African boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum)

African boxthorn is a very thorny scrub that grows up to 5 m high and 3 m across. Grown close together it forms a spiky wall that you cannot get through.

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How does this weed affect you?

African boxthorn is a member of the Solanaceae family, which includes other plants such as silverleaf nightshade, tobacco and tomatoes. African boxthorn is an aggressive invader of pastures, roadsides, reserves, remnant bushland and waterways. It forms an impenetrable, spiny thicket that inhibits the movement of stock and provides a haven for feral animals. Many insects, including fruit fly, the common house fly and the tomato fly, breed in the fruit of this weed.

It is a serious weed threat in all States and is one of the major weed threats to the semi-arid rangelands of western NSW.

Toxicity

African boxthorn is toxic to humans and will cause discomfort and irritation, but is not life-threatening. The berries, leaves, stems and roots are all poisonous, and can cause nausea, vomiting, breathing difficulties and unconsiousness. 

What to do if poisoning occurs:

• If the patient is unconscious, unresponsive or having difficulty breathing dial 000 or get to the emergency section of a hospital immediately.
• If the patient is conscious and responsive call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 or your doctor.
• If going to a hospital take a piece of the plant for identification.

Where is it found?

African boxthorn was introduced into Australia from South Africa in the mid 1800s and was commonly used as a hedge plant. 

In NSW, African boxthorn is more prevalent on the well drained soils of the slopes and plains. Often, it has spread from around old homesteads and urban areas.

How does it spread?

African boxthorn plants are at least two years old when they flower, and although this generally occurs in spring and early summer it may occur at any time of the year provided the conditions are right. Fruit set generally occurs in autumn, but, again, it can occur at any time of the year depending on conditions. Seeds can germinate at any time of the year if there is adequate moisture and warmth.

The plant has an extensive, deep, branched taproot that will sucker and produce new growth if broken. Early root growth is rapid to allow seedlings to compete with other plants.

What does it look like?

African boxthorn is an erect perennial shrub. It can grow up to 5 m high and 3 m across but usually reaches only 2 or 3 m in height. It is characterised by its woody, thorny growth. The stems are rigid and very branched, and the main stems have spines up to 15 cm long. Each smaller spiny branchlet ends in a stout spine.

The leaves are smooth, fleshy and up to 3.5 cm long. They can be larger and more succulent on regrowth from damaged roots. The plant is drought resistant and in times of moisture stress can shed its leaves, making it look dead. In some locations plants can be deciduous, losing their leaves in winter.

The flowers are white with pale blue markings and fragrant. They have five petals. The berries are green when young and succulent, round, 5 to 10 mm in diameter, contain 35 to 70 seeds and are orange-red when ripe.

What type of environment does it grow in?

African boxthorn grows on all soil types but establishes best on lighter soils, particularly along dry creek beds.

Acknowledgements

PJ Gray Regional Coordinator (Weeds), Dubbo
EMK Joshua Regional Coordinator (Weeds), Dubbo
AC McCaffery Project Officer (Weeds), Orange

References

Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment, Tasmania (2002). African boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum), DPIWE Information sheet. Available at www.dpiwe.tas.gov.au

WT Parsons and EG Cuthbertson (2001). Noxious weeds of Australia, second edn, CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Melbourne.

More information

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Control

The effective, long-term control of African boxthorn generally requires the integration of a number of techniques, including mechanical removal, cultivation, herbicide application, replacement with appropriate plants and regular monitoring. For invasive woody weeds such as African boxthorn, control is more effective and economical if done when the plants are young.

The control methods used will depend on the infestation size and location. For advice on the most appropriate methods for your situation, consult your local agronomist or council weeds officer.

Mechanical removal

The most cost effective way of controlling mature thickets is to physically remove the top growth and as many of the roots as possible. The removed material should then be burnt. Removal of the roots is much easier and more effective when the soil is moist.

