Boneseed in Australia
Encyclopedia
Boneseed or Bitou Bush is an invasive species
in Australia
Boneseed was introduced to Australia as an ornamental garden plant from the mid-nineteenth century, with examples first recorded in gardens in Sydney
in 1852 and Melbourne
in 1858. It is thought that Boneseed had become naturalised in Australia, with self-sustaining populations, from around 1910. Bitou Bush arrived slightly later in around 1908, most likely in the ballast of a South African ship docked off New South Wales. Thereafter both subspecies were planted extensively to stabilise coastal sand dunes and control erosion, particularly from the mid-1940s to the 1960s, with Boneseed more commonly planted in Victoria and Bitou Bush more commonly planted in NSW and Southern Queensland. Boneseed was introduced to the You Yangs
, south west of Melbourne
, Victoria, to control soil erosion.
By the late-1960s both species of C. monilifera had come to be recognised as significant weeds. Boneseed was proclaimed a noxious weed in Victoria in 1969. Not long thereafter, the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science (AIAS) suggested that Boneseed could potentially be "the most important weed on public land in southern Victoria"
due to its ability to colonise areas of bushland without the level of significant disturbance often required by other weedy species. In fact, the AIAS estimated that by 1976 Boneseed had colonised around 405 hectares in the You Yangs, with an even larger area affected on the Mornington Peninsula
. Since then the population's expansion has been dramatic, and in the You Yangs, by 2003 it was estimated that Boneseed had extended its presence to around 1300 hectares of the 2000 hectare park.
Australia recognised C. monilifera as a Weed of National Significance in 2000, meaning that it is considered to be one of the 20 most significant weeds in Australia today because of its invasiveness, potential for spread, and environmental and economic impacts.
C. monilifera has a particularly wide potential range. It is predicted that over time C. monilifera could significantly expand its current distribution to almost all of South Eastern Australia apart from the Alps.
for 10 years or more, and this reserve in turn enables the species to quickly recolonize a burnt area.
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
Boneseed was introduced to Australia as an ornamental garden plant from the mid-nineteenth century, with examples first recorded in gardens in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in 1852 and Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
in 1858. It is thought that Boneseed had become naturalised in Australia, with self-sustaining populations, from around 1910. Bitou Bush arrived slightly later in around 1908, most likely in the ballast of a South African ship docked off New South Wales. Thereafter both subspecies were planted extensively to stabilise coastal sand dunes and control erosion, particularly from the mid-1940s to the 1960s, with Boneseed more commonly planted in Victoria and Bitou Bush more commonly planted in NSW and Southern Queensland. Boneseed was introduced to the You Yangs
You Yangs
The You Yangs are a series of granite ridges that rise to 364m above the Werribee Plain approximately 55km south west of Melbourne and 22km north east of Geelong, in Victoria, Australia. The main ridge runs roughly N-S for about 9 km, with a lower extension running for about 15 km to the west...
, south west of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria, to control soil erosion.
By the late-1960s both species of C. monilifera had come to be recognised as significant weeds. Boneseed was proclaimed a noxious weed in Victoria in 1969. Not long thereafter, the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science (AIAS) suggested that Boneseed could potentially be "the most important weed on public land in southern Victoria"
due to its ability to colonise areas of bushland without the level of significant disturbance often required by other weedy species. In fact, the AIAS estimated that by 1976 Boneseed had colonised around 405 hectares in the You Yangs, with an even larger area affected on the Mornington Peninsula
Mornington Peninsula
The Mornington Peninsula is a peninsula located south-east of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. It is surrounded by Port Phillip to the west, Western Port to the east and Bass Strait to the south, and is connected to the mainland in the north. Geographically, the peninsula begins its protrusion...
. Since then the population's expansion has been dramatic, and in the You Yangs, by 2003 it was estimated that Boneseed had extended its presence to around 1300 hectares of the 2000 hectare park.
Australia recognised C. monilifera as a Weed of National Significance in 2000, meaning that it is considered to be one of the 20 most significant weeds in Australia today because of its invasiveness, potential for spread, and environmental and economic impacts.
C. monilifera has a particularly wide potential range. It is predicted that over time C. monilifera could significantly expand its current distribution to almost all of South Eastern Australia apart from the Alps.
Impact
C. monilifera has been particularly successful in invading natural bushland. In part, this is due to the species' ability to establish on relatively nutrient-poor soils and in areas exposed to salt such as coastlines, as well as the ability of the seeds to germinate readily. Disturbances such as fire can assist C. monilifera to spread as the plant produces a large amount of seed that can persist in the soil seed bankSoil Seed Bank
The soil seed bank refers to the natural storage of seeds, often dormant, within the soil of most ecosystems. The study of soil seed banks started in 1859 when Charles Darwin observed the emergence of seedlings using soil samples from the bottom of a lake. The first scientific paper on the subject...
for 10 years or more, and this reserve in turn enables the species to quickly recolonize a burnt area.
External links
- Keith Turnbull Research Institute, Frankston, Australia Boneseed and bitou bush
- Eurobodalla Shire Council, NSW Bitou bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp rotundata)