Virtual Reference Collection of Priority Weeds for NSW

Scientific name: Andropogon gayanus Kunth

Family: Poaceae

Taxonomy: Australian Plant Census

Australian distribution: Atlas of Living Australia

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution: Plants of the World Online

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSW WeedWise

DNA reference sequence will be available once published. 

Reference image of Andropogon gayanus. 

Click here for high-resolution specimen image

Prohibited Matter: 

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244. 

Scientific name: Annona glabra L.

Family: Annonaceae 

Taxonomy: Australian Plant Census

Australian distribution: Atlas of Living Australia 

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution: Plants of the World Online

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSW WeedWise

DNA reference sequence will be available once published. 

Reference image of Annona glabra. 

Click here for high-resolution specimen image 

Prohibited Matter:

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244. 

Scientific name: Asparagus declinatus L.

Family: Asparagaceae

Taxonomy: Australian Plant Census 

Australian distribution: Atlas of Living Australia 

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution: Plants of the World Online

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSW WeedWise

DNA reference sequence will be available once published. 

Reference image of Asparagus declinatus. 

Click here for high-resolution specimen image

Prohibited Matter:

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244. 

Scientific name: Bassia scoparia (L.) A.J.Scott

Also known as: Kochia scoparia

Exception: subspecies trichophylla

Family: Chenopodiaceae

Taxonomy: Australian Plant Census

Australian distribution: Atlas of Living Australia

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution: Plants of the World Online

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSW WeedWise

DNA reference sequence will be available once published

Reference image of Bassia scoparia. 

Click here for high-resolution specimen image      

Reference image of Bassia scoparia.

Click here for high-resolution specimen image 

Prohibited Matter: 

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244.

Scientific name: Centaurea stoebe subsp. micranthos (S.G.Gmel. ex Gugler) Hayek 

Also known as: Centaurea stoebe subsp. australis, Centaurea maculosa subsp. micranthos

Family: Asteraceae 

Taxonomy, description: NSW Flora Online

Taxonomy: Australian Plant Census

Australian distribution: Atlas of Living Australia 

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution: Plants of the World Online 

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSW WeedWise

DNA reference sequence will be available once published. 

Reference image of Centaurea stoebe subsp. micranthos.

Click here for high-resolution specimen image 

Prohibited Matter:

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244. 

Scientific name: Centaurea x moncktonii C.E.Britton

Also known as: Centaurea x gerstlaueri

Family: Asteraceae

Taxonomy, description: NSW Flora Online

Taxonomy: Australian Plant Census

Australian distribution: Atlas of Living Australia

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution: Plants of the World Online 

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSW WeedWise

DNA reference sequence will be available once published. 

Reference image of Centaurea x moncktonii.

Click here for high-resolution specimen image 

Prohibited Matter: 

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244.

Scientific name: Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob.

Family: Asteraceae

Taxonomy: Australian Plant Census

Australian distribution: Atlas of Living Australia

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution: Plants of the World Online 

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSW WeedWise

DNA reference sequence will be available once published. 

Reference image of Chromolaena odorata.

Click here for high-resolution specimen image 

Prohibited Matter:

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244. 

Scientific name: Clidemia hirta (L.) D.Don

Also known as: Miconia crenata

Family: Melastomataceae

Taxonomy: Australian Plant Census

Australian distribution: Atlas of Living Australia

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution: Plants of the World Online

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSW WeedWise

DNA reference sequence will be available once published. 

Reference image of Clidemia hirta. 

Click here for high-resolution specimen image 

Prohibited Matter: 

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244. 

Scientific name: Cryptostegia grandiflora R.Br.

Family: Apocynaceae

Taxonomy: Australian Plant Census

Australian distribution: Atlas of Living Australia 

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution: Plants of the World Online

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSWWeedWise

DNA reference sequence will be available once published. 

Reference image of Cryptostegia grandiflora. 

