Crofton weed
Eupatorium adenophorum syn Ageratina adenophora
family
Asteraceae
origin
Exotic
declaration
Council Pest Vegetation (BCC Natural Asset Local Law)
Council Pest Vegetation (BCC Natural Asset Local Law)
Common names
Sticky snakeroot, Cat weed, Hemp agrimony, Mexican devil, Sticky agrimony, Sticky eupatorium, White thoroughwort.
A long-lived (perennial) herbaceous plant or small soft-stemmed shrub usually growing 1-2 m tall, but occasionally reaching 3 m in height. It produces numerous upright (erect) stems from a woody rootstock. The branched stems are densely covered in sticky (glandular) hairs when young and may be green, reddish or purplish in colour. They become slightly woody and turn brownish-green or brown in colour when mature. Its roots are yellowish in colour and give off a distinct carrot-like smell when broken or damaged.
Impact
Impact
In Queensland and New South Wales, this species colonises forest margins, stream banks and disturbed areas, preferring shaded wetter areas but also growing in open sunny sites. It also thrives in damp areas such as wetland margins, drainage lines, gullies and in clearings in wetter forests. It grows in large dense clumps and will eventually out-compete all other plants in an area, choking out native vegetation and forming a monoculture., A. adenophora is also an aggressive weed in pastures in eastern Australia. It prefers wetter pastures (e.g. kikuyu grass pastures on wetter slopes), is usually not eaten by cattle, and can reduce the carrying capacity and productivity of invaded areas., It is also poisonous to livestock, being particularly toxic to horses. In fact, this species is the cause of an acute pulmonary disease in horses which is known as "Tallebudgera horse disease" in Queensland and "Numinbah horse sickness" in New South Wales. This condition can be fatal if enough of the weed is consumed over a long period.
Location
Location
Characteristics
Characteristics
Similar Species
Similar Species
In Queensland and New South Wales, this species colonises forest margins, stream banks and disturbed areas, preferring shaded wetter areas but also growing in open sunny sites. It also thrives in damp areas such as wetland margins, drainage lines, gullies and in clearings in wetter forests. It grows in large dense clumps and will eventually out-compete all other plants in an area, choking out native vegetation and forming a monoculture., A. adenophora is also an aggressive weed in pastures in eastern Australia. It prefers wetter pastures (e.g. kikuyu grass pastures on wetter slopes), is usually not eaten by cattle, and can reduce the carrying capacity and productivity of invaded areas., It is also poisonous to livestock, being particularly toxic to horses. In fact, this species is the cause of an acute pulmonary disease in horses which is known as "Tallebudgera horse disease" in Queensland and "Numinbah horse sickness" in New South Wales. This condition can be fatal if enough of the weed is consumed over a long period.
