Alien invasive plants: Inkberry

Update

GEORGE NEWS - Alien invasive plants destroy biodiversity, the link between all organisms on earth that binds all into interdependent ecosystems.

George Herald will be placing a photo every month of an alien invasive plant in order to create awareness about their impact on the environment and how we should deal with them.

In August the focus falls on:

The Inkberry or Cestrum: Cestrum laevigatum, C. aurantiacum, C. elegans, C. purpureum (crimson/yellow/pink cestrum).

The Inkberry is an evergreen shrub or tree growing 1- 4 meters high, but reaching 15 m or more in the coastal regions. The leaves are lance-shaped, 150 mm long and 50 mm wide and release an unpleasant smell when crushed.

This poisonous plant has small greenish-yellow, tube-shaped flowers, which appear from October to May. The fruit is a green, 10 mm long berry which turns purple-black. Its invasive status is Category 1b invader and must be removed.

The Cestrum Nocturnum. Photo: De Forest & Kim Starr, Wikipedia

It is a habitat transformer as it competes with indigenous plants. The entire plant is poisonous.

Impact: Great adapter and seed disperser (up to 350 000 per year). It produces numerous root suckers and sprouts vigorously from cut stumps and root fragments. Secretion from roots and bark can cause an allergic skin reaction.

Control: Cut down and treat cut stems with Kaput. Cutting without poisoning encourages coppicing. Carefully uproot young plants to ensure complete removal of rhizome.

Rot or dry out before throwing on the compost heap. Follow-up regularly to guard against re-growth.

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