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, 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.
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.
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 |
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