Weed species targeted for national eradication
There are national eradication programs for six weed species in Australia.
The National Tropical Weeds Eradication Program targets five weed species native to tropical America that have been introduced into North Queensland.
These are:
- Limnocharis (Limnocharis flava)
- Mikania vine (Mikania micrantha)
- Miconia (Miconia calvescens, M. racemosa and M. nervosa).
The program is managed by Biosecurity Queensland (part of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries) and is funded with contributions from the Australian, Queensland, New South Wales, Northern Territory and Western Australian governments.
The Red Witchweed National Eradication Program targets eradication of the sixth species, Striga asiatica, a parasitic plant which grows on grasses, including sorghum, corn, sugar cane and various important pasture grasses.
The program is managed by Biosecurity Queensland and is jointly funded/supported by the Federal Government as well as state government agencies in Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory plus Grain Industry Peak Bodies, Meat and Livestock Association and Canegrowers.
Other species may be targeted for eradication at State or Territory level, like parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus) outside of Queensland, Karroo thorn (Vachellia karroo) and Mexican feather grass (Nassella tenuissima).
Hawkweeds (Pilosella species) are also the subject of eradication programs in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.
Check Outbreak for more information about these and other weed eradication efforts.
National Alert List for Environmental Weeds
The National Alert List for Environmental Weeds was developed in 2001. It identified 28 weed species that were in the early stages of establishment and had the potential to become a significant threat to biodiversity if they were not managed.
Species were identified for the Alert List based on three criteria:
- Posing a high or serious potential threat to the environment
- Having limited distribution within Australia at present
- Being amenable to successful eradication or containment programs.
While this list is no longer in formal use by governments, the following list of species still represent serious weed risks and control activities continue to be undertaken for certain species in some parts of Australia. Refer to the Weed Profiles for specific species information.
| Scientific name | Common name |
|---|---|
| Acacia catechu var. sundra | cutch tree |
| Acacia karroo | Karroo thorn |
| Asystasia gangetica ssp. micrantha | Chinese violet |
| Barleria prionitis | barleria |
| Bassia scoparia | kochia |
| Calluna vulgaris | heather |
| Chromolaena odorata | Siam weed |
| Cynoglossum creticum | blue hound’s tongue |
| Cyperus teneristolon | cyperus |
| Cytisus multiflorus | white Spanish broom |
| Dittrichia viscosa | false yellowhead |
| Equiseturn spp. | horsetail species |
| Gymnocoronis spilanthoides | Senegal tea plant |
| Hieracium aurantiacum | orange hawkweed |
| Koelreuteria elegans | Chinese rain tree |
| Lachenalia reflexa | yellow soldier |
| Lagarosiphon major | lagarosiphon |
| Nassella charruana | lobed needle grass |
| Pelargonium alchemilloides | garden geranium |
| Pereskia aculeata | leaf cactus |
| Piptochaetium montevidense | Uruguayan rice grass |
| Praxellis clematidea | praxelis |
| Retama raetarn | white weeping broom |
| Senicio glastifolius | holly leaved senecio |
| Thunbergia laurifolia | laurel clock vine |
| Tipuaria tipu | rosewood |
| Trianoptiles solitaria | subterranean cape sedge |
Agricultural Sleeper Weeds list
Sleeper weeds is a term used for plants that appear benign for many years, but which may suddenly spread rapidly following natural events such as flood, fire, drought, climate change, or change in land or water management.
Consequently, sleeper weeds are not always recognised as a significant problem, even though the potential threat they pose to industry, people or the environment may be extreme.
In 2006, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences – or ABARES – (then the Bureau of Rural Science) identified 17 potential agricultural sleeper weeds as priorities for eradication. These are:
For more information please refer to the 2021 ABARES report: The state of weeds data collection in Australia.