Purple groundsel

General description

Annual herb < 60 cm tall. Leaves are deeply lobed and < 8 cm long. Flowers have purple/pink ray florets and yellow discs and are borne in August – May. Achenes are < 3 mm long and bear pappus < 8 mm long.

What you need to know

To help protect our environment:

• You must not breed, distribute, release or sell purple groundsel on Aotea/Great Barrier Island group.
• You must not plant purple groundsel on Aotea/Great Barrier Island group.

Auckland Council will manage purple groundsel at all sites within the Aotea/Great Barrier Island group where it is known to occur.

If you see purple groundsel anywhere on Aotea/Great Barrier Island group, please report it to Auckland Council at pestfree@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.

Habitats

Sand dunes, coastal habitat, gravel.

Dispersal

Seeds dispersed by wind.

Impact on environment

Likely to outcompete native vegetation, particularly in dune ecosystems.

Control

Site Management

Follow up treated areas 3 times per year. Encourage natural regeneration of native plants or replant treated areas where possible after 2-3 treatments to establish dense ground cover and minimise reinvasion.

Recommended approaches

Physical control

Method: Dig out.

Plant parts requiring disposal: All parts.

Disposal options: Remove to greenwaste or landfill if practical.

Biocontrol

Biocontrol is currently not available for this species.

Community agrichemical control recommendations

No qualifications: Foliar spray with 100ml glyphosate green per 10L of water.

Certified Handler/Experienced agrichemical user: Foliar spray with 100ml glyphosate green per 10L of water and 20ml penetrant.

For infestations amongst desirable species: Foliar spray with 40ml clopyralid per 10L of water and 20ml penetrant (not for use in home gardens).