Know your alien invasive plant: Pompom weed
Hillcrest Conservancy helps residents identify and eliminate various alien invasive plant species in the Highway area.
THIS week, Hillcrest Conservancy, takes a look at the Pompom weed, as part of its series of articles on alien invasive plants, to help the community to identify and eradicate them from their gardens.
The pompom weed’s scientific name is Campuloclinium macrocephalum (Asteraceae) but is also known as the Pompom bossie (Afrikaans).
Description: The pompom weed is an erect perennial with green stems that stands up to 1.3 metres high with the green bristly leaves concentrated at the base. It dies back every year and is then hard to identify. Its pink flower heads then appear in December to March.
Where does this species come from? This plant is native to Central and South America.
What is its invasive status in South Africa? This plant falls into Category 1b and needs to be removed and reported on immediately to the SANBI or the Restoration Ecology Branch eThekwini on 031 322 4311 or 031 311 7134 (fax). This species is a particularly aggressive invader. It is causing considerable problems in the North West Province as well as Gauteng. It has however now been found in KZN and needs to be dealt with as a matter of urgency.
How does it spread? It spreads easily by seed, and it can also regenerate from underground rhizomes. Once established it can seriously degrade the condition of natural areas and reduce the amount of grazing available to livestock.
Contact Ian Pattrick on 079 909 5458 or Hillcrest Conservancy chairman, George Victor, on 073 901 3902 or e-mail georgevic@telkomsa.net
