Working on Fire teams fight Pompom invader

The pompom plant may be a favourite among plant lovers because of its beautiful pink flowers, but the Campuloclinium macrocephalum is an alien invasive plant and a big threat to vegetation, grazing land and wetland.
The pompom weed is a herb belonging to the aster family and originates in South America. It is thought to have been brought to this country mixed in with horse feed during the Anglo-Boer war. It now has spread rapidly in Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Free State.

Working on Fire (WoF) has made it their mission to fight this plant where it has started to take over reserves in Gauteng such as the Suikerbosrand-, Abe Bailey-, De Wildt-, Leeufontein- and Roodeplaat nature reserve.
WoF crew leaders have been trained to identify and remove pompom plants. The plant spreads rapidly when it is dry and has to be sprayed with herbicide.

Katlego Molape, one of the crew leaders at WoF says the teams’ primary mandate is to help with fire breaks, grass slashing and fire suppression before and during the fire season. “We are going the extra mile to help fight this plant in an effort to guard our environment from the pompom which consumes a lot of water. It forces indigenous plants out and kills off grazing land,” Molape said.
The teams have been trained and guided by biodiversity officers on the methods of removing the plant. “They advised us not to burn it, because in that way it will multiply and spread fast. We cut it and then wrap it in plastic bags in order to kill it off. The area is then treated with herbicide,’’ Katlego explained.

Bhekithemba Dube (assistant project manager) of the Heidelberg team agreed that the pompom is a big problem and are urging landowners to call the team to remove the plant in an effective manner. He and his team visited an area on the N3 next to the South African Army Gymnasium’s grounds where the plant is spreading rapidly. “We will notify the army about the plant on their grounds and ask permission to help them get rid of it,” Dube said.
Dee Johnson (member) of the Friends of Marievale said management at Marievale Nature Reserve are well aware of the threat of the plant and are controlling infestation on a regular basis.
“We have not seen the plant in the reserve lately, but it is an ongoing battle to eliminate various invasive species permanently as re-infestation occurs annually,” Johnson said.
If you need the WoF-team’s help to get rid of this weed, phone Dube on 062 259 5465 or 062 873 9122.