New Zealand Journal of Botany

ISSN: 0028-825X (Print) 1175-8643 (Online) Journal homepage: www.tandfonline.com/journals/tnzb20

Harmful plant species entering New Zealand

1963–1967

Richard H. Powell

To cite this article: Richard H. Powell (1968) Harmful plant species entering
New Zealand 1963–1967, New Zealand Journal of Botany, 6:3, 395-401, DOI:
10.1080/0028825X.1968.10429821

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196fl] 395

HARMFUL PLANT SPECIES ENTERING

NEW ZEALAND 1963 -1967

RICHARD H. POWELL *
Department of Agriculture, Levin

(Received for publication II December 1967)

SUMMARY
Potentially harmful plant species, mainly as seed, are continually entering
New Zealand from many parts of the world. During 1963-67 over 1,500 items
of botanical interest have been intercepted by the Department of Agriculture's
Port Agriculture Inspection Service and identified to specific or generic level at
the Levin Horticultural Laboratory.
Of significant interest were 116 interceptions which included propagules of
65 harmful species, of which 45 have never before been recorded as growing in
New Zealand. An appendix lists the harmful species and indicates their probable
sources, the means by which they gained entry, and the types of propagule.
The threat from the establishment of harmful species such as Alternanthera
repens, Bassia birchii, Colocynthis citrullus. and Cyperus esculentlls is discussed.

INTRODUCTION
Various investigators have identified a wide range of plant species
found to have been carried on clothing or on footwear. Trouser cuffs
after field excursions in the Canterbury area yielded 17 grammes of
seeds and fruits composed of 52 plant species (Healy, 1943). Similarly
in Britain, samples of mud off footwear yielded 43 kinds of seed
(Clifford, 1956). The threat from the introduction of plant species by
these means is of considerable importance to New Zealand where
exotics such as Hordeum murinum now dominate large areas capable
of greater production. Species with seeds and fruits that adhere are
frequently those which are also harmful to livestock and their products.

RESULTS OF INVESTIGATION
Eighty-seven species of plant are listed at appendix. Sixty-five of
these, for which the name of the species was accurately identified, are
known to be harmful, and would be a potential danger or serious
problem if introduced into this country. Forty-five have not been
recorded in New Zealand previously. The remaining plants, for which
• Present address: Research Section, Parks and Gardens, Department of the
Interior, Canberra, A.C.T., Australia.
N.Z. Jl Bot. 6: 395-401
396 NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF BOTANY [SEPTEMBER

only the genus could be identified, were considered to be potentially

harmful. They represent 25 plant families which were identified from
plant material feund entering this country, by the Department of
Agriculture's Pert Agriculture Inspection Service. During the period
of investigation from 1963-67 approximately 7% ef all items identified
at the Levin Herticultural Laberatery were placed in the harmful
category.
The appendix indicates that the adherence of propagules to' footwear
and/or clothing accounted fer 33 chance introductions. Werkers such
as shearers returning from empleyment on Australian farms were found
to be unintentional carriers of seed on many occasiens.
Several species are werth particular mentien:
Alternanthera repens ("Khaki Weed") has been intercepted en
seven occasiens from three ceuntries and the seed has proved viable
en twO' occasions. It has been found growing in New Zealand once
and it is a plant that poses a special threat (Mr A. J. Healy peTS.
cemm., 1964). A native of tropical America, its distribution has
widened partly because of the ability ef the stiff sharp bracts sup-
porting the florets even to' penetrate rubber tyres. This weed is a
serious problem particularly in the lucerne growing areas of the
Laxham Valley of New South Wales (Mears, 1966).
Fruits of Bassia (Chenopodiaceae) are hooked or spined to pro-
mote attachment and many are weeds. Bassia birchii ("Galvanised
Burr") an Australian species, identified from a visitor's tennis shoe
aleng with Calotis hispidula. is usually disseminated through the
adherence ef fruit to sheep's wool. Its establishment under New
Zealand cenditions seems unlikely, hewever, because of the specialised
requirements of the salt bush group of plants to which it belongs.
Predictiens of the establishment of plant species in new habitats is
hazardeus. Theugh frem a different environment than the typical New
Zealand one, Tribulus terrestris ("Puncture Vine"), found growing on
one occasion at Napier, might well establish in the drier and warmer
parts ef New Zealand. Until recently, viable seed of Tribulus terrestris
was being sent to New Zealand from India for medicinal purposes.
The fruits are powdered and used for backaches (Maheshwari, 1963).
The two long pungent spines carried by each section of the fruit of
Tribulus terrestris can penetrate most animal tissue to considerable
depth and they readily penetrate rubber. (In Los Angeles Ceunty,
inspection of 110 tyres of aircraft landing during one month, showed
9% carried T. terrestris.) The plant has been reported as toxic and
the presence of the fruit in wool lowers its value.
Collectors of horticultural curies arrive in New Zealand with fruits
the identity of which may be confused with that of more desirable
species. The attractive fruit of Colocynth is citrullus ("Paddy melon")
has been ?rought into this country from Australia probably for intended
co~umpt1on. Its appearance and size are similar to a small jam melon.
In mland ~~w Sou.th Wales C. citrullus infests cultivation and pasture
areas and It IS relatively hardy (Whittet, 1962),
1968] POWELL-HARMFUL PLANT SPECIES 397
Cyperus esculentus ("Ground almond") yields edible tubers and is
cultivated as a crop in West Africa and elsewhere. Propagules from an
intercepted parcel from Ghana that were held at room temperature for
four months grew successfully at the Laboratory. This pernicious weed
known on all continents is at its best in the tropics and sub-tropics
(Robbins et al .• 1951). The species might well become established in
New Zealand in the warm, moist conditions of the Auckland area. It is
troublesome in fruit and market garden areas in California but has not
been recorded growing in New Zealand.

