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Lane Cove National Park Wildflowers
Weeds
(introduced species)

Greater Periwinkle
attractive aliens or just plain weeds ?
Yes several of these plants have incredibly beautiful flowers. But their colour and form
aren't the issue here - they are invasive and crowd out the local native plants.
Several are Weeds of National Significance, and they all diminish our rich flora diversity.
Reference to these plants can be found on PlantNet and
Weeds in Australia.
Index to our collection -
Other attractions of the Lane Cove National Park
There are several city view lookouts in the Park. The one pictured here is in Thornleigh. Another is at the end of the Pennant Hills Fire Trail before it descends to the Lane Cover River.
The Thornleigh City View Lookout is accessed from Thornleigh Oval. Go straight ahead from the turn-off to the Lorna Pass Walking Track (see Acacias webpage) and follow the signs.
The walk is reasonably flat heath with an amazing display of wildflowers in spring.
The weeds
Balloon Vine
Cardiospermum grandiflorum
Native of the tropics.
Declared a noxious weed by many Sydney Councils, Balloon Vine's massive entangling vines smother other plants by blocking out the sunlight.
Its name comes from its
seed pod (fruit) which looks like a paper balloon, and produces. It is highly invasive.
Black-eyed Susan
Thunbergia alata
Native of southern Africa.
Black-eyed Susan is not on the weeds register and is used in gardens where quick cover is required.
This
reference gives a "home-town" aspect to this perennial creeper.
Blue Pigroot
Sisyrinchium iridifolium
Native of South America.
One of the more attractive weeds, Blue Pigroot is a member of the Iris family.
More of an attractive alien than an invasive weed.
Bridal Creeper
Asparagus asparagoides
Native of South Africa.
Bridal Creeper is one the 32 Weeds of National Significance.
A detailed description can be found on the
Weeds in Australia database.
Lantana
Lantana camara
Native of the tropics.
Lantana is another of the 32 Weeds of National Significance.
A detailed description can be found on the
Weeds in Australia database.
Dolichos Pea
Dipogon lignosus
Native of South Africa.
A climbing pea, that could easily be mistaken for a native.
A description can be found on the Queensland Government's Weeds of Australia
website.
Greater Periwinkle
Vinca major
Native of the Mediterranean.
Found in many gardens, this attractive alien is a known escapee.
Also known as Blue Periwinkle, a full description can be found in the
Weeds Australia database.
Pink Pavonia
Pavonia hastata
Native of South America.
A member of the Malvaceae Family that also includes
Hibiscus and
Cotton.
The characteristic leaves identify this small shrub when it is not in flower.
Soursob
Oxalis pes-caprae
Native of South Africa.
Soursob, also known as Bermuda Buttercup, occurs in all states and territories of Australia.
A full description is provided
here.
Winter Senna
Senna pendula var. glabrata
Native of South America.
Declared a noxious weed by several Sydney Councils, this leggy shrub can be over 3 metres high. The Senna genus was previously included in the Cassia genus - this plant was called
Cassia coluteoides. This is why it is sometimes referred to as a Cassia.
Mistflower
Ageratina riparia
Native of Central and South America.
Declared a noxious weed by many NSW Councils, this member of the Daisy Family (Asteraceae) grows rapidly next to sheltered creeks and waterways.
A detailed description can be found on the
Weeds in Australia database.
Parrot Lily
Alstroemeria pulchella
Native of Brazil.
The
Alstroemeria genus is commonly called the Peruvian Lily - although all species come from either Brazil or Chile.
Once established, this perennial is very difficult to eradicate.
Trad (Wandering Jew)
Tradescantia fluminensis
Native of South America.
This creeper was previously known as
T. albiflora, and is very similar to the Australian native
Scurvy Weed (
Commelina cyanea). Scurvy Weed has blue flowers and pointier leaves.
A detailed description can be found on the
Weeds in Australia database.
Calliopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Native of North America.
A member of the Daisy family, this annual is also known as Coreopsis and as Tickseed - due to the shape of its seed.
A detailed description can be found
here.
Blue Morning Glory
Ipomoea indica
Native of South America.
A smothering creeper, it is also known as Purple Morning Glory and Dunny Creeper.
It is a
declared noxious weed in over a dozen Sydney Council areas.
A detailed description can be found on the
Weeds in Australia database.
It is differentiated from
I. purpurea by its longer
sepals.
Japanese Honeysuckle
Lonicera japonica
Native of Japan, Korea & China.
This hardy climber has a sweet fragrance.
Its flowers bloom white and become pale orange before withering.
A detailed description can be found on the
Weeds in Australia database.
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