Posted in Chemical, Indigenous Training
Common Vine Weeds in Darwin
During a personal development session, Train Safe NT trainers were out looking for some weeds to build their skills and knowledge of various weeds around the Darwin area. Without having to look very hard, 5 weed vines were easily found and identified in a drain and water run off area in Winnellie, Northern Territory. Those weeds were, Wild Passion Fruit, Phasey Bean, Morning Glory, Centro and Siratro.
Each weed has its own unique identifying markers be that a flower, colour, leaf shape or size that help arcuately identify each vine. Check out the images below of each vine and a description of what we found. Online courses on weed control methods
Wild passion fruit is a fast growing vine that spreads quickly, too quickly if you ask me, and chokes any vegetation it grows on. Commonly found in many household gardens in the Top End of Australia, it can also be found in creek banks, drains, coastal dunes and disturbed areas. Its bears a fruit that can be eaten raw when yellow/orange but when green they are highly toxic.
Siratro is also a vine cultivated in the tropics for fodder for cattle and other farm animals and can be found in creek banks, drains, roadsides and pastures, similarly to Phasey Bean. The Siratro vine showed us flowers with a purple to black colour and seed pods 5-10cm long and anywhere from 12-15 seeds in each. Learn more about weed control methods
Centro was found to be flowing on this day and produced a nice mauve flower. This vine is also used by pastoralists for fodder but can also be found in creek banks, drains and roadsides.
Morning Glory produced a white flower this morning, before the weather heated up. Generally found in coastal areas and roadsides, drains and creek banks with a flower that closes up before noon when the sun is hot.
Phasey Bean showed us flowers with a crimson to red colour and seed pods 8-10cm long and anywhere from 16-30 seeds in each pod. Seeds are spread intentionally for fodder, but also by water, machinery and animal droppings. This vine is often cultivated in the tropics for fodder for cattle and other farm animals and can be found in creek banks, drains, roadsides and pastures.
