Corky passionfruit is a climbing vine with small passionfruit flowers and small berries. It spreads quickly and smothers other plants.
Corky passionfruit is a weed in native vegetation and agricultural land. It
It can also be a problem in sugar cane and native tree plantations.
Corky passionfruit leaves and unripe fruit contains cyanogenic glycosides. These toxins cause cyanide poisoning if eaten.
Eating unripe fruit or leaves may cause vomiting or diarrhea.
What to do if a person is poisoned:
Cattle, pigs and occasionally sheep have been poisoned. Symptoms include staggering, convulsions muscle tremors and sometimes diarrhea or constipation.
Corky passionfruit is a slender, climbing or creeping vine with distinct passionfruit flowers. They have lots or tightly coiled tendrils that grow out of leaf forks.
It has a deep taproot.
Corky passionfruit looks similar to other Passiflora species, including:
Corky passionfruit also has smaller flowers and fruit than these other plants.
Corky passionfruit grows in northern and eastern Australia, including the Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales. It grows in the coastal districts of northern and central New South Wales.
It is native to southern parts of the United States of America and South America. It is a weed in many countries throughout the pacific region.
Corky passionfruit grows best in full sun in subtropical or tropical climates. It is found in:
It will also grow in shady areas in temperate climates.
Birds and other animals eat the ripe fruit and spread the seeds.
Children's Health Queensland. (2020). Queensland Poisons Information: Wild Passionfruit (Passiflora species). Retrieved 19 February 2020 from: https://www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/poisonous-plant-wild-passionfruit-passiflora/
Harden, G., McDonald, B., & Williams, J. (2007). Rainforest climbing plants: a field guide to their identification. Gwen Harden Publishing.
McBarron, E. J. (1983). Poisonous plants. Handbook for farmers and graziers. Inkata press.
McKenzie, R. (2012). Australia's poisonous plants, fungi and cyanobacteria: a guide to species of medical and veterinary importance. CSIRO.
Richardson, F. J., Richardson, R. G., & Shepherd, R. C. H. (2011). Weeds of the south-east: an identification guide for Australia (No. Ed. 3). CSIRO.
Corky passionfruit can be controlled by:
Removing plants before they seed is the most effective way to control them.
Learn to identify corky passionfruit and remove plants early to reduce the chance of spread. Small plants are easier to dig up.
Stems can be mown, or whipper-snipped regularly, but this will probably only suppress growth, not kill the plant. Cutting stems down over many years may eventually kill the plants.
Seedlings and small patches of corky passionfruit can be hand pulled or dug out if the roots are not too deep. This can be done year-round but will be easiest when the soil is damp. Try not to break the stem off from the roots because the plant can regrow.
Spray actively growing plants. Ensure that all of the foliage is covered with the herbicide mix.
Apply herbicide mixed with diesel to cover the lower stem, all the way around the plant.
Splatter guns can be used for dense infestations of weeds that are difficult to reach. The specialised nozzle produces large droplets that allow plants up to 10 m away to be sprayed with limited chance of spray drift. Spray small amounts of concentrated herbicide onto the weeds. It is not necessary to cover all of the foliage.
Cut the stems about 40 cm from the ground. Lightly scrape the stem and paint the exposed area with concentrated herbicide within 15 seconds. Do not ringbark the stem.
Use wipers or wands to apply the herbicide mix to the leaves. This method ensures that desirable plants are not treated with herbicide.
See Using herbicides for more information.
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Fluroxypyr 200 g/L
(Comet® 200 herbicide)
Rate: 500 mL to 1 L per 100 L water
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Do not graze failed crops and treated pastures or cut for stock feed for 7 days after application. See label for further information.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Fluroxypyr 200 g/L
(Comet® 200 herbicide)
Rate: 35 mL per L diesel/kerosene
Comments: Basal bark
Withholding period: Do not graze failed crops and treated pastures or cut for stock feed for 7 days after application. See label for further information.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Fluroxypyr 333 g/L
(Starane⢠Advanced)
Rate: 300 to 600 mL per 100 L water
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Do not graze failed crops and treated pastures or cut for stock food for 7 days after application. See label for more information.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Fluroxypyr 333 g/L
(Starane⢠Advanced)
Rate: 21 mL per L diesel/kerosene
Comments: Basal bark
Withholding period: Do not graze failed crops and treated pastures or cut for stock food for 7 days after application. See label for more information.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: One part product to 50 parts water
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: One part product to 1.5 parts water
Comments: Cut, scrape and paint
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: One part product to 9 parts water
Comments: Splatter gun
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: One part product to 20 parts water
Comments: Wipe onto leaves
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg
(Various products)
Rate: 10 - 20 g per 100 L water plus surfactant
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Nil (recommended not to graze for 7 days before treatment and for 7 days after treatment to allow adequate chemical uptake in target weeds).
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg
(Various products)
Rate: 10 g per 1 L of water plus surfactant
Comments: Wipe onto leaves
Withholding period: Nil (recommended not to graze for 7 days before treatment and for 7 days after treatment to allow adequate chemical uptake in target weeds).
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High
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 pest 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. |
Reviewed 2020