Weeds of National Significance

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Parkinsonia aculeata is ranked as the worst weed in Australia. ParkinsoniaAculeata.jpg
Parkinsonia aculeata is ranked as the worst weed in Australia.

Weeds of National Significance (WoNS) is a list of the most problematic plant species in Australia as determined by the federal government. Initially a list of 20 taxa were listed and given a rank based on invasiveness, impacts, potential for spread, and socioeconomic and environmental values. [1] An expanded list of 32 taxa was released in April 2012.

Australia Country in Oceania

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands. It is the largest country in Oceania and the world's sixth-largest country by total area. The neighbouring countries are Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and East Timor to the north; the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to the north-east; and New Zealand to the south-east. The population of 25 million is highly urbanised and heavily concentrated on the eastern seaboard. Australia's capital is Canberra, and its largest city is Sydney. The country's other major metropolitan areas are Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.

Taxon Group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms which have distinguishing characteristics in common

In biology, a taxon is a group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit. Although neither is required, a taxon is usually known by a particular name and given a particular ranking, especially if and when it is accepted or becomes established. It is not uncommon, however, for taxonomists to remain at odds over what belongs to a taxon and the criteria used for inclusion. If a taxon is given a formal scientific name, its use is then governed by one of the nomenclature codes specifying which scientific name is correct for a particular grouping.

Contents

List of taxa

Note: The list of individual taxa is greater than the 32 WoNS.

Common name [2] Scientific name
African boxthorn Lycium ferocissimum
Alligator weed Alternanthera philoxeroides
Asparagus fern Asparagus aethiopicus
Asparagus fern Asparagus scandens
Athel pine Tamarix aphylla
Bitou bush, boneseed Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. monilifera and rotundata
Blackberry Rubus fruticosus agg.
Bridal creeper Asparagus asparagoides
Bridal veil creeper Asparagus declinatus
Broom Cytisus scoparius
Cabomba Cabomba caroliniana
Cats claw vine Dolichandra unguis-cati
Chilean needle grass Nassella neesiana
Climbing asparagus Asparagus africanus
Climbing asparagus fern Asparagus plumosus
Cotton-leaved physic-nut Jatropha gossypifolia
Delta arrowhead Sagittaria platyphylla
Fireweed Senecio madagascariensis
Flax-leaved broom Genista linifolia
Gamba grass Andropogon gayanus
Gorse Ulex europaeus
Hymenachne Hymenachne amplexicaulis
Lantana Lantana camara
Mesquite Prosopis spp.
Maderia vine Anredera cordifolia
Mimosa Mimosa pigra
Montpellier broom Genista monspessulana
Parkinsonia Parkinsonia aculeata
Parthenium weed Parthenium hysterophorus
Pond apple Annona glabra
Prickly acacia Vachellia nilotica ssp. indica
Prickly pear Austrocylindropuntia spp.
Prickly pear Cylindropuntia spp.
Prickly pear Opuntia spp.
Rubber vine Cryptostegia grandiflora
Salvinia Salvinia molesta
Serrated tussock Nassella trichotoma
Silver nightshade Solanum elaeagnifolium
Water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes
Willows except weeping willows, pussy willow and sterile pussy willow Salix spp. except S. babylonica, S. X calodendron and S. X reichardtiji

See also

Invasive species in Australia

Invasive species are a serious threat to the native biodiversity of Australia and are an ongoing cost to Australian agriculture. Numerous species arrived with European colonisation of Australia and steadily since then.

Environmental issues in Australia

Environmental issues in Australia describes a number of environmental issues which affect the environment of Australia. There are a range of such issues, some of the relating to conservation in Australia while others, for example the deteriorating state of Murray-Darling Basin, have a direct and serious effect on human land use and the economy.

Flora of Australia

The flora of Australia comprises a vast assemblage of plant species estimated to over 20,000 vascular and 14,000 non-vascular plants, 250,000 species of fungi and over 3,000 lichens. The flora has strong affinities with the flora of Gondwana, and below the family level has a highly endemic angiosperm flora whose diversity was shaped by the effects of continental drift and climate change since the Cretaceous. Prominent features of the Australian flora are adaptations to aridity and fire which include scleromorphy and serotiny. These adaptations are common in species from the large and well-known families Proteaceae (Banksia), Myrtaceae, and Fabaceae.

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References

  1. 1 2 Thorp, John R; Rod Lynch (2000). The determination of weeds of national significance. Launceston, Tas.; Canberra, ACT: National Weeds Strategy Executive Committee. ISBN   9780642449139. Archived from the original on 2008-07-22.
  2. "Weeds of National Significance (WONS)". Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.