Pompoms spread all over Beyers
RANDPARK RIDGE – Pompom weed spreads from Molope Road to Northumberland Avenue.
The pompom weed is quickly growing in clusters along Beyers Naude Drive, between Northumberland Avenue and Molope Road, Randpark Ridge.
The spread of the weed, which has a distinctively soft pink flower with a purple stem and can grow to about 1.3m high, was noticed by a Randburg Sun journalist, who inquired from Geoff Lockwood, resident manager at the Delta Environmental Centre, about to the nature of the weed.
“Pompom weed or Campuloclinium macrocephalum, is considered to be one of the most significant threats to biodiveristy in grasslands,” Lockwood said.
“Each head produces thousands of microscopic wind-born seeds and is spreading rapidly through Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.”
Lockwood said that the weed originates from Central and South America and was introduced to South Africa as a garden plant.
It is often found growing on road verges and Lockwood believes vehicles help spread the seeds.
“The seeds are blown by wind and are snagged by cars. The wind then blows the seeds off the cars onto verges. I have heard [that] they are looking for a biological control agent against pompom but am not sure how long it will be before this is ready to be introduced.”
Joburg Roads Agency spokesperson Bertha Peters-Scheepers said the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport maintains the verges next to Beyers Naude Drive, and it has a programme for the removal of weeds in Gauteng.
Department representatives were contacted but did not respond by the time of going to print.
Lockwood added that pompoms are nearing the end of their flowering season and without the pink flowers the remainder of the plants will soon be hard to see from a distance.
Resident Laura Payne said despite the weed’s attractiveness, it is invasive and must be removed.
Details: Delta Environmental Centre 011 888 4831, Joburg Roads Agency 011 298 5001.
