Pest Plants and Weeds
Weeds are plants that grow, often out of control, in areas they are not native to. Weeds negatively impact local biodiversity as they:
- Take over bushland.
- Impact food sources and habitat for native fauna.
- Create a potential fire hazard, particularly on road verges.
There are six priority declared weeds in Murray:
- Apple of Sodom
- Arum Lily
- Blackberry
- Cape Tulip
- Cotton Bush
- Paterson’s Curse.
Although not a declared weed, Watsonia is one of the most invasive weeds within Murray. It outcompetes native flora for space and disturbs the soil with corms. It is spread via seeds that are carried along natural waterways and roadside drains.
River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), Flinders Range Wattle (Acacia iteaphylla) and the Sydney Golden Wattle (Acacia longifolia) are also problem plants. River Red Gum often cross-breeds with native flooded-gums (Eucalyptus rudis), producing a hybrid species with limited ecological value to the natural area.
To help maintain Murray's native environment, landowners should: