Cutleaf mignonette policy - South East Natural Resources ...

Declared Plant Policy
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Cutleaf mignonette (Reseda lutea)
Biology
Cutleaf mignonette is a biennial or short-lived perennial herb to 1m tall, with a woody base
and deep taproot. It has greenish-yellow flowers in a spike to 20cm long and dark green
multi-pronged leaves. Some germinations occurs in spring but the main germination occurs
in Autumn. Young plants rapidly develop a deep taproot and form a rosette. The first
flowers appear in late October or November, flower stems die in late summer and new
rosettes are produced in Autumn.
Dispersal
Seeds are the principal means of spread of cutleaf mignonette which are carried on animals,
clothes, bags, water, mud. Long distance dispersal is less important however cultivation
equipment will carry pieces of cut root to clean areas.
Impacts
Cutleaf mignonette competes with pastures and crops for light and nutrients. It is a major
weed of vegetables reducing yields by up to 100%. It is a prolific and highly effective seeder.
Current Distribution
Cutleaf mignonette prefers open, gravely or sandy calcareous or chalky loams with warm
dry summers. It occurs as a weed of roadsides, waste places, cultivated fields, cereal crops
and other disturbed sites.
In the South East cutleaf mignonette is found in small isolated patches in the lower south
east and is scattered across the upper south east.
Cutleaf mignonette policy for the SE NRM region 1

Declared Plant Policy
Cutleaf mignonette policy for the SE NRM region 2

Declared Plant Policy
REGIONAL PRIORITY
Cutleaf mignonette was assessed during the South East Weed Risk Assessment project.
Cutleaf mignonette is mainly a weed of grazing areas and was considered to be a low
impact for other land uses.
Management
Action
Relative
priority
Aquatic Crop/pasture Forestry Grazing Irrigated Native
Vegetation
Perennial
Horticulture
Urban
N/A Protect N/A Protect N/A N/A Protect N/A
sites
sites
sites
- 4 - 4 - - 4 -
# Management action N/A – not assessed – low priority for this landuse
LI – not assessed - low impact in this landuse
* Relative priority 1 = highest priority
7 = lowest priority
AIMS:
1. To protect grazing industries from the loss of production caused by cutleaf mignonette.
2. To contain the distribution of cutleaf mignonette in the South East.
OBJECTIVES:
• Identification of the full extent of cutleaf mignonette infestations in the South East.
• Increase awareness about the impacts of cutleaf mignonette.
• Enforce control programs to prevent spread of cutleaf mignonette to un-infested
areas.
IMPLEMENTATION
State Level
• Prohibit the sale and distribution of cutleaf mignonette into and within the State.
Regional Priority Actions for the SE NRM Board
• Authorised Officers to map and monitor all infestations of cutleaf mignonette.
• Buffer zones encouraged between severe infestations of cutleaf mignonette and
‘clean’ properties.
• Increase awareness about the impacts of cutleaf mignonette.
• Seek external funding for projects relating to cutleaf mignonette control which will
protect high value agricultural and natural environments.
• Control of cutleaf mignonette enforced at priority sites (including priority roadsides)
and isolated infestations.
• Prevent movement of cutleaf mignonette within the region.
Cutleaf mignonette policy for the SE NRM region 3

Declared Plant Policy
Local action
• All landholders to implement active control programs according to seasonal
conditions and the instructions of the Authorised Officer.
• Landholders to follow farm hygiene practises to prevent spread of plant.
• Implement buffer zones annually according to authorised officer instructions.
• Ensure stock in infested paddocks are cleaned out or shorn prior to transport/sale.
DECLARATIONS
The following sections of the NRM Act apply to Cutleaf mignonette in all Local Government
areas in the South East NRM region:
175 (2) Cannot transport the plant or anything with the plant in it
177 (1)
(2)
182 (2)
(3)
Cannot sell the plant
Cannot sell any produce / goods carrying the plant
Land owner must control the plant on their land
Land owner must take prescribed measures for the control of
the plant on their land
185 (1) NRM authority may recover costs for control of weeds on
roadsides from adjoining land owners
Implementation
Responsibility of Operations Manager
Periodic Review
Responsibility of Operations Manager
Date endorsed by the SENRMB 25 February 2010
Date scheduled for review 2015
Version Date Version Reference Sections Description of Changes
Feb 2010 1 Whole Document Endorsed By SENRM Board
Released to public
March 2011 2 Whole document Review and update of distribution maps
Cutleaf mignonette policy for the SE NRM region 4