cultivated aquatic in freshwater
pond.
*Miscanthus sinensis Andersson
Status: previously cultivated, potential
new weed.
Collector: G.Calvert
Date: July 2011
Location: Townsville, along beachfront
Page 7
*Nassella neesiana (Trin. & Rupr.)
Barkworth
Class 1
Collector: Craig Hunter
Date: 10 November 11
Location: south of Pittsworth, Darling
Downs
*Parthenium hysterophorus L.
Class 2
Collector: Rose Moore
Date: 14 April 2011
Location: Porcupine Gorge NP, 60km N
of Hughenden.
Notes: known in the area, controlled in
the park
*Pereskia aculeata Mill.
Status: NEAL
Collector: D. Lloyd
Date: 25 August 11
Location: Cairns.
*Schmidtia pappophorides Steud. ex
J.A.Schmidt
Status: possible new naturalisation,
previously cultivated
Collector: Peter Connelly
Date: 29 April 2011
Location: Charleville.
Notes: Small area, currently under
eradication.
*Senecio madagascariensis Poir.
Status: Significant range of extension
Class 2
Collector: Juliet Musgrave
Date: 7 August 2011
Location: Hervey Bay
Notes: Plants removed as a precaution.
*Sida ciliaris L.
Status: new naturalisation, new for
Australia
Collector: David Halford
Date: April 2011
Location: Shoal Water Bay Training Area
*Stevia ovata Willd.
Status: Herbarium list new weed
spreading
Collector: S.G. McKenna
Date: 17 April 2011
Location: Tully Falls NP
Collector: Brett Carlsson Biosecurity QLD
Date: 1 June 11
Location: Ravenshoe
Notes: Up to 1-1.5m tall. Thousands of
mature individuals & seedlings.

Regional coordinators – contact details
If you think you have a new weed, contact your Regional
Coordinator:
Bribie Island
John Talbot
Mobile: 0438 580 036
Email: tropicaljohn@hotmail.com
Bundaberg
Ian Read
Phone: (07) 4159 9365
Email: ian.read7@bigpond.com
Cairns
Stephen McKenna
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
Phone: (07) 4030 7800
Email: Stephen.mckenna@daff.gov.au
Cape York
Gerry Turpin
DERM James Cook University, Cairns
Phone: (07) 4042 1809
Email: gerry.turpin@qld.gov.au
Cloncurry (and Mt Isa, Gulf catchments)
Tiffany Daley
Biosecurity Queensland
Mobile: 0488 423 539
Email: Tiffany.daley@qld.gov.au
Emerald (and Central Highlands)
Megan Daniels
Central Highlands Regional Resources Use
Planning Co-operative
Phone: (07) 4982 2996
Mobile: 0427 729 085
Email: megan@chrrup.org
Gympie (and Sunshine Coast)
Ernie Rider
Gympie Landcare
Email: theejs.rider@gmail.com
Hervey Bay (and Fraser Coast)
Juliet Musgrave
Fraser Coast Regional Council
Phone: (07) 4197 4470
Mobile: 0409 891 072
Email: Juliet.musgrave@frasercoast.qld.gov.au
Longreach (and Desert Channels)
Sue Ackers
Desert Channels Queensland Inc.
Phone: (07) 4652 7817
Mobile: 0459 990 536
Email: sue.ackers@dcq.org.au
Page 8
Mackay
Peter Alden
DEEDI
Phone: (07) 4967 0602
Mobile: 0407 120 104
Email: peter.alden@qld.gov.au
Roma
Lavinnia Fiedler
Phone: (07) 3170 6506
Mobile: 0417 212 476
Email: lavinnia.fiedler@fluor.com
Dalby (and Darling Downs, Granite Belt)
Craig Hunter
DEEDI
Phone: (07) 4669 0828
Mobile: 0428 584 908
Email: craig.hunter@qld.gov.au
Thargomindah (and mulga lands)
Suzanne Nicholls
Bulloo Shire Council
Phone: (07) 4621 8000
Email: suzanneN@bulloo.qld.gov.au
Toowoomba
Sandy Robertson
Queensland Murray-Darling Committee Inc.
Phone: (07) 4637 6228
Mobile: 0428 710 690
Email: sandyr@qmdc.org.au
Toowoomba
Alexandra Kennedy
Condamine Alliance
Phone: (07) 4620 0119
Mobile: 0439 673 083
Email: alexandra.kennedy@condaminealliance.com.au
Wondai
Nora Brandli
Burnett Mary Regional Group
Phone: (07) 4169 0720
Mobile: 0429 462 467
Email: nora.brandli@bmrg.org.au
Contact Kathy Stephens if you are interested in becoming a Regional Coordinator.
Weed Spotters Queensland Network coordinator
Kathy Stephens
Queensland Herbarium
Phone: (07) 3896 9316
Mobile: 0428 756 620
Email: kathy.stephens@qld.gov.au
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