Primrose willow
Ludwigia longifolia
family
Onagraceae
origin
Exotic
declaration
NIL
For information only
Common names
Primrose willow, Long-leaved willow primrose, Longleaf willow primrose, Longleaf primrose-willow.
A small upright shrub usually growing 0.5-2 m tall. Its hairless stems are conspicuously square in cross-section and usually also somewhat winged. Its elongated leaves are hairless or almost hairless (5-35 cm long and 4-25 mm wide) and glossy in appearance. Its bright yellow flowers have four greenish or reddish sepals and four, or rarely five, bright yellow petals. Its hairless fruit are sharply four-angled (10-42 mm long and 4-8 mm wide) and contain large numbers of tiny dust-like seeds.
Impact
Impact
Long-leaved willow primrose (Ludwigia longifolia) is regarded as an environmental weed in New South Wales and as an emerging environmental weed in south-eastern Queensland. It was also recently listed as a priority environmental weed in two Natural Resource Management regions. This species can form very dense colonies and if allowed to spread unmanaged it can dominate wetlands and riparian vegetation, replacing native species that grow in such environments. Because of its invasiveness and ability to form dense single species populations, it is considered to be a major weed within its native range.Long-leaved willow primrose (Ludwigia longifolia) was first recorded as naturalised near Sydney in 1991. Since then it has become a significant problem in the Port Stephens and Gosford areas on the New South Wales Central Coast. In the Salamander Bay area, at Port Stephens, it has been extremely invasive and has formed dominant colonies that have the potential to reduce biodiversity and threaten native species. In more recent times it has also become increasingly common in the Sydney region (e.g. there have been several sightings in the Pittwater area since 2002).In the last couple of years this species has also become increasingly common around Brisbane in south-eastern Queensland. A few small infestations have been found along a drain and a creek in Toowong and larger infestations are also present along Ithaca Creek in Ashgrove and Kelvin Grove.Long-leaved willow primrose (Ludwigia longifolia) is still in the early stages of its spread throughout the coastal districts of eastern Australia. It is thought to have the potential to become a problem species throughout the wetter tropical, sub-tropical and warmer temperate regions of Australia.
Location
Location
Characteristics
Characteristics
Similar Species
Similar Species
Long-leaved willow primrose (Ludwigia longifolia) is regarded as an environmental weed in New South Wales and as an emerging environmental weed in south-eastern Queensland. It was also recently listed as a priority environmental weed in two Natural Resource Management regions. This species can form very dense colonies and if allowed to spread unmanaged it can dominate wetlands and riparian vegetation, replacing native species that grow in such environments. Because of its invasiveness and ability to form dense single species populations, it is considered to be a major weed within its native range.Long-leaved willow primrose (Ludwigia longifolia) was first recorded as naturalised near Sydney in 1991. Since then it has become a significant problem in the Port Stephens and Gosford areas on the New South Wales Central Coast. In the Salamander Bay area, at Port Stephens, it has been extremely invasive and has formed dominant colonies that have the potential to reduce biodiversity and threaten native species. In more recent times it has also become increasingly common in the Sydney region (e.g. there have been several sightings in the Pittwater area since 2002).In the last couple of years this species has also become increasingly common around Brisbane in south-eastern Queensland. A few small infestations have been found along a drain and a creek in Toowong and larger infestations are also present along Ithaca Creek in Ashgrove and Kelvin Grove.Long-leaved willow primrose (Ludwigia longifolia) is still in the early stages of its spread throughout the coastal districts of eastern Australia. It is thought to have the potential to become a problem species throughout the wetter tropical, sub-tropical and warmer temperate regions of Australia.
