Unwanted Soil and Seed
Phytophthora (a root-rot fungus sometimes called Cinnamon Fungus) causes die back in many indigenous swamp plants as well as household plants such as citrus trees. It is found on the Nepean Peninsula and transported via soil from site to site. Weeds can also be transported via shoes and vehicles.
When entering a swamp, clean shoes of seeds and soil using a foot wash of diluted white king and water, which kills phytophthora spores.
A weed is generally considered to be a plant that grows where it is not wanted, all plants come from seeds.
A more accurate definition of a weed is that it is a plant that has the capacity to invade cultivated or disturbed land or natural ecosystems. Weeds are usually vigorous and resilient, successfully competing with indigenous plants for space, light, nutrients and water.
This is not because indigenous plants are fundamentally weak, but rather because, unlike indigenous species, weeds have left their disease organisms and grazing animals behind in their original environment. It is these organisms that stop weeds from being “weedy” in their own original habitats.
Serious weeds are highly invasive. The spread of weed species is closely linked to the disturbance of indigenous vegetation through human induced activities such as clearing, grazing and dumping of garden refuse, wherever disturbance occurs the risk of serious weed invasion is greatly increased.
Weed invasion threatens wetland biodiversity, leading to a decline in both species and habitat diversity. Weeds impact upon wetland ecology in a number of ways by:
• directly competing with established indigenous wetland plant communities;
• restricting indigenous plant regeneration through competition;
• reducing the resources available for feeding, breeding and shelter of fauna; and
• increasing fire risk as a result of increased fuel loads.
Another threat is the common name that we have applied to plants in Australia. To the unknowing and innocent many of these names are difficult to distinguish, what is indigenous? and, what is not? For example indigenous plants with the word weed in their common name sounds like it doesn't belong, and the word common on an indigenous plant may have once spoken about its abundance to which it may no longer have. Education is an important tool to help secure the future of indigenous species.
When entering a swamp, clean shoes of seeds and soil using a foot wash of diluted white king and water, which kills phytophthora spores.
A weed is generally considered to be a plant that grows where it is not wanted, all plants come from seeds.
A more accurate definition of a weed is that it is a plant that has the capacity to invade cultivated or disturbed land or natural ecosystems. Weeds are usually vigorous and resilient, successfully competing with indigenous plants for space, light, nutrients and water.
This is not because indigenous plants are fundamentally weak, but rather because, unlike indigenous species, weeds have left their disease organisms and grazing animals behind in their original environment. It is these organisms that stop weeds from being “weedy” in their own original habitats.
Serious weeds are highly invasive. The spread of weed species is closely linked to the disturbance of indigenous vegetation through human induced activities such as clearing, grazing and dumping of garden refuse, wherever disturbance occurs the risk of serious weed invasion is greatly increased.
Weed invasion threatens wetland biodiversity, leading to a decline in both species and habitat diversity. Weeds impact upon wetland ecology in a number of ways by:
• directly competing with established indigenous wetland plant communities;
• restricting indigenous plant regeneration through competition;
• reducing the resources available for feeding, breeding and shelter of fauna; and
• increasing fire risk as a result of increased fuel loads.
Another threat is the common name that we have applied to plants in Australia. To the unknowing and innocent many of these names are difficult to distinguish, what is indigenous? and, what is not? For example indigenous plants with the word weed in their common name sounds like it doesn't belong, and the word common on an indigenous plant may have once spoken about its abundance to which it may no longer have. Education is an important tool to help secure the future of indigenous species.
