Warning over invasive roadside threat Aussies are 'required to kill'
Suspected to have hitched a ride in drought fodder back in 1922, there's now a fear the plant will contaminate our milk and meat if eaten by livestock.
Experts are sounding the alarm over a "menacing" species of plant "contaminating" properties in the country's south. Farmers in particular are being warned that if the invasive weed is eaten by their livestock, it can taint the taste of meat and milk products.
Taking to social media, South Australia's Arid Lands Landscape Board this week warned residents of the Calomba daisy (oncosiphon suffruticosum) — an "unpalatable annual herb that impacts pastures and crops" which can grow up to one metre tall. "With grey, finely-divided leaves and small, yellow flower heads, the Calomba daisy also smells a little like camomile," it said.
"Keep an eye out for this one, because it could contaminate your stock feed. As a declared weed, if you find it on your property you should quarantine the area and are required to take reasonable steps to kill the plants and prevent their spread."
Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Invasive Species Council Principal Policy Analyst Dr Carol Booth confirmed the weed could cause big problems for farmers.
She said it is "suspected to have hitched a ride in drought fodder back in 1922" and in recent decades, has been "causing a stir" in South Australia's semi-arid grazing lands in particular.
"Spreading across grazing properties in South Australia and Western Australia, this weed thrives in degraded vegetation, posing a growing challenge for farmers," Booth told Yahoo.
"With no nutritional value for livestock and a knack for tainting meat and milk if consumed, this daisy is a menace to both pastures and production. It is also potentially of environmental concern in some coastal areas. Farmers can fight back against this weed with targeted action — hoeing and spot spraying — and by maintaining their pastures with light grazing."
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Why are Calomba daisies a problem in Australia?
In the state, the Calomba daisy must not be sold and must not be transported on a public road due its invasive nature. Pictures show it has popped up along the Stuart Highway in the Gawler Ranges/Kingoonya area near the turnoff to Pimba and Roxby Downs.
The plant is also known to invade degraded areas and can outcompete native vegetation, including coastal and samphire communities. This disrupts local ecosystems and reduces biodiversity.
The daisy produces numerous seeds that remain viable for years, germinating after rain and spreading through contaminated fodder, water, or machinery. Its ability to regenerate after grazing or rain makes it challenging to control.
In South Australia, the Calomba daisy is a declared weed under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019, requiring landowners to control its presence and prohibiting its sale and transport.
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