These bushy trees grow in the bush behind us, but also pop up around our property. They get tiny yellow bell shaped flowers as you can see. The Honeyeaters love them. Question is though, do they belong here, or are they invasive?
Native or not?
Fri, 20/09/2013 - 19:32
#1
Araminta
Native or not?
Hi Araminta. My best guess is Banyalla Pittosporum bicolor which grows 3-10 metres. If so, it's a native, local to your area.
Thanks, thanks , thanks Woko. I was hoping it would be, because they grow just by self seeding, we have a number of them and the birds love them.
We have some that are about 3-4m high. That's great, we will just let them grow in peace
M-L
Hi M-L, no good at identifying, and glad Woko is around, but I did find this interesting link, not sure if it fits your location, but has information and pictures, which may be of benefit in the future. Maybe your local councillor has a similar publication.
http://www.nccma.vic.gov.au/library/scripts/objectifyMedia.aspx?file=KMSMedia/pdf/96/42.pdf&fileName=Weeds%20identification%20guide.pdf
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
I'm also very glad Woko is around
his knowledge is very much appreciated.
The info you have given me a link to ,is not exactly my region, but there are so many weeds , that would grow around here too. Fortunately we don't have that many weeds, still some Ivy and some Ragwort that pops up from time to time. Our daughter removed weeds in her paddocks almost every day for years, because she worried her horses might get poisoned. But we have a small area where Patterson Curse has come up. We have to get rid of that.
Very interesting how many different kind of Thistles there are. We haven't had any, I'm glad to say.
Thanks again Dale for the information
M-L
Araminta, I'm not 100% sure of my identification of your plant but it's my best guess. Do you have a local Landcare person or environmental officer who would be able to identify the plant?
Also, some thistle-like plants are natives. I began pulling out a number of thistles that had grown at my place until I took a close look & found they're a native. The golden rule of bush care is "If in doubt, don't pull it out". I'd hate to be the one to remove the last remaining individual of a species only to find that I'd caused its extinction.
I think you are correct Woko. my first thought when I looked was pittosporum, but I'm not familiar with that species. The flowers look like pittosporum flowers.
The leaves look similar to some mystery plants that also pop up around my place. I haven't noticed flowers on them though; I'll look closer next time.
The main weeds around my place in Gippsland are blackberries, pussy willow, ragwort, various thistles and one large patch of wandering jew. :(
- soakes
soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia
O,o, I have just discovered some "cape weed", haven't had any before, but it grows on the side of the road around here. It's in an area where we can use round up.
Soakes the mystery plant/tree only gets yellow flowers when it grows bigger.
M-L
If you can eradicate the cape weed before it spreads you'll be doing your local environment a huge favour, Araminta. The paddocks around my place (s.e. slopes of Mt Lofty Ranges, SA) are covered with the stuff & I fight a constant battle with it at this time of the year. However, there are places where constant mowing & spraying have produced mosses & liverworts that make it difficult for the cape weed to colonise. Also, I've noticed that where healthy & substantial stands of native grasses have become established cape weed finds it difficult to invade.
After consulting my friend next door, who knows a lot about plants, just like WOKO said:
Found it, try pittosporum bicolour
http://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Residents/Yarra_Ranges_Plant_Directory/Middle_Storey/Trees_3-25m/Pittosporum_bicolor
You are fantastic
M-L
There is some very interesting reading about what the council does for the environment (link is above), also the Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater.
Woko will like the section: Ribbons of Green Program. The council is giving away about 60000 native plants per year.
The friend I talked about above planted a large number on his land two years ago. Some good examples what can be done.
M-L
I certainly do like the Ribbons of Green programme, Aramina. This is something councils right across Australia could emulate if we're to help save our biodiversity.
Benn Sheffield, who seems to be the contact person for Ribbons of Green, may well be a useful resource for identifying plants in your area, Araminta.