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Alien Invader Plants
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CATEGORY: 1 CONTROL: DESCRIPTION: Smooth grey-green to reddish stems; large hand-shaped leaves with toothed margins; insignificant flowers with no petals produced as separate sexes; three chambered fruits (A) covered with long, soft spines; large smooth oily seeds with variegated markings; evergreen much-branched shrub or small tree up to 4 m tall. Stems are hollow with pith and only become woody when they are old. Flowering time: Flowers all year peaking during the summer months. ORIGIN: Believed to originate from Central Africa and India, it is now widespread throughout the tropics. It is believed to have found its way here with Stone Age Man possibly 3000 years ago. WHERE FOUND/PROBLEMS CAUSED: A pioneer plant which is eventually replaced by longer-lived species, it invades highly disturbed habitats especially road verges, cleared land and silt deposits along stream banks. Seeds are spread by water and birds. Although it can compete with and replace desired indigenous vegetation, it usually only occurs in disturbed habitats, so is not considered a really serious threat to our biodiversity. Large infestations may alter the feeding behaviour of birds. Although rarely eaten by stock, it is poisonous especially to horses. DID
YOU KNOW: The seeds are extremely rich in oil but this needs extensive
purification before it can be safely used medicinally. The seed coat contains ricin, a deadly poison.
The Zulus make a paste
used for toothache and as a purgative. Oil
from the seeds is used for lubricating fine machinery and in the manufacture of
linoleums, plastics, paints, soaps and ink.
This page was last edited on 22 April, 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