Click here for high-resolution specimen image 

Prohibited Matter: 

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244. 

Scientific name: Hydrocotyle ranunculoides L.f.

Family: Araliaceae

Taxonomy: Australian Plant Census

Australian distribution: Atlas of Living Australia

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution: Plants of the World Online

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSW WeedWise

DNA reference sequence will be available once published. 

Reference image of Hydrocotyle ranunculoides.

Click here for high-resolution specimen image 

Prohibited Matter:  

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244. 

Scientific name: Lagarosiphon major (Ridl.) Moss

Family: Hydrocharitaceae

Taxonomy, description: NSW Flora Online

Taxonomy: Australian Plant Census

Australian distribution: Atlas of Living Australia

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution: Plants of the World Online

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSW WeedWise

DNA reference sequence will be available once published. 

Reference image of Lagarosiphon major.

Click here for high-resolution specimen image

Prohibited Matter: 

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244.

Scientific name: Limnobium laevigatum (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Heine

Family: Hydrocharitaceae

Also known as: Hydrocharis laevigata

Taxonomy, description: NSW Flora Online

Taxonomy: Australian Plant Census

Australian distribution: Atlas of Living Australia

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution: Plants of the World Online

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSW WeedWise

A second species of Limnobium (L. spongia) is sometimes recognised, and is also considered Prohibited Matter, but has not yet been collected in Australia.

DNA reference sequence will be available once published. 

Reference image of Limnobium laevigatum.

Click here for high-resolution specimen image 

Prohibited Matter: 

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244. 

Scientific name: Limnocharis flava (L.) Buchenau

Family: Alismataceae

Taxonomy: Australian Plant Census

Australian distribution: Atlas of Living Australia

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution: Plants of the World Online

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSW WeedWise

DNA reference sequence will be available once published.

Reference image of Limnocharis flava.

Click here for high-resolution specimen image 

Prohibited Matter: 

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244.

Scientific name: Miconia Ruiz & Pav.

Family: Melastomataceae

Taxonomy: Australian Plant Census

Australian distribution: Atlas of Living Australia

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution: Plants of the World Online

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSW WeedWise

DNA reference sequence will be available once published.

The following three species are Prohibited Matter, and are also targeted under the National Tropical Weeds Eradication Program: Miconia calvescens, Miconia racemosa, Miconia nervosa.

Prohibited Matter: 

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244.

Scientific name: Mikania micrantha Kunth

Family: Asteraceae

Taxonomy: Australian Plant Census

Australian distribution: Atlas of Living Australia

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution: Plants of the World Online

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSW WeedWise

DNA reference sequence will be available once published. 

Reference image of Mikania micrantha.

Click here for high-resolution specimen image 

Prohibited Matter: 

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244. 

Scientific name: Mimosa pigra L.

Family: Fabaceae

Taxonomy: Australian Plant Census

Australian distribution: Atlas of Living Australia

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution: Plants of the World Online

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSW WeedWise

DNA reference sequence will be available once published.

Flower: 

Click here for high-resolution specimen image 

Fruit: 

Click here for high-resolution specimen image

Reference image of Mimosa pigra. 

Prohibited Matter: 

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244. 

Scientific name: Myriophyllum spicatum L.

Family: Haloragaceae

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution: Plants of the World Online

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSW WeedWise

DNA reference sequence will be available once published. 

Reference image of Myriophyllum spicatum.

Click here for high-resolution specimen image

Prohibited Matter:

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244. 

Scientific name: Nassella tenuissima (Trin.) Barkworth

Also known as: Stipa tenuissima

Family: Poaceae

Taxonomy, description: NSW Flora Online

Taxonomy: Australian Plant Census

Australian distribution: Atlas of Living Australia

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution: Plants of the World Online

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSW WeedWise

DNA reference sequence will be available once published. 

Reference image of Nassella tenuissima.

Click here for high-resolution specimen image 

Prohibited Matter: 

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244.