It is important to destroy all plant material after physical removal because:

• dead branches still pose a problem because of their thorns and the fact that they can harbour vermin;
• unripened fruit on cut branches can still ripen and produce seed; and
• broken root fragments may sucker and produce new growth.

Cultivation

After physical removal of the mature plants, suitable sites can be deep ripped, bringing most remaining root fragments to the surface to be raked and burned. In some instances cultivation may result in the deeper root fragments shooting. In this case, follow-up treatment will need to be directed at the regrowth.

It is essential that you perform follow-up treatment as new plants become established.

Do not treat regrowth with a foliar herbicide until the plants are at least 50 cm high (approximately 18 months old).

Replacement with appropriate plants

Like most weeds, African boxthorn seedlings are susceptible to competition from other plants. It is essential for the long-term control of this weed that, once removed, it is replaced with other suitable vegetation.

The vegetation you use will depend on your site. It can include the establishment of native vegetation or perennial pastures.

Native vegetation

If the weed infestation is providing a valuable habitat for native fauna, use a staged control program. This will allow the gradual replacement of the weed habitat with suitable indigenous vegetation. Consult a local vegetation expert for advice on suitable local species and their establishment and management.

Pastures

Vigorous perennial pastures provide competition to prevent the invasion of African boxthorn. At suitable sites they should be established as soon as possible after the removal of the weed infestation but not after the application of residual herbicides. Consult your local agronomist for advice on pasture establishment and appropriate pasture management.

Regular monitoring

All control methods will require follow up treatment for long-term management of African boxthorn. Once the initial infestation is removed, regular monitoring of the site for regrowth from root fragments or germinating seedlings should be carried out. Control of these small plants is easy if you use cultivation or apply an appropriate registered herbicide.

Chemical control

Only a registered herbicide used according to the directions on the label should be used to control this weed. Herbicides can be applied to African boxthorn in many different ways. At times, the plant will lose its leaves and appear dead after the application of a herbicide, but later new leaves appear and the plant appears to recover. This cycle may happen several times before the plant eventually dies. The most appropriate form of herbicide application will depend on the location, size and maturity of the infestation.

Foliar spray

Foliar spraying is the most commonly used method of control. Its effectiveness depends on adequate soil moisture to allow active growth of the bush. For effective control by this application method, spray the whole bush thoroughly during a time when the plant is actively growing. This will vary depending on the location but is generally during spring after rain. For large bushes it is very costly and difficult to obtain good coverage with the herbicide. It may be more cost effective to bulldoze thickets of large bushes and spray the regrowth. The uptake of foliar-applied herbicides is dependent on total leaf area, so foliar spraying should not be done until the regrowth is at least 50 cm high (approximately 18 months old). For effective results, do not treat infestations during hot, dry, summer periods or when the plant is stressed from drought, water logging or cold.

Basel bark treatment

This technique is appropriate for infestations in environmentally sensitive locations. It is most suited for small bushes with stem diameters up to 5 cm. Spray a herbicide registered for this activity around the complete base of every stem to a height of 30 to 40 cm above the soil surface.

Cut stump treatment

This technique is also appropriate for small infestations in environmentally sensitive locations. It is most suitable for large plants with stem diameters greater than 5 cm.

Cut each stem off 15 cm above the soil surface. Liberally apply a herbicide registered for this activity to the cut surface within 30 seconds of the cut being made. This can be done by paintbrush or by spraying.

If the herbicide is not applied immediately, the plant will heal the cut, the chemical will not be translocated through the plant, and control will not be effective.

Root application

Take great care when using this technique.

Many desirable trees, in particular eucalypts, are susceptible to the residual herbicides used for this control method. Do not use these chemicals within a distance of at least twice the height of adjacent desirable trees or shrubs.

To control African boxthorn, apply an appropriate registered residual herbicide directly under the plant towards the edge of the foliage (drip line). The herbicide should preferably be applied under the soil to prevent degradation by sunlight and possible contamination of surface run-off after rain. It is most effectively applied when the soil is moist—usually in spring or autumn.

