Phytolacca octandra
Inkweed at Downer, ACT
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| Phytolacca octandra | MichaelMulvaney | 2 May 2021 | |
| Phytolacca octandra | Jiggy | 2 May 2021 |
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10 comments
2 May 2021
Thanks Jiggy - first Canberra record of this species on Canberra Nature Map
2 May 2021
Jiggy
if you walk there regularly would you mind to dig it out, place it in a bag and deposit off in your rubbish bin? I rarely make it up to the ridge nowadays; the weeds in the grassy woodlands of Mt Majura's foot slopes keep me busy...
Many thanks
waltraud
if you walk there regularly would you mind to dig it out, place it in a bag and deposit off in your rubbish bin? I rarely make it up to the ridge nowadays; the weeds in the grassy woodlands of Mt Majura's foot slopes keep me busy...
Many thanks
waltraud
3 May 2021
Most times I do remove weeds, but if a new incursion I like to check if Steve Taylor what like the specimen for the herbarium collection.
3 May 2021
Oh, yes that makes sense since it is the first record in Canberra. Would you have the time to collect?w
3 May 2021
Steve is going to send Haley up there to remove the plant and have a scout around, maybe there is a parent plant around.
4 May 2021
Great!
I checked the ACT Census of Vascular Plants 2019 which lists the Ink weed:
Phytolacca octandra PHYTOLACCACEAE Exotic [EA] Formerly 1969 R.Barker s.n. [CANB 663178] Inkweed
I guess a Currawong picked the fruits in a garden and dropped the seeds; the past mild winter and plenty of rain helped the plant to thrive...
I checked the ACT Census of Vascular Plants 2019 which lists the Ink weed:
Phytolacca octandra PHYTOLACCACEAE Exotic [EA] Formerly 1969 R.Barker s.n. [CANB 663178] Inkweed
I guess a Currawong picked the fruits in a garden and dropped the seeds; the past mild winter and plenty of rain helped the plant to thrive...
4 May 2021
My experience is that it has the potential to spread quite rapidly thanks to its lovely berries, which are initially green, then red, then black. So glad someone is going to look around for other plants.
I think it should be classed as a sleeper weed - needs more recognition as a potential problem.
I think it should be classed as a sleeper weed - needs more recognition as a potential problem.
4 May 2021
thanks for your comment Barb. I'm afraid it will be with us as long as it is cultivated in gardens and Currawongs roam in pest numbers between suburbia and nature reserves. Perhaps, if people would know how toxic it is they wouldn't cultivate it.
4 May 2021
Please whoever goes to remove it, take care and wear gloves. The roots are said to be especially poisonous.
Location information
- Coordinates 149.176298-35.245665
- Places Downer, ACT
Sighting information
- At least 1 Abundance
- 2 May 2021 11:15 AM Recorded on
- Jiggy Recorded by
- 10cm to 30cm Plant height
Collections
- Jiggy Canberra & Southern Tablelands NatureMapr Phytolacca octandra Other Wildflowers & Herbs Plants
Species information
- Phytolacca octandra Scientific name
- Inkweed Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Exotic
- Minor weed or pest
- Up to 958m Recorded at altitude
- External link More information
Seasonal activity
-
Was the plant in flower?
JFMAMJJASOND
Record quality
Quality score
4 / 7
- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Verified by an expert moderator
- Additional attributes
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- GPS evidence of location
- Description