Weedy Watsonias


I grow some of the lovely Watsonia species in Gippsland, Australia that originate in South Africa - but there is one species here that is classified as a prohibited weed in the state of Victoria and another in other parts of Australia. These are W. bulbifera and W. pyramidata

Here, in Gippsland, there is evidence of W bulbifera growing right throughout the region. As well, in the Latrobe Valley and further on, you will find them growing on the sides of the roads and the freeways, in ditches, along fence lines, in creek beds and in moist areas.

They grow in great numbers as some of the photos on this page will show.

Catch a train to Melbourne to the south and you will also find them growing along the railway verges and on any un-cultivated ground that is available to them. They look resplendent with their lovely brick-red color and are pleasing to see amongst the green of the other weeds growing.

The Baw Baw Shire council and the South Gippsland Shire council, in conjunction with the Victorian State Government's Weeds Initiative Program, present a Weed Identification booklet in an effort to reduce and control the impact of weeds on our environment.

Here is an extract from the booklet about this Watsonia:

" Perennial plants with pale green, sword-shaped leaves with prominent midrib.

Leaves arise from the ground level in ascending fan-like formation. Erect slender stems arise from the centre of leaves, with small sheaf-like leaves. Flowers are pink to red, occur singly in summer and die back in autumn. Reproduction is by corms produced in axils of leaves at the site of flowers.

Dispersal: Seeds and bulbils germinate next to parent plant. Movement of soil contaminated with seed, corms or bulbils spread the weed. Grading and slashing of roadsides and dumping of garden waste spread it further."

Please feel free to visit the Baw Baw Shire home page:

"http://www.bbsc.vic.gov.au/index.htm"

or, The Gippsland Region at:

"http://www.gippsland.net.au/Local-Govern..."

Weed Activity Calender: "http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/progserv/Plan..."

The Environmental Weeds Home Page: "http://weeds.merriweb.com.au/"

Take a look at this great Pictorial page of Watsonia species: "http://www.ozemail.com.au/~davcooke/wats..."

Here is another site that may be of interest about weeds in general: "http://www.rce.rutgers.edu/harmfulplants..."

James Hitchmough in his book "Garden Bulbs for Australia and New Zealand" lists both of these two Watsonia species that are problems in Australia.

W. bulbifera - bulbil-forming Watsonia

size and height: 1500 - 2000 x 600 mm.; color: buff-orange; multiplies by: seed, bulbils and division; origin: Cape Peninsular; grows in: heathy bushland

The copyright of the article Weedy Watsonias in Bulbs & Plants is owned by Bill Richardson. Permission to republish Weedy Watsonias in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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