(Parkinsonia
aculeata)
Image above: Parkinsonia plant and flowers,
©
Forest & Kim Starr.
Status of parkinsonia in Tasmania
- Parkinsonia is a
declared weed in Tasmania under the Tasmanian Weed Management Act 1999. The importation, sale and distribution of parkinsonia are prohibited in Tasmania
- Parkinsonia is also a
Weeds of National Significance (WONS)
- The legal responsibilities of landholders and other stakeholders in dealing with parkinsonia are laid out in the parkinsonia Statutory Weed Management Plan
What does parkinsonia look like?
- Parkinsonia is a single or multi stemmed bush or small tree growing to 8 metres. The stems are slender and smooth, and tend to droop and zig-zag. The leaves are a flat green leaf stalk with numerous small, green oblong leaflets staggered along both sides. The leaf base is protected by sharp curved spines.
- The flowers have four yellow petals and a single erect orange or orange-spotted petal. The seed pods are straight with bulges around the seeds and points at both ends.
- Spread is by seed. Seed is spread in water, and in mud on animals and machinery.
- See the
Weeds Of National Significance website for more information on identifying this weed.
Images above: Parkinsonia plant and flowers,
©
Forest & Kim Starr.
Impacts of parkinsonia
- Parkinsonia is a serious weed of rangelands and wetlands.
Where does parkinsonia occur?
- Parkinsonia is a native of Central America. In Australia, parkinsonia has naturalised in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
-
Parkinsonia does not occur in Tasmania.
What you need to do
-
If you locate parkinsonia anywhere in Tasmania, or if you find a plant that you think could be parkinsonia, immediately contact Biosecurity Tasmania on 03 6165 3777 to report this weed.
See also
Other useful links