Weed Identification

Australia > NT > Pine Creek (IBRA) > Brillantaisia

Brillantaisia

Brillantaisia Lamium

THIS PLANT IS LISTED BY D.A.F.F. AS 1 OF 17 CANDIDATE SLEEPER WEEDS

Family: Acanthaceae.

Form: Herb

Origin: Native of central and west Africa.

Flowers/Seedhead: Flowers: Flowers with joined petals (corolla) in a tube for about 6 mm. Flowers all year round.

Description: Erect branched herb to about 1.5 m high. Stems with long soft weak hairs. Leaves to 11 cm long and to 7 cm wide, margins finely toothed, with long soft weak hairs on both surfaces; lower leaves on a stalk about 1 cm long, upper leaves lacking a stalk. Capsule about 3 cm long and containing about 20 seeds in each half.

Distinguishing features: Distinguished by absence of spines, 4-angled stems and heart-shaped leaves; flowers in few-flowered panicles; flowers surrounded at base by calyx with lobes nearly equal in length, about 6 mm long and having some glandular hairs, corolla blue-violet, about 2 cm long; 2 stamens with anthers protected by hood of corolla and 2 infertile stamen-like staminodes within corolla tube and densely glandular; capsule cigar-shaped.

Dispersal: Spread by seed and rooting of stem fragments.


Leaves & square stems

Notes: Grows in damp areas forming dense single species stands. A problem in orchards, nurseries and along the banks of drainage ditches around sugarcane, as well as an environmental weed. Known from a number of locations in northern Queensland from Cow Bay in the north to Japoonvale (near Tully) in the south.

References:

    Flora of Tropical Africa. W. Thiselton-Dyer (ed), 1899, Vol. 5, pages 37–38.

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

Flowerhead
Roots from stem
Seeds and pods
Note 2 anthers protected by hood & immature
green cigar-like seed pod
Inset: Seeds

This weed has been included in the WEEDeck field guide as card H56

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

 

Australia > NT > Pine Creek (IBRA) > Brillantaisia

SITE MAP

Site Map

National Weeds Strategy | Weed Identification | State and Territory Contacts | About Weeds Australia
Australian Weeds Committee | Target Species for Biological Control | Training and Materials
Web Addresses | Feedback | Weeds of National Significance | Noxious Weeds List
Glossary of Acronyms | National Weeds Management Facilitator

National Weeds Strategy
Telephone: (03) 6344 9657
Fax: (03) 6343 1877
Email: jthorp@weeds.org.au

Privacy Statement

Legal Notice

 Site Design - Computer Support Tasmania
© Australian Weeds Committee
National Weeds Strategy State and Territory Contacts Australian Weeds Committee Web Addresses and Other Stuff Weeds of National Significance Glossary of Acronyms Weed Identification & Information About Weeds Australia Target Species for Biological Control Training and Materials Feedback Noxious Weeds List Search Weeds Australia National Weeds Management Facilitator Home