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Siratro

Photograph of leaves and flower of siratro. The leaf is bright green and the flower is dark red and 'sweet pea-like'

Siratro leaf

Photograph of a sirartro infestation which shows the weed growing as a dense groundcover and climbing up and over a tree stump

Siratro infestation



General information

Native to tropical America, siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum) is a creeping or climbing legume which is used as a pasture plant.

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

Scientific name Macroptilium atropurpureum
Impacts
  • smothers native shrubs, grasses or young trees
  • forms dense infestations along forest edges
  • common in vegetation around waterways and in coastal sand dune vegetation
Description
  • has bright-green leaves, 2#7 cm long, silky hairs on the underside, with three broad leaflets
  • flowers are dark red-purple, borne on long spikes
  • pods are narrow, 5#10 cm long
Habitat and distribution
  • occurs in coastal eastern Queensland and coastal New South Wales
  • found near roadsides, disturbed sites and areas not grazed by livestock
  • is spread by seed and vegetatively
Control
  • can be hand pulled, chipped or mowed
  • use a brush cutter to clear tangled growth
  • a combined approach of different control methods including chemical, manual and mechanical with land management practices is most effective
  • see the siratro fact sheet for further information, including registered herbicides and application rates
Declaration details
  • not a declared plant under Queensland legislation but may be declared under local government law
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_7356_ENA_HTML.htm

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