Environment and Resource Management

Weed Spotters Queensland Network

Pueraria montana var. lobata, kudzu, is a class 2 declared pest in Queensland. Photo: Biosecurity Queensland.

Pueraria montana var. lobata, kudzu, is a class 2 declared pest in Queensland. Photo: Biosecurity Queensland.

Prevention and early intervention are the most cost effective means of dealing with potential, new and emerging weeds in Queensland. The aim of the Weed Spotters Queensland Network is to find, identify and document those new occurrences of potential weeds at an early stage so that preventative actions can be taken. It seeks to continue a community-based weed alert system in Queensland, based on the model developed by the previous Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed Management. The cost of weeds to Australian agriculture now exceeds $4 billion per year. No estimate has been made of the cost of weeds to the environment.

What's new

Weed spotter newsletter Autumn 2012 (PDF, 589K)*

New records for Queensland

Technical Weed Identification Sheets 

Why we need your weed specimens

There are currently 1,268 naturalised plant species in Queensland. More than 10% of these are declared and others are declared under local government laws. Weed Spotter specimen vouchers provide verified point data on where weeds occur and how far and how quickly they are extending their range. This information is crucial in developing early response to new incursions and ongoing strategies for controlling and containing established weeds.

How to send specimens for identification

Specimens must be pressed and dried before they can be sent in the mail, with some exceptions. Cacti specimens may be sent fresh in a box. Limited numbers of fresh specimens may be brought to the Herbarium building at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mt Coot-tha. Once dry, weed specimens need to be properly sealed before sending, to avoid spreading seeds.

Please read How to send botanical specimens (PDF, 57K)* and Botanical specimens cover sheet (PDF, 44K)* for further information on how to prepare and send botanical specimens for identification.

Send specimens to:

Plant information and advisory service
Queensland Herbarium
Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha
Mt Coot-tha Rd
TOOWONG QLD 4066

Weed Spotter key participants

Limnocharis flava, a declared Class 1 pest in Queensland. Photo: Biosecurity Queensland.

Limnocharis flava, a declared Class 1 pest in Queensland. Photo: Biosecurity Queensland.

Key participants are the Weed Spotters, the Regional Coordinators and the Weed Spotter Project Officer, along with officers within Commonwealth, State and Local Governments, and regional Natural Resource Management groups.

Weed Spotters report, collect, identify and deliver specimens of potential, new and emerging weeds in their region. These people can be landholders, gardeners or members of community groups such as Landcare, Bushcare, Society for Growing Australian Plants, along with Commonwealth, State and Local Government officers, industry representatives, and anyone else interested in weeds and plants.

Regional Coordinators assist with the identification and filtering of Weed Spotter's specimens and pass them onto the Queensland Herbarium. They also provide feedback to the weed spotters in that region about new and emerging weeds found, and assist with training, resources, and accessing Government information.

The Weed Spotter Project Officer coordinates the network across Queensland, provides training and raises awareness of weed issues through a quarterly newsletter, media releases, website and publications.

The Queensland Herbarium (DERM) identifies and verifies weed specimens, incorporates some of them into the Herbarium collections, and enters the label information into databases (HERBRECS and Wildnet). The Herbarium also notifies Biosecurity Queensland and other government officers in the region of any new naturalisations or new occurrences of declared weeds and any potential new and emerging weed species.

Biosecurity Queensland (DEEDI) provides leadership and support for invasive plants and animal management in Queensland and beyond through the development of policy, legislation, pest risk assessments, research, state wide coordination of pest programs, and communication and education awareness programs.

Local Councils work in partnership with other agencies to implement Local Government Area Pest Management Plans, and provide information on weeds in their local area.

Landholders in Queensland have a responsibility to manage declared weeds on their properties, and are encouraged to be on the lookout for new weeds.

New records for Queensland

Limnobium laevigatum, Amazon frogbit. Photo: Danielle Crawford (BCC)

Limnobium laevigatum, Amazon frogbit. Photo: Danielle Crawford (BCC)

Every year, botanists and weed spotters discover and document new alien species for Queensland. Some are declared weeds that are notified to Biosecurity Queensland (DEEDI), and some are new naturalisations for the State, or have been previously recorded as either cultivated or doubtfully naturalised.  All records are verified with a herbarium specimen voucher.

New naturalisations for Queensland, July 2010 to June 2011. These species have not previously been recorded for Queensland.

Asystasia gangetica subsp. micrantha (Nees) Ensermu  (Acanthaceae)

Begonia hirtella Link. (Begoniaceae)

Indigofera vohemarensis Baill. (Fabaceae)

Limnobium laevigatum (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Heine (Hydrocharitaceae)

Sida ciliaris L. (Malvaceae)

Newly recorded naturalisations for Queensland, July 2010 to June 2011. These species were previously considered to be either cultivated or doubtfully naturalised in Queensland.

Alysicarpus monilifer (L.) DC. (Fabaceae)

Bauhinia yunnanensis Franch. (Caesalpiniaceae)

Dalbergia latifolia Roxb. (Fabaceae)

Enydra fluctuans Lour. (Asteraceae)

Neomarica northiana (Schneev.) Sprague (Iridaceae)

Schmidtia pappophoroides Steud. ex J.A.Schmidt (Poaceae)

 

Have you seen Mexican feather grass?

Nasella tenuissima, Mexican feather grass, is a declared Class 1 pest. Photo: Biosecurtiy Queensland.

Nasella tenuissima, Mexican feather grass, is a declared Class 1 pest. Photo: Biosecurtiy Queensland.

Mexican feather grass (Nassella tenuissima), was first discovered in Queensland in October 2008. The early detection of this Class 1 weed has no doubt saved Queensland millions of dollars. Specimens were accurately identified by the Queensland Herbarium and Biosecurity Queensland (DEEDI) officers took immediate action. Check the warning brochure for more information on how to spot this weed.

How to be involved in weed detection

To register your or a group's interest in Weed Spotters Queensland please contact the Weed Spotters Queensland Project Officer:
Kathy Stephens
Tel: (07) 3896 9326
Mobile: 0428 756 620
Email: Kathy.Stephens@derm.qld.gov.au

Note that that new weed spotter registrations are temporarily suspended.

 

Weed Spotter training and resources

Training in weed recognition and plant collecting techniques are provided, and a six monthly newsletter is distributed to raise awareness of emerging weeds and to keep everyone up-to-date on activities.

Weed Spotter newsletter

Technical Weed Identification Sheets

The following weed identification sheets have been provided for the identification of specific species or groups of species that cannot be easily identified from pictures and text. The keys are technical and require a basic understanding of botanical terminology. It is assumed that the user has already confidently identified the specimen to the level of genus. For general plant identification, information and resources are available. For explanation of terms, consult the Flora of Australia glossary of terms. Instructions on how to use the keys are included at the top of each sheet. A hand lens or magnifying glass may be needed to observe some characters.

Have I got Mexican Feather Grass (Nassella tenuissima)? (PDF, 78K)*

Have I got fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis)? (PDF, 102K)*

Which Asparagus have I got? (PDF, 121K)*

Which Thunbergia have I got? (PDF, 130K)*

Additional information and weed fact sheets are available.

Useful links

* Requires Adobe Reader

Last updated 18 April 2012

Queensland Herbarium

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