Alien Invader Plants
Izihlahla Zokufika Ezhlaselayo
Uitheemse Probleem Plante

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CONTROL: 
Mechanical and manual. Try to limit the seed setting of the plants until infested areas can be cleared.
Chemical: No herbicide is registered for the daisy family at present.  Try Garlon® 4 50ml or Roundup®, etc 150ml/10l water on new seedlings.

DESCRIPTION: Erect, little-branched shrubby perennial.  Stems square; leaves large, hairy, hand-shaped and deeply lobed (A); flowers dahlia-like, white with yellow centers borne in clusters; reddish-brown seeds borne in the rounded, papery, old flower heads (B).  Flowering time: May to October.

ORIGIN: Originates from an area extending from Guatemala to Costa Rica.

WHERE FOUND/PROBLEMS CAUSED:  Mostly in shady habitats along the coast below 650m.  Favours drainage lines, streams and open patches in disturbed forest areas.  Grows rapidly and is difficult to control.  Invades forest, woodland, bush clumps, roadsides, riverbanks and disturbed sites.

DID YOU KNOW: Can be confused with M. bipinnatifida, which is grown as an ornamental and has not shown signs of escaping.  It is more tree-like and its leaves are more feather-like and not hand-shaped like M. hibiscifolia

This page was last edited on 22 April, 2006