Alien Invader Plants
Izihlahla Zokufika Ezhlaselayo
Uitheemse Probleem Plante

Home
Articles
KZN worst 12
Invading Species
Eradication
Current Affairs
Legislation
Contact people
Why the fuss?
Indigenous Nurseries
Links
Acknowledgments

Web site by

click logo!

CONTROL:
Manual: Easily controlled by uprooting young plants and pulling out seedlings.
Chemical: Basal Stem: use Garlon® 4 100ml/10l diesel.  Cut Stump: use Garlon® 4 100ml/10l diesel or Chopper® 200ml/10l water.

DESCRIPTION: Leaves and stems bruise easily giving off an unpleasant odour; leaves shiny and usually concentrated towards the tips of the branches; light green or creamy-yellow tubular flowers in small groups; fruits purplish-black, oval and fleshy; branches from the base to form a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub or small tree usually 1-2 m but can grow up to 15 m tall on the coast. Flowering time: March to June, fruiting in winter.

ORIGIN: Introduced from Brazil as a hedge plant or windbreak.

WHERE FOUND/PROBLEMS CAUSED: Occurs mainly along the coast but also inland as far as Howick.  In drier areas it usually grows near streams and rivers. Competes with and, under optimum conditions, can completely replace indigenous plant communities; Fruit, leaves and stems are extremely poisonous and especially in June and July when fruits are green causes Chase Valley disease in cattle, which results in heavy stock losses.

DID YOU KNOW: Toxins concentrated in the young leafy shoots cause stock poisoning and the freshly formed green berries especially in spring.  Animals that have eaten large quantities of cestrum usually die suddenly without showing any symptoms.  Cestrum is also known as inkberry but is not to be confused with another plant (Phytolacca octandra) known by the same common name.

This page was last edited on 23 April, 2006