Senecio madagascariensis

Madagascan Fireweed, Fireweed at Belconnen, ACT

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Identification history

	Senecio madagascariensis	3 Jul 2022	MichaelMulvaney
	Senecio madagascariensis	3 Jul 2022	Rosie

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Significant sighting

MichaelMulvaney noted:

6 Jul 2022

Great that this outbreak of this potentially highly problematic plant has been eradicated. Bad that it was probably imported in the pots of plants used in landscaping. Conditions should be placed on Government contracts that plants must not be obtained from areas with known infestations of Fireweed - preferably stock should be sourced locally. The contractors are cutting costs but at high risk to the rest of us.

User's notes

Growing close to a busy cycle and footpath. On the Lake Ginninderra foreshore near where major works have been completed in the past 12-18 months.

9 comments

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

3 Jul 2022

Thanks Rosemary if you could remove and bag the plants that would be very much appreciated

Rosie wrote:

3 Jul 2022

Michael, I may be able to search for further plants in the area around the Belconnen Arts Centre's foreshore.

Rosie wrote:

3 Jul 2022

AlisonMilton wrote:

3 Jul 2022

Looking at the photos, I suspect thaty may have been planted as part of the development.

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

4 Jul 2022

or the seed was in the soil of the pots of plants used in the landscaping

KirstinR wrote:

4 Jul 2022

Thanks for recording this Rosie. I work for the Biosecurity team; we have removed the plant this morning and checked the area for further plants. We will continue to monitor.

Rosie wrote:

4 Jul 2022

Thank you Kirstin and the Biosecurity team.
Is it usual for S. madagascariensis to be flowering at this time? Or were the Lake G plants in such a favourable location they could continue in spite of temperatures?
If other specimens are likely to be in such obvious flower have landcaring citizens and volunteers been alerted to their possible presence?

Paul4K wrote:

4 Jul 2022

The two plants we've found over the last few years,near Doughboy, flowered at this time of year.

KirstinR wrote:

6 Jul 2022

Hi Rosie, yes it is usual for this plant to be flowering at this time and the flower itself is a great ID tool. We have found fireweed is being brought in to the ACT through tube stocks used on new construction sites and we ensure we monitor these sites. If you ever find a fireweed, and you are able to, please remove it with roots and all, place into a sealed bag, and dispose of.

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