Weed Identification

Australia > > Boneseed

Boneseed

Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp. monilifera

THIS PLANT HAS BEEN DECLARED A WEED OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

Family: Asteraceae.

Form: Shrub

Origin: Native to South Africa.

Flowers/Seedhead: Yellow, in clusters at the end of branches. Flowers mainly late winter to spring.

Description: Erect shrub to 3 m tall. Roots fibrous. Leaves hairless except when new.

Distinguishing features: Distinguished by erect habit; leaves mostly with toothed margins; flowers in heads that usually have 4–8petal-like ray florets; fruit globular, green, ripening black and fleshy, 6–10 mm wide; woody (‘bony’) seed covering surrounding a single seed.

Dispersal: By animals passing the indigestible seeds; also by water.

Confused With: Bitou Bush Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp. rotundata which usually has 11–13 ray florets in each head and leaf margins without teeth or slightly toothed.


Flowers in heads with up to 7 petallike
ray florets
photo J.R.Hosking

Notes: First recorded in Australia in 1852 and commonly cultivated in gardens. A major environmental weed in south-eastern Australia. Widespread in winter rainfall areas and generally replaces Bitou Bush along the NSW south coast. Not an agricultural problem as bushes are susceptible to trampling and are eaten by stock.

References:

    Flora of NSW. G. Harden (ed), Vol. 3, 1992, page 315. Noxious Weeds of Australia. W. Parsons and E. Cuthbertson, 1992, pages273–277. The Biology of Australian Weeds. F. Panetta et al. (eds), Vol. 2, 1998, pages 49–61.

Web References: Search Australian web sites for further information on this weed.

Boneseed grows to 3 m tall, Adelaide Hills, SA
Juvenile
Globular fruit & toothed leaf

This weed has been included in the WEEDeck field guide as card S08

More information about WEEDeck is available from Sainty & Associates Pty. Ltd.

 

Australia > > Boneseed

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