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Fireweed
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- Fireweed
General information
Fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis) is an introduced daisy-like herb native to Madagascar and southern Africa. It was first recorded in Australia in the Hunter Valley in 1918. It is not known how it was introduced but it could have been brought in as a garden plant. It spread slowly at first, but in the past 30 years has rapidly increased its range, most likely aided by modern transport and rural practices.
Fireweed is a Class 2 declared plant under Queensland legislation.
| Scientific name |
Senecio madagascariensis |
| Impacts |
- competes with pasture species
- toxic to livestock, particularly cattle and horses, causing illness, slow growth and poor conditioning which can result in death
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| Description |
- an annual or short-lived perennial
- varies greatly in size and shape depending on conditions
- in dry harsh conditions may be less than 20 cm tall with narrow leaves, no branching and few flowers
- in ideal conditions, grows up to 50 cm tall with multiple branches, long wide leaves (6 cm x 2 cm) and about 100 flowers
- leaves 2-6 cm long, alternate, dark green, with serrated margins
- flowers bright yellow, daisy-like with a diameter of about 2 cm, producing up to 100 seeds each
- each seed 2-3 mm long, and cylindrical in shape with rows of very fine short hairs and a silky pappus (parachute)
- shallow-branched tap root with many fibrous roots
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| Habitat/distribution/life cycle |
- seeds germinate in mild, warm conditions in the presence of light and moisture
- even light infestations can produce a million seeds per hectare
- seeds spread by wind, stock, in pasture seed, hay, turf, mulch and with stock transport
- seedlings appear between March and June, growing quickly to produce first flowers in 6-10 weeks
- plant begins to die back in spring
- occurs in beef and dairy pasture east of the Great Dividing Range
- established along the entire New South Wales coast and north to Brisbane
- isolated infestations found near Caboolture, Cooroy, Belli Park, Maleny, Yandina, Pelican Waters and as far north as Gympie
- could potentially infest extensive areas of valuable pasture north of Brisbane to Rockhampton
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| Control |
- prevent establishment by ensuring dense cover of pasture in autumn and winter
- remove small infestations immediately
- apply mechanical control - chipping out, bagging and responsible disposal
- slashing usually not effective, as increases poisoning risk to stock and only delays flowering and seeding
- herbicides most effective if sprayed before plants reach maturity
- see fireweed fact sheet for further information including registered herbicides and application rates
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| Declaration details |
- a Class 2 species under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002
- landholders are required to control declared pests on their land
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| Further information |
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Page maintained by Sonia Jordan
Last updated 22 January 2010