These herbicides have the advantage of being easy to apply, and the timing of the application is not as critical as for other application methods. The residual effect of these herbicides may also give control of seedling regrowth for some time after application.

Herbicide options

See Using herbicides for more information.

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2020
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Roundup®)
Rate: 1 part glyphosate to 1.5 parts water
Comments: Stem injection or stem scrape application
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: M, Inhibitors of EPSP synthase
Resistance risk: Moderate

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2,4-D 300 g/L + Picloram 75 g/L (Tordon® 75-D)
Rate: 1.3 L per 100 L of water
Comments: Handgun application for small bushes only. Spray soil to drip line. Thorough coverage is essential. Spray prior to budburst.
Withholding period: 1-8 weeks (see label).
Herbicide group: I, Disruptors of plant cell growth (synthetic auxins)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Glyphosate 360 g/L (Roundup®)
Rate: 0.7–1.0 L per 100 L
Comments: Handgun application, with low rate on young bushes, high water rate on mature bushes. Do not spray in hot dry summer periods.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: M, Inhibitors of EPSP synthase
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Glyphosate 360 g/L with Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 10 g metsulfuron plus 1 litre glyphosate in 100 L of water
Comments: Always add non-ionic surfactant to the spray mix. Apply to actively growing weeds.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: M, Inhibitors of EPSP synthase
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Picloram 44.7 g/kg + Aminopyralid 4.47 g/L (Vigilant II ®)
Rate: Undiluted
Comments: Cut stump/stem injection application. Apply a 3–5 mm layer of gel for stems less than 20 mm. Apply 5 mm layer on stems above 20 mm .
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: I, Disruptors of plant cell growth (synthetic auxins)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Tebuthiuron 200 g/kg (Graslan®)
Rate: 2 g per m2
Comments: Hand application (granules). Estimate the area within 30 cm beyond the drip line of the target plant and calculate the amount of Graslan required. Do not apply near desirable trees.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: C, Inhibitors of photosynthesis at photosystem II (PS II inhibitors)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Triclopyr 240 g/L + Picloram 120 g/L (Access™ )
Rate: 1.0 L per 60 L of diesel
Comments: Basal bark application up to 5 cm basal diameter. Cut stump application for over 5 cm diameter.
Withholding period: Nil
Herbicide group: I, Disruptors of plant cell growth (synthetic auxins)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Triclopyr 300 g/L + Picloram 100 g/L (Grazon® DS)
Rate: 500 mL per 100 L of water
Comments: Handgun application for when bushes have good leaf cover, growth and no leaf fall. Only apply to plants less than 2 m tall.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: I, Disruptors of plant cell growth (synthetic auxins)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Triclopyr 600 g/L (Garlon® 600)
Rate: 2.0 L per 60 L of diesel
Comments: Basal bark application up to 5 cm basal diameter. Cut stump application for over 5 cm diameter.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: I, Disruptors of plant cell growth (synthetic auxins)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Biosecurity duty

The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.

Area	Duty
All of NSW	General Biosecurity Duty All plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable.
All of NSW	Prohibition on dealings Must not be imported into the State or sold
Central Tablelands	Regional Recommended Measure* Land managers should mitigate the risk of new weeds being introduced to their land. Land managers should mitigate spread from their land. The plant should not be bought, sold, grown, carried or released into the environment. Protect primary production lands that are free of African boxthorn
North West	Regional Recommended Measure* Land managers should mitigate the risk of new weeds being introduced to their land. Land managers should mitigate spread from their land. Land managers reduce impacts from the plant on priority assets.
Western	Regional Recommended Measure* Land managers mitigate the risk of the plant spreading from their land. Land managers reduce impact of plant on priority assets (riparian areas and floodplains).
	*To see the Regional Strategic Weeds Management Plans containing demonstrated outcomes that fulfill the general biosecurity duty for this weed click here

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Reviewed 2018