CONCLUSION
During the period of investigation, 1963-67, it was found that of the
plant material intercepted by the New Zealand Port Agriculture Inspec-
tion Service approximately one in every 14 items was potentially
harmful. Propagules of especially harmful plant species entered the
country adhering to clothing and footwear.
This increased knowledge of the methods by which such species are
introduced will permit attention to be drawn to certain aspects of plant
propagule introduction. Moreover, all persons entering the country can
be made more aware of the type and possible effect of the plant
material they carry.
Appreciation by travellers of the risks of introducing harmful plants
and their co-operation with a vigilant Port Agriculture Inspection
Service can lower the threat to New Zealand from potentially harmful
plant species.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The writer is especially grateful to Mr A. J. Healy, Botany Division,
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Lincoln, for assistance
with current nomenclature and for records of the occurrence of the
species in New Zealand. Appreciation is expressed for identifications
by the following: Miss D. Johns, Commonwealth Scientific and Indus-
trial Research Organisation, Canberra~ Mrs M. E. H. Johnson, Seed
Testing Station, Palmerston North~ Mr S. L. Everist, Queensland~ Mr
B. E. V. Parham, Botany Division, D.S.I.R.; and Jodrell Laboratory,
Kew, England.

REFERENCES
CLIFFORD, H. T. 1956: Seed dispersal on footwear. Proc. bot. Soc. British lIles 2:
129.
HEALY, A. J. 1943: Seed dispersal by human activity. Nature. Lond. 151, p. 140.
MAHESHWARI, J. K. 1963: "Flora of Delhi". Commonwealth Scientific Industrial
Research Organisation, New Delhi, p. 91.
MEARS, A. D. 1966: Khaki weed in New South Wales. Agric. Gaz. N.S.W.
77(1), p. 21.
ROBBINS, W. W., BELLUE, M. K., and BALL, W. S. 1951: "Weeds of California".
Sacramento, p. lIS.
WHITTET, J. N. 1962: "Weeds". Government Printer, Sydney, p. 270.
 ApPENDIX ~
\0
00
POTENTIAL LV HARMFUL PLANT SPECIES ENTERING NEW ZEALAND 1963-67
Explanation of Terms
F Adhering to footwear
C Adhering to fibrous material (particularly clothing)
SI Impurity in seed crop
H Horticultural item Z
FD Floral decoration m
~
M Medicinal use
N
m
Probable S1 H M Misc. >
Species source F C I FD I Fonn
I I s:z
o
ALISMACEAE ~
Echinodorus sp. Australia 1 Seed o
C
::0
AMARANTHACEAE Z
Alternanthera repens (L) Kuntze*" Australia 3 2 Seed >
!""
Alternanthera repens (L) Kuntze*" Somalia 1 Seed o'T,I
Alternanthera repens (L) Kuntze** Rhodesia 1 Seed
Gomphrena globosa L Hawaii Seed
ASCLEPJADACEAE ~
Gomphrena globosa L U.S.A. Seed Z
>(

BORAGINACEAE
Anchusa a1.urea Mill" France Seed
,....,
CAROPHYLLACEAE til
t"l1
Silene antirrhina L. Canada Seed
:::l
t"l1
CHENOPODIACEAE
Bassia sp. Australia Seed
:::I:l:l
Bassia birchii (P. MueH) F.v.M. Australia Seed ;g
 COMPOSlTAE \0
-
Calotis ('1cuneata) Australia I Seed 0'\
00
Calotis hispidula F. MueH Australia 2 Seed .....
Carlina acaulis L. Switzerland Seed
Carthamus tinctorius L ..... Japan Seed
Centaurea maculosa Lam. Canada Seed
Chrysanthemum segetum L. U.S.A. I Seed
Cirsium ;aponicum DC U.S.A. 2 Seed
Cryptostemma calendula (L) Druce" Australia I Seed
Guizotia ubyssinica Cass. it« Holland 1 Seed
Petasites sp." Switzerland 1 Seed 6'
Xanthium sp. Hong Kong Seed :2
Xanthium pungens Wallr. Fiji Seed tTl
Xanthium spinosum L" Greece Seed
r
Xanthium ('1chinense) Australia Seed T
::x:=
CONVOLVULACEAE ~

