TREAT

Duranta erecta - Duranta, Sky Flower

Family: Verbenaceae

Origin: Native to southern USA.

Naturalised distribution: coastal districts of eastern Australia.

Habitat: a weed of disturbed sites, open woodlands, and riparian areas.

Habit: a slightly spiny upright shrub or small tree, with drooping brances, usually 4-6 m tall, occasionally to 7 m.

Distinguishing features:

• Its oppositely arranged leaves are sometimes toothed towards their tips.
• Its blue or light purple tubular flowers are borne in elongated clusters.
• It is most easily distinguished by its large clusters of yellow-orange mature fruit.

Reproduction and dispersal: this species reproduces mainly be seed, commonly dispersed by birds or in dumped garden waste.

Other impacts: the leaves and fruit are poisonous to people and animals.

Erythrina x sykesii - Common Coral Tree

Family: Fabaceae

Origin: a hybrid of horticultural origin, probably developed in Australia or New Zealand.

Habit: tree

Coral trees have bright red flowers from mid winter to mid spring.

It is semi-deciduous and very hardy - it likes the wet soils along creeks but also can adapt to dry areas.

It can block the flow of creeks and cause creek bank erosion, causing other trees to fall over. It has vicious thorns so needs to be handled carefully with gloves. Injuries from the spikes require antiseptic to prevent infection.

Notes: This species does not produce viable seed and only propagates vegetatively, via stem segments and suckers. Logs, branches and twigs will grow into new plants, and they break easily, aiding its spread during floods. Primarily a problem along creeks and rivers.

Local notes: Scattered patches of Common Coral tree occur on the Atherton Tablelands, usually escaped from cultivation.

Recommended Control methods

• Organic: A backhoe is used to completely remove tree. This is a good method where there is easy access and where falling branches are a danger, but does cause substantial soil disturbance.
• Physically Inject Chemical to Tree: The tree is injected with 100% glyphosate, and after at least 24 hours (it is preferable to wait till the tree de-foliates if possible, approx 6 weeks) it is then chopped down, with all pieces removed off site for disposal. If the larger trunks and branches can't be removed then inject these as well. The stump should be re-injected with glyphosate if it reshoots.
• Inject Chemical to Stump: The stump is injected with 100% glyphosate then left standing. It can take from 6-18 months for the tree to fall over. Then remove as much as possible from the site, inject anything that is not completely removed. This can be done anytime of the year but is best in spring.

Any plant material removed can be chipped, mulched or burned although burning can be difficult due to the high moisture content.

Ipomoea indica - Blue morning glory

Family Convolvulaceae

Vine: twiner; stems hairy.

Leaves simple, unlobed or 3 lobed, 30-180 X 25-150 mm; upperside hairy, underside velvet hairy, petioles 10-130mm long hairy.

Inflorescence axillary, 2-many flowered.

Flower diameter 65-80mm, blue or purple with paler bands and a dark or pale throat, calyx green. May - November.

Fruit a capsule, about 10 x 10mm, 3 valved. Not seen in Australia.

Distribution: a native of America, now naturalised in rainforest, disturbed areas and open forest.

Khaya anthotheca - African Mahogany

Family Meliaceae

Native to tropical Africa

Tree to 30-45 m tall, trunk to 1 m diameter often buttressed at the base.

Leaves are pinnate.

Flowers small yellowish petals.

Fruit is a globose four or five valved capsule 5-8cm diameter containing numerous winged seeds.

Distribution: has been found on the Atherton Tablelands, with numerous seedlings germinating under planted trees.

More weeds

Weeds Why bother? - Declared Weeds - Lantana - Local Law Declared weeds - Stevia ovata

Environmental Weeds - A - C - D - K (this page) - L - R - S - Z - Weed glossary

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