Clidemia hirta
Koster’s curse
Koster’s curse is a declared Class 1 Noxious Weed in NSW and is the target of a national eradication program. It is a highly invasive shrub, growing up to five metres tall and has the potential to spread rapidly over many parts of Australia. Koster’s curse forms dense thickets, which can smother pasture and native vegetation in a similar manner to lantana. It is quick-growing and could cause major problems for primary industries. It invades disturbed areas including the edges of clearings and stream-banks, along fence lines, paths and roadways. The weed prefers humid tropical lowlands and therefore could spread [...]
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Salix nigra
Black willow
Black willow is a deciduous, rapidly-growing tree to about 20 metres tall with one, or less often up to four, trunks. It is distinguished by its non-drooping habit and twigs which are shiny and red-brown when exposed to sun. Other distinguishing features include thin leaves which are almost equally green on both sides and deeply fissured grey bark on stems more than 10 cm in diameter. Black willow hybridises with other willows. The trees can reach a height of 43 metres, with a trunk diameter of 1.2 metres. Leaves are shiny light green above, duller below and often velvety along [...]
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Triadica sebifera
Chinese tallow
(Syn. Sapium sebiferum) The Chinese Tallow is native to South-East Asia, mainly China, and was introduced as an ornamental tree in streetscapes and gardens. Chinese Tallow is a Class 3 Noxious Weed in the North Coast area and must be fully and continuously suppressed and destroyed. This weed is invasive and alters nutrient cycles, quickly forming dense monocultures and displacing native vegetation. While the Chinese Tallow appears to favour wetter areas such as swamps, it can grow in drier conditions and has been planted as an ornamental tree in streets and gardens. It is easily recognised by its heart-shaped leaves [...]
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Tecoma stans
Yellow bells
Yellow bells is a small shrub growing between three metres and eight metres tall. It is vase shaped with a rounded top and it can be multi-stemmed. An escaped garden plant, it is a serious threat to native riparian vegetation. The stem is smooth with squarish twigs which are green, turning tan or reddish tan as they age. The bark on the main trunk is light brown. Leaves are compound, with linear serrate leaflets about two centimetres wide. They are glossy bright green and have a tropical look. The plant has clusters of bright yellow trumpet-shaped flowers on terminal portions [...]
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Ligustrum sinense
Narrow-leaf privet
Narrow-leaf privet is a much-branched, hardy, evergreen, fast-growing shrub up to four metres tall, formerly used extensively for hedging. Sprays of small, round blue-black berries persist into winter. Its stems are covered in lenticels (white dots). It is a tall multi-stemmed shrub. Leaves are dark green ovals with a pointed tip, to 6cm long and often have a wavy margin. Masses of heavily-scented tiny white tubular flowers occur in drooping sprays in spring; they are highly allergenic. One plant may produce up to a million seeds, which are spread into bushland by birds, and are also washed down waterways. Narrow-leaf [...]
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Xanthium occidentale or pungens
Noogoora burr
Noogoora burr is an annual herb which grows up to 2.5 metres tall with two growth forms; erect single stemmed or many branched and spreading. It has an extensive root system and is toxic to stock. Stems are rough to touch with short stout upward directed hairs, green and usually blotched or streaked purple. Leaves are dark green and similar in shape to grape vine leaves, about 15cm in diameter. Flowers are green and occur in inconspicuous clusters around leaf axils. The fruit is a hard woody burr with many hooked spines and two terminal beaks. Each burr contains two [...]
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Macfadyena unguis-cati
Cat’s claw creeper
Cat’s claw creeper was introduced to Australia as a garden plant, particularly for screening trellises and walls, and has escaped to become a major weed of native forests and riparian areas in eastern Australia. Its climbing woody stems (lianas) cling to tree trunks, enabling it to grow into the forest canopy. In native rainforests it can overtop and kill mature trees, opening up the canopy for light-loving weeds. This can lead to further degradation in the structure and composition of the native plant community. Cat’s claw creeper competes with native plants by forming a dense above-ground mat and many underground [...]
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Ligustrum lucidum
Broad-leaf privet
Broad-leaf privet originates from eastern Asia and has become a widespread weed of disturbed land, pastoral areas and native bushland in coastal NSW. It grows as an evergreen shrub or small tree to a height of 4-10 metres. The brown bark is covered in small white lenticels (pores that allow gas exchange). Pointed oval-shaped leaves occur in opposite pairs, and are 4-13 cm long and 3-6 cm wide. The upper leaf surface is dark green and glossy or shiny, while the under-surface is paler with distinct veins. Leaves are hairless. Cream or white tubular flowers with four petal-like lobes occur [...]
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Caesalpinia decapetala
Mysore thorn
Mysore thorn is a perennial shrub, growing to 2-4 metres, or a sprawling climber to 15 metres high, which readily forms a dense impenetrable thicket. It has tap roots and lateral roots. Mysore thorn is a vigorous growing plant capable of climbing and engulfing native vegetation, fences, sheds, bridges and other infrastructure. The long spines of the Mysore thorn can inflict serious injury to humans and animals, native and domestic. Mysore thorn forms dense thickets restricting access of stock and machinery to vital areas like water, pastures and roads. Thorns on the stems are straight or hooked and aid in [...]
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