Praxelis (Praxelis clematidea)
Praxelis is a short lived herb. It is a close relative of Siam weed. It spreads into new areas very quickly.
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How does this weed affect you?
Praxelis is an invader of both disturbed and relatively undisturbed ecosystems, praxelis could threaten, and significantly increase the costs of managing, such crops as bananas, other fruits and sugar cane. It could infest pastoral grasslands and conservation areas, particularly open eucalypt woodlands.
What does it look like?
Praxelis is an annual or short-lived perennial herb growing 0.2–1.0 m tall. Its leaves are arranged in opposite pairs along the brittle cylindrical stems, which are covered in short soft hairs.
The leaves are tear-shaped or 'rhomboid', with a conspicuously toothed margin containing between five and eight teeth. When crushed, they emit a pungent odour similar to cat’s urine.
The flowers, which are clusters of numerous (30–50) lilac or bluish coloured ‘florets’, are 7–10 mm long and occur in groups at the ends of stems. The florets are set into a cone shaped receptacle – this is a key distinguishing feature of this species.
The seeds are black and about 2.5–3.0 mm long. They bear a pale tuft of finely barbed bristles, 3–4 mm long.
Where is it found?
Praxelis is a native of South America (southern Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, northern Argentina).
Praxelis was first recorded in Tully and Innisfail, Queensland, in 1993 but was probably present there for about 20 years before being positively identified. It is spreading extremely quickly and effectively throughout northern and eastern Queensland.
How does it spread?
Praxelis mainly spreads by seeds. It can produce large numbers of seeds in as little as three or four months after germinating. The seeds possess a ‘pappus’, a tuft of barbed bristles that can help them spread by wind or water, or by attaching themselves to animal fur and feathers, clothing or machinery. Long distance dispersal is mainly attributed to seed attached to vehicles or carried as accidental contaminants of building supplies and landscaping materials. Praxelis is also capable of vegetative growth, in which roots and new plantlets form along branches in contact with the soil.
What type of environment does it grow in?
Praxelis is particularly suited to disturbed areas such as roadsides, railway lines and fencelines, and rapidly colonises bare earth following fire. Able to survive on a range of soil types, it invades crops, grasslands and, particularly, over-grazed pastures. It can become the dominant herbaceous plant in open eucalypt woodlands, and grows vigorously along riverbanks. It tolerates partial shade to full sun but does not cope well under heavy shade.
Acknowledgements
CRC for Australian Weed Management: Barbara Waterhouse (AQIS/Weeds CRC), Rachel McFadyen (Weeds CRC), Ailsa Holland (Queensland Herbarium) and John Thorp (National Weeds Management Facilitator).
More information
Control
Because there are relatively few praxelis infestations, and it can potentially be eradicated before it becomes established, any new outbreaks should be reported immediately to your local council weed officer. Do not try to control praxelis without expert assistance. Control effort that is poorly performed or not followed up can actually help spread the weed and worsen the problem.
Herbicide options
WARNING - ALWAYS READ THE LABEL
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au
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: I, Disruptors of plant cell growth (synthetic auxins)
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: I, Disruptors of plant cell growth (synthetic auxins)
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: M, Inhibitors of EPSP synthase
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: M, Inhibitors of EPSP synthase
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: M, Inhibitors of EPSP synthase
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: B, Inhibitors of acetolactate synthase (ALS 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: B, Inhibitors of acetolactate synthase (ALS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High
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 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. |
For technical advice and assistance with identification please contact your local council weeds officer.
Reviewed 2018
