News location:

Canberra Today 14°/16° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Residents asked to help nip Fireweed in the bud

CANBERRANS are being asked to report any sightings of Madagascan Fireweed, an invasive, yellow-flowering plant that quickly spreads through grazing land and makes livestock sick.

Madagascan Fireweed
Madagascan Fireweed
The ACT Government has begun a targeted program to control the plant, which been found in the Gungahlin area, near Gungahlin Hill, Gungaderra, Mulangarri, Percival Hill, Mulligan’s Flat Nature Reserve and Mitchell Grasslands, according to Jane Carder, the manager of Place Management within Territory and Municipal Services (TAMS).

Ms Carder says anyone who sees the distinctive plant, which often grows by the side of roads, can report its location to Canberra Connect on 13 22 81, and encourages helpful weed-spotters to take a photograph for identification purposes.

The TAMS weed management team is working with contractors to control the spread of Fireweek as quickly as possible by destroying the plant before it flowers.

“Fireweed is a small multi-stemmed and vigorous flowering daisy-like plant with numerous bright yellow daisy flowers,” Ms Carder said.

“Like other daisies, the weed produces fluffy, wind borne seeds. Some plants can produce tens of thousands of viable seeds, making it highly invasive.

“A major concern is the toxicity of Fireweed to horses and grazing livestock, which can cause liver damage similar to toxins found in Paterson’s Curse. Fireweed is considered one of the most damaging weeds to grazing land. This weed initially invades land along roadsides and, once established, quickly spreads into neighbouring pastures and reserves.”

According to Ms Carder, Nipping the infestation in the bud would save the ACT significant expenditure in future weed control and protect native plants.

Sightings of Madagascan Fireweed can be reported to Canberra Connect on 13 22 81.

Who can be trusted?

In a world of spin and confusion, there’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in Canberra.

If you trust our work online and want to enforce the power of independent voices, I invite you to make a small contribution.

Every dollar of support is invested back into our journalism to help keep citynews.com.au strong and free.

Become a supporter

Thank you,

Ian Meikle, editor

Share this

Leave a Reply

Related Posts

Follow us on Instagram @canberracitynews