Weeds
Here are some weeds regularly found along Merri Creek. Handweeding is a wonderful thing to do and helps to keep invasive weeds in check.
If you’d like to help out, here are a few things to note:
- Only pull out species you can confidently identify.
- If in doubt - leave it. Don’t work in areas where herbicide has recently been used (there will be temporary signage).
- Leave weeds off the side of the path or take them home to your green bin.
- Some weeds are edible - be sure of their ID, wash them well, and don’t pick from areas where herbicide has recently been sprayed.
For more information on local weeds:
- Yarra Riverkeeper weeding toolkit
- Grasslands - download the free app and learn about the unique biodiversity of south-eastern Australia’s endangered temperate native grasslands. It includes information on the grassland communities, localities where you can experience them and a comprehensive field guide with images of the plant and animal species that live in them.
- Grow me instead - check before buying and planting a potentially invasive and weedy garden species.
Malva parviflora - Small-flowered mallow
Origin: Mediterranean
Habit: An erect or sprawling herb up to 1 m tall
Flowers: Small short-petalled white to pale mauve flowers on individual stalks in leaf axils Look for: alternately arranged, roundish, lobed leaves with scalloped margins and spoke-like veins
Interesting facts: edible Leaves are a spinach substitute while leaf extracts have anti-inflammatory properties
Galium aparine - Cleavers, or bedstraw
Not to be confused with Clematis Microphylla - if it isn't sticky and adhering to your clothes - it isn't Galium!
Origin: Native to Europe and western Asia.
Habit: Trailing, sticky stems that are rough to the touch - can grow up to 2m long and form a smothering mat over nearby plants
Flowers: tiny white flowers, on tips of side shoots that develop into seeds in round burrs that get stuck in your socks or dogs fur
Weeding tips: roll or bundle Galium stems into a ball which helps to remove it from the plants it is smothering and then trace it back to a single thin stem and pull that from the ground Interesting fact: It is said that Velcro was invented after studying this plant. Galium is edible, and the seeds can be roasted for a coffee substitute.
Fumaria capreolata - Fumitory
Origin: Africa, Europe, West Asia.
Habit: An annual, that grows from seed, it grows in trailing clumps over and around other plants, potentially smothering them.
Flowers: white purple tipped flowers aging to pink. Flowers in spring.
Weeding tips: try to minimise soil disturbance so seed has reduced opportunity to set.
Interesting facts: the seed can still be viable for up to 20 years.
Solanum nigrum - Black nightshade
Origin: Africa, Europe and Asia
Habit: grows into a bushy plant, up to 1.25m tall.
Flowers: small star shaped flowers, white tinged with purple and a central yellow cone. Berries form after flowering, and can be toxic - safest to avoid any eating. Spreads by seed from berries eaten by birds and other animals.
Interesting fact: An environmental weed in Victoria and other states
Sonchus oleraceus - Smooth Sow thistle
Family : Asteraceae (Daisy Family)
Origin: Native to Europe and south-western Asia
Habit: Annual or biennial herb to 1.8 m high often with hollow stems that produce a white latex when damaged. Leaves are soft, thin, moderately to deeply lobed and dull grey green in colour.
Flowers: Yellow daisy flowers producing light seeds with white parachutes of silky hairs.
Interesting fact: It's not as prickly as Rough Sow Thistle (Sonchus asper) and therefore easier to pull out without gloves.
Plantago lanceolata - Lambs tongue/plantain
Origin: Europe and Asia
Habit: is a perennial rosette forming clump with long, narrow leaves ending in a tapered point. The leaf blades have parallel veins running the length of the leaf.
Flowers: Tiny creamy white flowers shooting from the seed head - a dense spike produced on a stalk that rises up to 45 cm from the ground. Flowering from mid-spring through summer and produces many seeds, spread by wind and water run-off.
Interesting facts: can be used in herbal teas and remedies.
NOTE: There is also a native plantain, almost indistinguishable from this one, except when it flowers. So it is best to leave it in the ground until spring, when it will be easier to identify.
Stellaria media - Chickweed, Starwort
Origin: Europe
Habit: annual plant, spreads in clumps from slender stems.
Flowers: tiny white flowers at the end of stems. Self seeds readily.
Interesting facts: reputed to help remove freckles. It is an edible weed, and also good food for chooks and other birds.
Allium triquetrum - onion weed - three-cornered onion weed.
If you are looking for a weed to pull out along Merri Creek, onion weed can be pulled out if the soil is damp, pulling gently from the base of the stem. If unsure - leaves have a strong onion smell.
Take home for your green bin if possible, or leave in a pile off the path.
Or here is some info on eating it and other edible weeds.
More info on plant and weed status.
Brassica fruticulosa - Twiggy turnip - Mediterranean cabbage
Origin: Mediterranean, North Africa.
Habit: Up to 50cm tall, upright stem with leaves on the base.
Flowers: yellow flowers most of the year.
Interesting facts: smells like cabbage
Image: Jon Sullivan, CC X 4.0