Condamine couch

Phyla canescens

family

Verbenaceae

origin

Exotic

declaration

Council Pest Vegetation (BCC Natural Asset Local Law)

Council Pest Vegetation (BCC Natural Asset Local Law)

Council Pest Vegetation (BCC Natural Asset Local Law)

Common names

Lippia, Carpet weed, Condamine curse, Fog fruit, Frog fruit, Hairy fogfruit, Mat grass, No-mow grass, Phyla weed.

a long-lived creeping herbaceous plant usually forming a dense mat over the ground surface., its small leaves (10-70 mm long and 4-25 mm wide) are oppositely arranged and usually have finely toothed margins., these leaves are somewhat fleshy and greyish-green in colour, its flowers are borne in small, dense, rounded clusters (5-10 mm across) on stalks emanating from the leaf forks, individual flowers are tubular (2-2.5 mm across) and whitish, pinkish, lilac or purplish in colour, with yellowish centres., its small, dry, fruit are enclosed in the old flower parts and split into two 'seeds' (about 2 mm long) when mature.

Leaf arrangement:Simple
Leaf form:Opposite
White
Green

Impact

Impact

It has a major environmental impact on riverbanks and waterways, and poses a serious threat to protected wetland areas. Lippia rapidly forms dense carpets preventing the growth of other riparian vegetation. This results in soil erosion, which decreases bank stability and degrades the overall health and quality of the waterway. Its thick, woody taproot enables it to rapidly establish and persist in poorly structured soils common to the riparian areas and floodplains of the Murray Darling Basin. Lippia will also readily establish on bare ground. It is an aggressive weed and has the ability to out-compete and dominate in pastures, where it can reduce stocking rates by up to 90% and reduce livestock productivity.Lippia also causes problems in cropping situations.

Location

Location

Characteristics

Characteristics

Similar Species

Similar Species

Control Methods