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Stinkwort

Stink wort plant
Stinkwort plant


General information

Stinkwort (Dittrichia graveolens) is a poisonous annual herb, native to Africa, Asia and Europe. It is listed as a weed in many regions of the world, including South Africa, New Zealand, and California. If allowed to spread in South East Queensland, it may potentially cause injury to sheep, humans and contaminate cereal crops.

Stinkwort is not a declared plant under Queensland legislation, however its control is recommended.

Scientific name

Dittrichia graveolens
Impacts
  • causes health problems such as dermatitis in humans and animals
  • if ingested, stock can develop enteritis, leading to pulpy kidney disease and sudden death if untreated
Description
  • erect, annual herb, 20-50 cm tall
  • sticky to touch, covered in white hairs and strongly aromatic with a camphor-like smell
  • young plants form a rosette
Habitat and distribution
  • adapted to a temperate, Mediterranean-type climate with annual rainfall of 300-800 mm, falling predominantly in winter
  • prefers disturbed, open (unshaded) habitats such as cultivated land, abandoned fields, roadsides, ruderal places and overgrazed pastures
  • found in all states across southern Australia, except for Northern Territory
  • small population in the Stanthorpe district of South East Queensland
Control
  • hand-pulling or hoeing can be effective on isolated plants
  • 2,4-D ester has been used in some areas, however herbicides generally cannot penetrate the oily leaves
Declaration details
  • not a declared plant under Queensland legislation but may be declared under local government law
Further information

Page maintained by Sonia Jordan
Last updated 30 January 2009
URL: http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/xchg/dpi/hs.xsl/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_12762_ENA_HTML.htm

© The State of Queensland, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries 1995 - 2009.
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