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Senegal tea plant

Pest alert

If you have seen this plant

Call QPIF  13 25 23

Photograph of senegal tea flowers which resemble white pom poms

Senegal tea plant flower

Photograph of a senegal tea infestation

Senegal tea plant infestation

Photograph of senegal tea flowers at the tip of erect stalks

Senegal tea plant

Photograph of senegal tea plant growing in soil near a wire fence

Senegal tea plant

General information

Senegal tea plant (Gymnocoronis spilanthoides) is a Class 1 declared pest plant in Queensland. Class 1 pests are subject to eradication from the state. Landowners must take reasonable steps to keep land free of Class 1 pests. It is a serious offence to introduce, keep or supply a Class 1 pest without a permit issued by the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries. Penalties of up to $60,000 apply

Senegal tea is a native of South America and was originally introduced into Australia as an aquarium plant.

Overview

Scientific name

Gymnocoronis spilanthoides
Impacts
  • forms floating mats, blocking irrigation ditches, shallow dams and waterways
  • invades and degrades natural wetlands
Description
  • an aquatic perennial that grows over the water surface
  • produces runners and floating stems up to 2.5 m long
  • grows as a rounded bush
  • shiny dark-green leaves are 5-20 cm long and grow in opposite pairs
  • stems are hollow between the nodes, allowing the plant to float
  • young stems are light green with dark-green blotches
  • young round stems become six-sided as the plant grows
  • flowers resemble white pompoms 15-20 mm in diameter
  • seeds are yellow-brown and ribbed
Habitat/distribution/life cycle
  • favours shallow and slow-moving water
  • grows over water surface or in wet, marshy soils
  • seeds germinate in spring and, if conditions are right, in summer
  • becomes dormant when temperatures drop
  • spreads by broken stem, leaf fragments and seed
  • seeds spread by water, and in soil on vehicle tyres and animals' feet
Control
  • before attempting control, report weed to the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F)
  • remove mechanically
  • place plant material in a sealed plastic bag, leave in sunlight to rot then burn or dispose of at a council-approved land fill tip
  • do not leave broken plant pieces in the area
  • apply herbicide
  • see the senegal tea fact sheet for further information on control, including registered herbicide application rates
Declaration details
  • a declared Class 1 plant under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002
  • importation, possession and sale is prohibited
  • landowners are required by law to keep their land free of this plant
Further information

Author: Sonia Jordan
Page maintained by Sonia Jordan
Last updated 11 September 2007
URL: http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/xchg/dpi/hs.xsl/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_7351_ENA_HTML.htm

© The State of Queensland, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries 1995 - 2009.
Copyright protects this material. Except as permitted by the Copyright Act, reproduction by any means (photocopying, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise), making available online, electronic transmission or other publication of this material is prohibited without the prior written permission of The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland. Inquiries should be addressed to copyright@dpi.qld.gov.au (Queensland residents phone 13 25 23; non-Queensland residents phone 61 7 3404 6999).