Scientific name: Orobanche L.

Family: Orobanchaceae

Taxonomy: Australian Plant Census

Australian distribution: Atlas of Living Australia

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution: Plants of the World Online

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSW WeedWise

DNA reference sequence will be available once published.

The following two species are provided as examples of known weeds in Orobanche. Orobanche ramosa has been collected in South Australia, whereas O. crenata is not known to occur in Australia.

Prohibited Matter: 

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244. 

Scientific name: Parthenium hysterophorus L.

Family: Asteraceae

Taxonomy, description: NSW Flora Online

Taxonomy: Australian Plant Census

Australian distribution: Atlas of Living Australia

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution: Plants of the World Online

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSW WeedWise

DNA reference sequence will be available once published. 

Reference image of Parthenium hysterophorus.

Click here for high-resolution specimen image 

Prohibited Matter: 

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244. 

Scientific name: Pilosella Hill

Family: Asteraceae

Taxonomy:Australian Plant Census

Australian distribution:Atlas of Living Australia

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution:Plants of the World Online

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSW WeedWise

The genus Pilosella was previously included in the genus Hieracium L. (~4600 species). The entire genus Pilosella as currently accepted (~260 species) is Prohibited Matter, including P.aurantiaca (L.) F.W.Schultz & Sch.Bip. subsp. aurantiaca, P. officinarum Vaill. subsp. officinarum (both known to occur in NSW), and P. piloselloides subsp. bauhinii (Schult.) S.Bräut. & Greuter (not known to occur in NSW but found in Victoria). 

Prohibited Matter: 

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244. 

Scientific name: Pontederia azurea Sw.

Also known as: Eichhornia azurea

Family: Pontederiaceae

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution: Plants of the World Online

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSW WeedWise

DNA reference sequence will be available once published. 

Reference image of Pontederia azurea.

Click here for high-resolution specimen image 

Prohibited Matter: 

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244. 

Scientific name: Stratiotes aloides L.

Family: Hydrocharitaceae

Australian distribution: Atlas of Living Australia

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution: Plants of the World Online

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSW WeedWise

DNA reference sequence will be available once published.

Reference image of Stratiotes aloides.

Click here for high-resolution specimen image 

Prohibited Matter: 

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244. 

Scientific name: Striga Lour.

Exception: The entire genus (~50 species) is prohibited matter

Family: Orobanchaceae

Taxonomy: Australian Plant Census

Australian distribution: Atlas of Living Australia

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution: Plants of the World Online

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSW WeedWise

DNA reference sequence will be available once published. 

Prohibited Matter: 

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244. 

Scientific name: Trapa L.

The entire genus (8 species) is prohibited matter.

Family: Lythraceae

Australian distribution: Atlas of Living Australia

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution: Plants of the World Online

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSW WeedWise

DNA reference sequence will be available once published.

Reference image of Trapa natans. 

Click here for high-resolution specimen image 

Prohibited Matter:

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244. 

Scientific name: Vachellia karroo (Hayne) Banfi & Galasso

Also known as: Acacia karroo

Family: Fabaceae

Taxonomy: Australian Plant Census

Australian distribution: Atlas of Living Australia

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution: Plants of the World Online

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSW WeedWise

DNA reference sequence will be available once published.

Reference image of Vachellia karroo. 

Click here for high-resolution specimen image 

Prohibited Matter:

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244. 

Scientific name: Vachellia nilotica (L.) P.J.H.Hurter & Mabb.

Also known as: Acacia nilotica

Family: Fabaceae

Taxonomy: Australian Plant Census

Australian distribution: Atlas of Living Australia

Taxonomy, worldwide distribution: Plants of the World Online

Description, control, biosecurity duty: NSW WeedWise

DNA reference sequence will be available once published.

Reference image of Vachellia nilotica grown from seeds collected in its native range. 

Click here for high-resolution specimen image 

Prohibited Matter:

If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244.