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Sleeper weeds are invasive plants that have become established
in a region but have not spread widely. One example is Mimosa
which existed in low numbers for 70 years before becoming
a major weed.
Many exotic plants have established in Australia but have
not become major weeds. This may be for a variety of reasons
e.g. the absence of suitable pollinators, unsuitable environmental
conditions, the presence of exotic natural enemies which were
introduced with the plants etc. However this doesn't mean
these plants will never become weeds. Some of them are sleeper
weeds which will one day, when conditions are right, begin
to spread rapidly.
If these plant species could be identified and eradicated
or contained before they become major weeds, then there would
be a considerable saving in terms of the cost of control as
well as loss of biodiversity.
The Bureau
of Rural Sciences in the Australian Governments Department
of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has produced two informative
reports on sleeper weeds.
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Prioritising
sleeper weeds for eradication: Selection of species based
on potential impacts on agriculture and feasibility of
eradication.
David Cunningham, Gemma Woldendorp, Melissa Burgess and
Simon Barry (2003)
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Agricultural
Sleeper Weeds in Australia: What is the potential threat?
Tim R. Brinkley and Mary Bomford (July 2002)
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