Balloon cotton bush
Gomphocarpus physocarpus
family
Apocynaceae
origin
Exotic
declaration
NIL
For information only
Common names
Balloon cotton bush, Balloon cotton-bush, Balloon gomphocarpus, Balloon plant, Bladderbush, Cape cotton, Cotton bush, Gomphocarpus.
A small shrubby plant usually growing up to 2 m tall. Its stems and elongated leaves (3.5-12 cm long and 5-16 mm wide) exude a milky sap when damaged. Its clusters of white or pinkish flowers have a crown-like structure at its centre. Its distinctive balloon-like fruit (5-7.5 cm long) are covered with soft spines (7-10 mm long). These fruit contain many black seeds topped with silky tufts of white hairs.
Impact
Impact
Balloon cotton bush (Gomphocarpus physocarpus) is mainly regarded as an environmental weed in Queensland. This species invades grasslands, open woodlands, pastures, floodplains and wetland margins, where it replaces native species and can form relatively dense infestations. It is listed among the top 100 most invasive plant species in south-eastern Queensland and appears on several local environmental weed lists in this region (e.g. in Maroochy Shire, Cooloola Shire, Redland Shire and Ipswich City). Balloon cotton bush (Gomphocarpus physocarpus) has also been recorded in conservation areas in south-eastern Queensland (e.g. in Conondale National Park, the Pimpama River Conservation Area and in recently established conservation areas at Springbrook).This species is common in waste places and on river banks north from the Camden district in New South Wales, and is listed as a common exotic species in the Demon Nature Reserve at Tenterfield in north-eastern New South Wales. It also grows near salt lakes and in winter-wet sites on the Swan Coastal Plain in south-western Western Australia and has been recorded in Belair National Park in south-eastern South Australia. For ore information from the Western Australian Government
Location
Location
Characteristics
Characteristics
Similar Species
Similar Species
Balloon cotton bush (Gomphocarpus physocarpus) is mainly regarded as an environmental weed in Queensland. This species invades grasslands, open woodlands, pastures, floodplains and wetland margins, where it replaces native species and can form relatively dense infestations. It is listed among the top 100 most invasive plant species in south-eastern Queensland and appears on several local environmental weed lists in this region (e.g. in Maroochy Shire, Cooloola Shire, Redland Shire and Ipswich City). Balloon cotton bush (Gomphocarpus physocarpus) has also been recorded in conservation areas in south-eastern Queensland (e.g. in Conondale National Park, the Pimpama River Conservation Area and in recently established conservation areas at Springbrook).This species is common in waste places and on river banks north from the Camden district in New South Wales, and is listed as a common exotic species in the Demon Nature Reserve at Tenterfield in north-eastern New South Wales. It also grows near salt lakes and in winter-wet sites on the Swan Coastal Plain in south-western Western Australia and has been recorded in Belair National Park in south-eastern South Australia. For ore information from the Western Australian Government
