ORIGIN

Western Australia

COMMON NAME

Brush wattle

BOTANICAL NAME

Paraserianthes lophantha

IDENTIFICATION

Evergreen shrub to small tree, twigs ribbed, densely hairy. Leaves frond-like (2-pinnate), alternate. Pinnules in 20-40-(45) pairs, fairly close set, oblong, acute, asymmetric with one prominent vein closer to upper margin of edge of leaf. Flower parts in 5's, greenish yellow, numerous, May-Aug. Pod smooth surfaced, straight, 80-150 mm long. Brush wattle is not a `wattle' (Racosperma spp.) but is of the same family. Brush wattle is distinguished from the true wattles with pinnate leaves by the large robust flowers which are simple greenish-yellow racemes (spikes). In addition the leaf of brush wattle has a solitary large gland on the leaf stalk below the pinnules and young growth usually has a dense covering of bronze hairs.

HABITATS

Waste places, shrubland, riverbanks and coastal sites. Locally abundant.

IMPACT TO BIOTA AND ECOSYSTEMS

An aggressive weed which invades shrubland, riverbanks and coastal sites, often forming dense stands and displacing native trees.

DISPERSAL ROUTES, VECTORS, INFESTATION SOURCES

Seeds freely into shrubland.

MANAGEMENT

Physical Control
Hand pull seedlings. Ring bark or fell larger trees.

Disposal

Chemical Control
Ringbark or fell larger trees and paint with herbicide.

Spray with Roundup at 100 ml in 10 litres of water with 20 ml Pulse.

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Biological Control

Recommended Approach
Pull seedlings and ringbark larger trees.

Felling trees may open up new space for wattle seedling growth so ringbarking may be more suitable.

FURTHER COMMENT