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Harrisia cactus
Harrisia cactus fruit and spike
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- Harrisia cactus
General information
Harrisia cactus (Harrisia spp.) is a perennial plant from South America. It was introduced into Queensland as a pot plant in the 1890s. Dense infestations choke out pasture.
All species of harrisia cactus (Harrisia spp. syn. Eriocereus spp.) are Class 1 declared pest plants except for H. martinii, H. tortuosa and H. pomanensis syn. Cereus pomanensis which are Class 2 declared pest plants under Queensland legislation.
| Scientific name |
Harrisia martinii, Harrisia tortuosa and Harrisia pomanensis |
| Impacts |
- forms dense infestations that reduce pastures
- chokes out other pasture species when left unchecked
- spines interfere with stock mustering and movement
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| Description |
- spiny, fleshy-jointed stems form tangled mats about 0.5 m high
- stems are ribbed lengthwise with six ribs
- each rib has low, thick, triangular humps at regular intervals
- humps have cushions of grey felty hairs, three to five short spines lying flat, and one to three erect, stiff, sharp spines 2.5#3 cm long
- large pink, funnel-shaped flowers with a tinge of white
- flowers grow singly on a slender scaly grey/green tube 12#15 cm long
- fruit is red, round, 4#5 cm across, with scattered bumps with hairs and spines
- numerous small black seeds embedded in the fruit's white, juicy pulp
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| Habitat/distribution/life cycle |
- a pest of brigalow and associated softwood country
- infestations also appear in box and ironbark stands and in pine forests
- found in the Collinsville, Nebo, Moranbah, Dingo, Blackwater and Goondiwindi districts
- minor infestations at Millmerran, Greenmount, Gatton, Ipswich, Rockhampton, Rannes, Mt Morgan, Alpha and Mitchell
- fruit spread by birds and animals
- branches take root where they touch the ground
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| Control |
- plough only if followed by annual cropping
- two biological control agents have been found to be effective
- a combined approach of different control methods including mechanical, fire, chemical and biological with land management practices is most effective
- see harrisia cactus fact sheet for further information
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| Declaration details |
- All species of harrisia cactus (Harrisia spp. syn. Eriocereus spp.) are Class 1 declared plants except for H. martinii, H. tortuosa and H. pomanensis syn. Cereus pomanensis which are Class 2 declared pest plants under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002
- control of declared pests is required by landholders
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| Further information |
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Page maintained by Sonia Jordan
Last updated 06 September 2011
