Invasive weed dubbed thorny horror eradicated from Queensland

September 28, 2024 8:37 PM

Invasive weed dubbed thorny horror eradicated from Queensland after 15-year battle. The karroo thorn can overrun landscapes and make farmland unproductive, so farmers and biosecurity officers are rejoicing at this eradication achievement.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries (5 comments total)

Very well done! Next do the same for the invasive Himalayan Blackberry in Oregon. Please...
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:46 PM on September 28 [3 favorites]

It seems a weird plant for an ornamental….
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:27 AM on September 29

Biosecurity officer has some great, ominous, sci-fi overtones.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:36 AM on September 29 [3 favorites]

Good dogs they're horrible plants! What keeps them from taking over all of Africa?
posted by BlueHorse at 7:17 AM on September 29

weird plant for an ornamental….

It's got yellow flowers and the white thorns against the dark bark is attractive. From Wikipedia:

The tree is especially useful as forage and fodder for domestic and wild animals. Apparently, there is no risk of poisoning from it. Goats seem to like V. karroo better than cattle.[8] The small pom-pom shaped yellow flowers are attractive in mid-summer. The flowers make it a very good source of forage for honey bees; honey from it has a pleasant taste.

...

an excellent source of firewood and charcoal.[8] The wood is also used for fencing posts for cattle byres or kraals. The heartwood has a density of about 800 kg/m3. A tough rope can be made from the inside bark of the tree.[9]

posted by Mitheral at 9:38 AM on September 29 [1 favorite]