Limnocharis flava in northern Queensland

Publication Date

Fri, 05 Mar 2010, 00:00

Last Updated

June 30, 2015, 6:06 a.m.

Report Number

AUS-35/2

Country

Australia

Pest Id

Limnocharis flava - (LMNFL)

Report Status

Final

Hosts

Invasive aquatic weed

Pest Status (old values from ISPM 8 -1998 )

• Present: under eradication

Pest Status (ISPM 8 - 2021)

• Present: not widely distributed and under official control

Geographical Distribution

Infestation was originally detected in Kuranda, Far North Queensland in 2001. To date infestations detected in northern Australia have included plants located in backyard ponds, ornamental lakes, farm drains and in natural waterways.

Summary

Limnocharis is a perennial, anchored, climp-forming aquatic herb that grows over a meter in height. The pale green leaves occur on triangular petioles which can be up to 85 cm in length. Fruit contain up to 1000 seeds. It can flower within 23 days. Mature fruit, follicle and seed are all buoyant to aid water dispersal. It can also spread vegetatively. It is spread by water, but also may spread in mud adhering to vehicles, machinery, footwear, waterbirds and animals.

Nearly half of the infestations have been eradicated, a third are in a monitoring phase and the remainder are in the control phase.

Danger

Limnocharis is considered to be a major weed in many countries. It is a perennial aquatic plant which colonises shallow wetlands and margins of deeper waterways. It can quickly grow to dominate native aquatic plants and affects the ecology of stream banks by displacing native flora and fauna. Limnocharis can change the hydrology of water bodies by reducing the width of channels, thereby restricting water flow and becoming silt traps. It can also restrict human and livestock access to water and provide favourable breeding areas for disease vectors like mosquitoes. In Asia, Limnocharis hinders agricultural production by infesting rice paddies, irrigation channels and drainage ditches leading to the abandonment of rice paddies. Infestations pose a serious agricultural and biodiversity threat to northern Australia.

Contact for info

Australian Chief Plant Protection Officer Australian Government Department of Agriculture, GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601 Australia [email protected]

Report files

Website

http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/4790_7311.htm

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