North West Weeds 
Your local guide to local noxious weed control (NSW, Australia)
   

North West Weeds
ABN 16 052 158 879
Postal address:
20 Dinoga Street
BINGARA
NSW 2404

Identification │ The problem │ More info? │ Control methods │Using pesticides │Disclaimer

Lippia (Phyla canescens) poses a serious environmental threat to New South Wales’ inland wetlands and floodplains. A fast-growing and hardy weed, Lippia forms a “carpet” over the entire ground.  Because of its root system, it can be the cause of severe river and creek bank erosion. Lippia secretes toxic substances, leading to degradation of soil and water and displacement of native plant species.

IDENTIFICATION

Lippia covers the ground like a mat.  It is a perennial, broadleaf herb, with grey-green leaves 10 to 20 mm long.  Each tiny leaf has 2 or 3 serrations on each side.  Lippia produces numerous small, round, white or lilac flowers.  The plant has a taproot up to 2 metres deep.  In river or creek bank situations these large taproots act like wedges and will actually cause large sections of the bank to break away and fall into the waterway.

Photo: close up of lippia leaf and flower (Tuloona Nov 02)
[Click on photos for a larger view]

Lippia has been around for more than 50 years.  Originally promoted as a soil stabilisation plant, it has been spread over large distances by floodwaters.  It has also been marketed as a low maintenance “no-mow” turf, and is now found in many household lawn situations.

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THE PROBLEM

Lippia has taken over thousands of hectares of the State’s inland watercourse country.  Lippia can completely dominate the ground cover.  It out-competes all native vegetation including tree seedlings; in these situations the entire landscape will eventually be nothing but lippia.  It poses a severe threat to all watercourse and adjacent grazing lands.  It has virtually no value as stock feed and can reduce a paddock’s carrying capacity by 40 – 60%.

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CONTROL METHODS

Once established, lippia is almost impossible to eradicate in other than arable situations.  Best control is by an integrated program of improved pastures and grazing management. NSW DPI’s herbicide recommendations include 2,4-D amine, glyphosate and metsulfuron-methyl.  For further information please refer to the department’s Agnote, below under "More Information".

Pesticides Permit PER10917 for control of lippia.  Various options including (1) glyphosate + 2,4-D (2) glyphosate + metsulfuron methyl (3) glyphosate + metsulfuron methyl + 2,4-D (4) 2,4-D.

IMPORTANT:  USE OF PESTICIDES – ALWAYS READ THE LABEL
Pesticides must only be used for the purpose for which they are registered and must not be used in any other situation or in any manner contrary to the directions on the label.  Never use a herbicide in any way contrary to the label recommendations.

MORE INFORMATION

NSW DPI has more information on lippia on its weeds website:

• Using herbicides in a lippia management program (Agnote DPI-384)

IMPORTANT:  USE OF PESTICIDES – ALWAYS READ THE LABEL

Pesticides must only be used for the purpose for which they are registered and must not be used in any other situation or in any manner contrary to the directions on the label.  Never use a herbicide in any way contrary to the label recommendations.

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DISCLAIMER:   The information contained in this web site is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing. However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that information upon which they rely is up to date and to check currency of the information with the appropriate officer of North West Weeds or the user’s independent adviser.
LRT - 14/06/2010

Send mail to northwestweeds@aapt.net.au with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2007-2013 Last modified: 23-Feb-2012 - North West Weeds