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Khaki weed

Weed Habitat 

  • A native to tropical America, Khaki weed colonises bare or disturbed areas, and occasionally native pastures.
  • Though deep taproots enable it to survive drought conditions, the plant needs plentiful moisture for vigorous growth; hence it grows well on irrigated recreational areas. Sharp spines of burr, a great annoyance.

Description 

  • A ground creeping perennial herb, with a thick tap root.
  • Prolific reddish stems to 60 cm long in thick mats on the ground. Roots form at stem nodes.
  • Numerous hairy leaves in opposite pairs of unequal size, oval or ovate, short stalked, prominent veins on underside.
  • Flowers inconspicuous in clusters in leaf axils.
  • Fruit is a chaff-coloured prickly burr about 1 cm long.

Alternanthera pungensAlternanthera pungensAlternanthera pungens

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Plant Type

Leaf Arrangement

Other weed identifiers

Plant Life Cycle

Weed Declaration

Currently not declared however under the Biosecurity Act 2014 you still have an obligation to prevent or minimise a biosecurity risk posed by a pest.

Weed Spread