emblatame (Ron)
Cooktown Trip (Group 28) - An Environmental Disaster - Mother in-law's Tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata) (Snake Plant)
Not only were all the great melaleucas dead except for a few with scraggly growth, but the entire region was deeply infested by this horrible weed, Sansevieria trifasciata. I spoke to the Cook Shire Environmental Officer about this and he said it was a continuing problem as it had been sprayed many times but was very hardy and resistant to even strong poisons and would regrow. It is disgraceful to think that this plant is sold as an ornamental in Australia. It is rubbish. Facts I dug up while searching:-
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Scientific Name: Sansevieria trifasciata Prain
Synonym: Sansevieria zeylanica
Family: Dracaenaceae (or included in Agavaceae)
Form: Herb
Origin: Native of tropical Africa. Zaire
Flowers/Seedhead: Inflorescence a spike of greenish-white fragrant flowers. Flowers 2.5–3 cm long, with petals and sepals joined at the base to form a tube about half as long as the flower; 6 stamens inserted in top of tube. Flowers spring and summer.
Description: Perennial succulent to 1 (rarely to 1.75) m high. Leaves 1–6 per plant, strap-like, 2.5–9 cm wide, apex sharp-pointed. Berry about 8 mm wide, containing 2 seeds. Seeds pale brown, oblong, about 6.5 mm long and about 5 mm wide.
Distinguishing features: Distinguished by presence of stolons; erect succulent fibrous leaves with greyish or light green bands and reddish, yellow or light green leaf margins; ovary above joined base of petals and sepals; fruit a berry ripening orange.
Dispersal: Spread by seed and stolons.
Growth Habits: Up to 4 feet tall (or usually around 1 metre when wild)
==========================================
It is a Potential weed species according to the Department of Environment and heritage. It has no history of being a weed outside of Australia. Department of Environment and heritage have listed it as having the potential of becoming an environmental weed in Australia.
It is listed as a weed in the following councils.
Brisbane city council
Lismore city council
Noosa Council
Grafton City Council
Sansevieria trifasciata is a perennial plant which reproduces from rhizomes. Native to west Africa it has naturalised in urban bushland around Brisbane and on nearby islands in Moreton Bay. It is widely planted as a garden ornamental and has probably been spread into new areas as a result of people dumping garden waste.
===========================================
Weeds and pest animals
Invasive plants, pest animals and ants have significant economic, environmental and social impacts on Queenslanders.
The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries works closely in partnerships with local governments, communities and other stakeholders to minimise these impacts. Although the Queensland Govt has listed this among the 200 invasive weed species on its list, it is doing nothing about this problem at Finch Bay.
======================================================
Australian readers will relate to the next couple of comments taken from various discussion forums:-
[1]. I was shopping at Woolies the other day when I noticed they were selling Senseveria spp (mother-in-law's tongue). I was flabbergasted and asked to speak to the Manager about it. Of course he didn't know much about it, but I thought it might have been illegal to sell such pests under new State legislation...?
Anyway, I have seen such shocking pests being sold in a number of urban Woolies. It just goes to show that we need to be engaging them on this and a number of other "ethical" issues such as the Maleny debacle. What next? A McDonalds?
Kind regards,
Adam
________________________
[2]. According to "Burkes Backyard" it is a great plant to grow.
"Backyard Blitz" also recommend it as an ideal plant for just about anywhere in Australia and also forgot to mention its weedyness.
"Gardening Australia" also recommend it but they at least advised that it is an Environmental weed in some parts of Australia.
"Backyard Blitz" also recommend it as an ideal plant for just about anywhere in Australia and also forgot to mention its weedyness." One writer heard that Jamie Durie character deride on TV Australia's native plants. Basically he said he would never plant a native in any of the gardens he designed.
Cooktown Trip (Group 28) - An Environmental Disaster - Mother in-law's Tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata) (Snake Plant)
Not only were all the great melaleucas dead except for a few with scraggly growth, but the entire region was deeply infested by this horrible weed, Sansevieria trifasciata. I spoke to the Cook Shire Environmental Officer about this and he said it was a continuing problem as it had been sprayed many times but was very hardy and resistant to even strong poisons and would regrow. It is disgraceful to think that this plant is sold as an ornamental in Australia. It is rubbish. Facts I dug up while searching:-
=======================================
Scientific Name: Sansevieria trifasciata Prain
Synonym: Sansevieria zeylanica
Family: Dracaenaceae (or included in Agavaceae)
Form: Herb
Origin: Native of tropical Africa. Zaire
Flowers/Seedhead: Inflorescence a spike of greenish-white fragrant flowers. Flowers 2.5–3 cm long, with petals and sepals joined at the base to form a tube about half as long as the flower; 6 stamens inserted in top of tube. Flowers spring and summer.
Description: Perennial succulent to 1 (rarely to 1.75) m high. Leaves 1–6 per plant, strap-like, 2.5–9 cm wide, apex sharp-pointed. Berry about 8 mm wide, containing 2 seeds. Seeds pale brown, oblong, about 6.5 mm long and about 5 mm wide.
Distinguishing features: Distinguished by presence of stolons; erect succulent fibrous leaves with greyish or light green bands and reddish, yellow or light green leaf margins; ovary above joined base of petals and sepals; fruit a berry ripening orange.
Dispersal: Spread by seed and stolons.
Growth Habits: Up to 4 feet tall (or usually around 1 metre when wild)
==========================================
It is a Potential weed species according to the Department of Environment and heritage. It has no history of being a weed outside of Australia. Department of Environment and heritage have listed it as having the potential of becoming an environmental weed in Australia.
It is listed as a weed in the following councils.
Brisbane city council
Lismore city council
Noosa Council
Grafton City Council
Sansevieria trifasciata is a perennial plant which reproduces from rhizomes. Native to west Africa it has naturalised in urban bushland around Brisbane and on nearby islands in Moreton Bay. It is widely planted as a garden ornamental and has probably been spread into new areas as a result of people dumping garden waste.
===========================================
Weeds and pest animals
Invasive plants, pest animals and ants have significant economic, environmental and social impacts on Queenslanders.
The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries works closely in partnerships with local governments, communities and other stakeholders to minimise these impacts. Although the Queensland Govt has listed this among the 200 invasive weed species on its list, it is doing nothing about this problem at Finch Bay.
======================================================
Australian readers will relate to the next couple of comments taken from various discussion forums:-
[1]. I was shopping at Woolies the other day when I noticed they were selling Senseveria spp (mother-in-law's tongue). I was flabbergasted and asked to speak to the Manager about it. Of course he didn't know much about it, but I thought it might have been illegal to sell such pests under new State legislation...?
Anyway, I have seen such shocking pests being sold in a number of urban Woolies. It just goes to show that we need to be engaging them on this and a number of other "ethical" issues such as the Maleny debacle. What next? A McDonalds?
Kind regards,
Adam
________________________
[2]. According to "Burkes Backyard" it is a great plant to grow.
"Backyard Blitz" also recommend it as an ideal plant for just about anywhere in Australia and also forgot to mention its weedyness.
"Gardening Australia" also recommend it but they at least advised that it is an Environmental weed in some parts of Australia.
"Backyard Blitz" also recommend it as an ideal plant for just about anywhere in Australia and also forgot to mention its weedyness." One writer heard that Jamie Durie character deride on TV Australia's native plants. Basically he said he would never plant a native in any of the gardens he designed.