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Posted 25 February 2009

A weed that has infested more than 5.3 million hectares throughout the Murray-Darling Basin and costs the environment $1.8 billion is being mistakenly sold as a groundcover and low-maintenence lawn species, the National Lippia Working Group has warned.

P canescans left, P nodiflora right. Photo by Gio Fichera CSIRO

It says Phyla canescens, a species of lippia responsible for widespread environmental and economic impacts in Australia, is often mistakenly sold in Australian nurseries as Phyla nodiflora, which is not considered an environmental threat at this stage.

The warning came with the release of a new online manual published by the lippia working group aimed at controlling the spread of the destructive weed.

The manual also warns that Phyla canescens, which already costs the grazing industry in the Murray-Darling Basin an estimated $38 million a year, could spread further under climate change through an increase in extreme rainfall and flood events.

Water flow, domestic and native animals, vehicles and machinery all contribute to the spread of Lippia, which is not a declared weed in any state, although it is a noxious weed in some NSW local government areas.

The loss of environmental services due to lippia is estimated to be $1.8 billion a year. These losses are estimated in terms of the loss of biodiversity and perennial vegetation, increased rates of erosion and reduction in water quality.

The primary threat from lippia lies in its direct impact on groundcover in floodplain communities. Its spread has significantly impacted and continues to threaten biodiversity throughout the Murray-Darling Basin.

A significant number of listed threatened species are restricted to environments where lippia tends to predominate.

Find out more
You can download the Lippia Management Manual from the NSW Naomi Catchment Authority’s publications section.

In the news
Weed touted as waterwise destroys pasture – Sydney Morning Herald