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Beware Of Alligator Weed

A Victorian Weed Spotter has assisted the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) with its fight against State Prohibited Weeds.

By Department of Primary Industries - 27th March 2007 - Back to News

A new infestation of Alligator weed has been found in an open drain in the township of Warragul.

Alligator weed is regarded as one of the worst weeds in Australia because of its invasive nature and huge potential to spread. Alligator weed can choke out waterways and can also grow on land, which it has at this site.

State Prohibited Weeds are declared under the Catchment and Land Protection act 1994, because they either do not occur in Victoria, or are already present but it is reasonable to expect that they can be eradicated.

DPI Weed Alert Contact Officer, Kylie Woods, said that it is DPI responsibility to control all State Prohibited Weed infestations in Victoria, regardless of where it is.

Ms Woods said that Alligator weed is easy to identify now as it is in full flower.

"The flower heads are on a short stalk and are papery to touch. The leaves are glossy green, shaped like a spearhead and arranged as opposite pairs along a hollow stem.

"This is the first time the weed has naturalised outside of Melbourne. Alligator weed was a major problem in Melbourne as it was cultivated in backyards and mistakenly used in traditional Sri Lankan cooking instead of another herb known as ‘mukunewnna’ or ‘pononcarni’.

"I urge people to report new weed infestations to DPI," Ms Woods said.

DPI will be treating the Alligator weed site in early April.

For further information contact the DPI Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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