|
Bridal creeper infestation
|
|
Bridal creeper fruits
|
Bridal creeper, Asparagus asparagoides, is an environmental
weed that was deliberately introduced from South Africa into
Australia in the middle of the 19th century as a plant of
horticultural merit. It has now been declared a weed of national
significance (WONS).
It has become naturalised in many temperate Australian ecosystems,
ranging from wet and dry sclerophyll forests to riparian and
coastal vegetation systems. It is increasingly becoming a
problem in irrigated orchards in New South Wales and Victoria.
In many instances it forms dense monocultures, and is regarded
as a very serious threat to biodiversity.
Bridal creeper generally senesces in early summer, and re-shoots
from its dense system of underground tubers in autumn, when
the shoots grow rapidly and either scramble on themselves
or climb up and over existing vegetation. Columns of vegetation
can extend 3-4 metres. The plant flowers in late winter, producing
numerous red berries in late spring that are attractive to
frugivorous birds that spread the seeds. Unlike many weeds,
bridal creeper is capable of colonising undisturbed ecosystems.
Due to the habitats that this weed invades, the use of herbicides
can be problematic, in that non-target species are affected,
and infestations can be difficult to access.
|
