Invasive Miconia species in Australia

 

old revision

Publication Date

Tue, 30 Jun 2015, 06:05

Last Updated

June 30, 2015, 6:05 a.m.

Report Number

AUS-33/3

Country

Australia

Pest Id

Miconia calvescens - (MICCA)

Report Status

Preliminary

Hosts

Invasive trees and shrubs

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

M. calvescens has been found along the east coast of Australia. Most occurrences in Far North Queensland and two sites are in northern NSW/south east Queensland. M.nervosa is only known at one location in Far North Queensland in and abutting the Daintree National Park. M. racemosa is only known at one location, in Kuranda, Far North Queensland

Summary

Three species of Miconia have been found in Australia. M. calvescens is a small tree, which grows up to 15 m tall. It has large leaves that have iridescent purple undersides. M. nervosa and M. racemosa are both shrubs that grow up to 3 m tall. The seeds of these three species are contained in small black-purple or brown fruit that are dispersed primarily by birds. All three species are a significant threat to Australia’s rainforests.

Miconias also have the potential to degrade crop, plantation and pasture areas. Birds are attracted to the fruit, which can be spread large distances from the parent tree. Seeds can persist in the soil for more than eight years.

Gardeners value the attractive large, purple leaves of M. calvescens and have spread it as a garden ornamental. M. calvescens has become a major weed in the Society Islands (which includes Tahiti), the Hawaiian Islands and other Pacific islands. In the Hawaiian Islands, this plant is known as the ^^purple plague^^; and it is considered the greatest plant threat to the remaining wet forest ecosystems on the islands.

In Tahiti, M. calvescens has become established over 65% of the island (70 000 hectares) in dense stands, with up to 880 trees per hectare.

Danger

Miconias are aggressive trees and shrubs that have the ability to invade rainforest areas, displace native plant species and affect the habitat of native fauna. The ecosystems at risk are primarily the coastal tropical and sub-tropical rainforests of eastern Australia, including the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.

Contact for info

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

Report files

Website

http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/4790_7317.htm

Issue keywords

Pest reporting

Commodity keywords