Cuscuta chinensis Lam. Hong Kong Seed ::

"
Ipomoea aquatica Forsk. Hong Kong Seed 'T'l
Ipomoea carica (L) Sweet Australia Seed c:
Ipomoea tuberosa L. Fiji Seed r
2
Ipomoea tuberosa L. Peru I Seed r~
CRUCIFERAE
'"
z
Diplotaxis muralis (L) DC Africa Seed "'l
en
."
CUCURBITACEAE tTl
M omordica charantia L. Hong Kong J t Seed Q
tTl
M omordica charantia L. India 2 I Seed [JJ
Momordica charantia L. Fiji 1 Fruit
Co!ocynthis citrullus (L) Kuntze Australia 1 Seed
CYPERACEAE
Cyperus esculentus L. Ghana I Tuber
Scirpus tuberosus Roxb. Hong Kong 1 Tuber
Rhynchospora sp. Japan I Seed
EQUISITACEAE w
'-0
Equisetum sp. E. Africa Plant '-0
 ------ ----- 0
"""
Probable Misc. Form 0
Species F C SI H
source I FD I M I
GRAMINEAE 1 Seed
Alopecurtls myosuroides Huds. Switzerland Seed
Astrebla lappacea (Lindl.) Domin. Australia 1
Australia 1 Seed
Astrebla elymoides F.M. Bail. & F.v.M. Seed
Bromus brizaeformis Fisch. & Mey U.S.A.
Australia Seed
Chloris virgata Swartz 1 Seed Z
Chloris pectinata Benth. Australia tTl
Singapore 1 Seed
Chrysopogon aciculatus (Retz) Trin. Seed ~
Chrysopogon aciculatus (Retz) Trin. New Guinea 1
E. Asia Seed N
Chrysopogon aciculatus (Retz) Trin. Seed tTl
Dichanthium /ecundum S.T. Blake Australia 1 >
Seed t""
Eleusine indica (L) Gaertn.* S. Africa I >
Greece 1 Seed 'Z
Lophochloa phleoides (Viii.) ** 1 Seed 1;;1
Pennisetum setaceum (Forsk.) Chiov. U.K. Seed
Pcnnisetum setosum (L) Rich. Fiji .....
0
U.K. Seed c:::
Pennisetllm villosum R. Br.** Seed
Sorghum halepense (L) Pers. Africa Seed
Tragus sp. Japan '">'Z
Hawaii Plant t""
Zoyzia tenuifolia WiUd.
0
'Tl
IRlDACEAE Seed
Homeria colJina (Thunb.) Vent. * U.S.A. Seed
Romulea rosea (L) Eckl. ** Australia ~
o-l
>
'Z
LOGANIACEAE 4 Fruit -<
Strychnos nuxvomica L. Hong Kong

LEGUMINOSAE 2 Seed
Aeschynomene virginiaca (L.) BSP U.S.A. Seed .......
en
Cassia tora L. Fiji Seed tTl
Cassia occidentalis L. Fiji "0
Seed o-l
Hymenocarpus circinnatus (L.) Savi. Greece Seed tTl
Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit Fiji 2 ::::
o:l
Lotus purshianus Clem. et Clem. Seed tTl
Mimosa im'isa Mart. Fiji
'"
 Seed
Fiji --::t .
Mimosa pudica L. Seed ....\0
Scorpiurlls sp.·" India Seed 0"1
Sesbania exaltata (Rat.) Cory U.S.A. 00
.......
MALVA CEAE 2 Seed
Sida acula Burm. t. Fiji

MORA CEAE Seed

Cannabis sativa L." U.K.

ONAG RACEA E Seed ';g

Trapa (1maxim owiczii) Korsh. Australia
~
tTl
Seed r-'
PAPAV ERACE AE
Papaver rhoeas L. India 1 Seed
Papaver rhoeas L. U.K. 2 Seed T
Papaver somnile rum L." U.K. 1 Seed ::c
>
L." Japan 2 Seed ::0
Papaver somnile rum 3:
Papaver somnife rum L." India Seed
Turkey "'rl
Papaver somniferllm L." c::
r-'
POLYG ONACE AE Seed ~
Rumex sagittatlls Thunb. " Africa r-'
>
Z
SCROP HULAR IACEA E Seed -!
Ant;rrh ;num oront;um L." France Seed
India CIl
Ant;rrh inum orontiu m L." "'0
tTl
(")
SOLAN ACEAE Seed r;
Datura ferox Hajer.... Holland Seed Vl
Datura stramon ium L. var. tatllia L.. Fiji 3 Fruits
Lycillm chinense Mill." Hong Kong
UMBE LLlFER AE 1 Seed
Scandix pecten veneris L ..... India 3 Plants
Hydroc otyle asiatica L. Hong Kong
ZYGOP HYLLA CEAE 4 Seed
Tribulu s terrestris L. .... India Seed ~
Tribulu s terrestris L. ... Australia 3 0

.. Known to occur in New Zealand . occasionally.

.... Have been found as casuals, but not in recent years, or very