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Blackberry infestation
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Fruiting blackberry
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Introduction
European blackberry (Rubus fruticosus aggregate) is
one of the most important environmental weeds of southern
Australia and is listed as one of the twenty Australian Weeds
of National Significance (WONS).
Blackberry was deliberately introduced into Australia in
the mid 1800s as a horticultural plant, but early on it was
recognised as a serious weed. In natural ecosystems dense
infestations of the weed reduce natural diversity of vegetation
and reduce wildlife habitat as well as the conservation value
of public lands, parks and reserves. In agricultural areas
blackberry thickets replace pasture and exclude livestock.
The weed causes access problems in forests and reduces timber
production by competition and preventing natural regeneration.
An economic appraisal of blackberry in 1984 estimated the
cost to the Australian economy of A$42.1M while its benefits
(mostly fruits and pollen) were estimated at A$600,000 (Amor
et al. 1998).
Herbicides have been extensively used for control of blackberry.
Grubbing, mowing, cultivation, cropping, fire or combinations
of these methods are used also. Often inaccessibility, the
extensive areas infested and the risk of damage to native
vegetation makes control by herbicides or cultural means,
difficult or impossible.
Blackberry will persist indefinitely in an area unless managed.
Management programs, including biological
control, must be planned and sustained over a number of
years to address the problem.
Blackberry infests about 8.8 million ha of temperate Australia
- more than the area of Tasmania. At least 14 different but
closely related species of weedy blackberry taxa have been
identified in Australia. Many species have the potential to
spread further within the climatic limits of blackberry's
range.
For more information see publications
list.
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