Biosecurity Spotters logo

Bifora (Bifora testiculata)

Bifora is an introduced annual weed that has naturalised in South Australia and is a serious crop weed, particularly in grain legume cropping. It is also recorded as an occasional contaminant of imported feed grain, creating a risk of further introduction.

Key facts

Type: Weed, herb.

Native to: Southern Europe and the Mediterranean region.

Established in: NSW, VIC, SA.

Best time to act: Inspect during the growing season, especially when plants are flowering, and treat or remove them before the fruit matures and seed is produced.

Identification

  • Bifora is an erect, hairless annual herb growing to about 30 cm high.
  • Its stems are striped and its leaves are narrow and finely divided.
  • The plant has a strong coriander smell.
  • Small white flowers grow in umbrella-like clusters, with five spreading petals that have a broad, shallow notch at the tip.
  • The fruit is distinctive and resembles a pair of testicles.
  • Look-alike: It may be confused with coriander or other small white-flowered plants in the carrot family; check the striped stems, coriander smell and distinctive paired fruit.

Where it grows

In Australia, bifora has naturalised in South Australia and is associated with agricultural settings, particularly grain legume cropping; it has not naturalised in Tasmania.

Why it matters

  • Bifora is a serious crop weed that affects agricultural activities, particularly grain legume cropping.
  • Its presence as an occasional contaminant of imported feed grain is a biosecurity concern.

How it spreads

  • Bifora reproduces by seed, so plants left to set seed can contribute to further infestations.
  • It is recorded as an occasional contaminant of imported feed grain, which can carry it into new areas.

Control options

  • For small infestations, pull or dig plants out before they set seed, and contain plants bearing fruit so seed is not spread.
  • Where chemical control is appropriate, use only a herbicide registered or permitted for bifora and the intended site or crop, and follow the label and local advice.
  • Recheck the site in subsequent growing seasons and control any new plants before they set seed.
  • If you find or suspect bifora in Tasmania, contact Biosecurity Tasmania immediately on 03 6165 3777.

Hygiene and washdown

  • Clean soil and plant material from machinery, vehicles, boots and other gear before leaving infested areas, and avoid moving contaminated material.
  • Check grain and fodder for seed contamination and use clean feed sources.
  • Inspect and clean vehicles, plant and footwear before leaving an infested area, paying attention to tyres, radiators, belly plates, tracks and floor mats.
  • Wash down at a designated bay where runoff is contained and can be monitored for seedlings.
  • Record each washdown so the client has evidence of clean entry and exit.

Classification by state

  • Australia (national): No national listing. Managed under state and territory law.
  • Queensland: Not prohibited or restricted. Not listed as prohibited or restricted matter in Queensland. Everyone must also take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise its risks (the general biosecurity obligation).
  • New South Wales: Not a priority weed. Not a state or regional priority weed in NSW. The general biosecurity duty applies: anyone dealing with it must prevent, eliminate or minimise the risk it poses.
  • Victoria: Not declared. Not declared under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Other Victorian laws may still apply.
  • South Australia: Declared plant. Depending on the declaration, it can be an offence to move it on public roads or sell it, and landowners may be required to control it on their land.
  • Western Australia: Declared pest (C1), prohibited. C1 Exclusion: to be kept out of WA, or out of the parts of WA where it is not established. Report any sighting to DPIRD. It must not be brought into WA (prohibited organism).
  • Tasmania: Declared weed. Property managers are required by law to control declared weeds, and their import and sale are prohibited.
  • Northern Territory: Not declared. Not on the NT A to Z weed list, and Weeds Australia does not list it as declared in the NT. Check the NT declared weeds list before moving or planting it.
  • Australian Capital Territory: Not declared. Not declared under the Biosecurity Act 2023 (ACT). A general biosecurity duty still applies.

Legal obligations

Every state and territory places a duty on landholders and people working on land to prevent the spread of invasive species, such as the general biosecurity obligation in Queensland and the general biosecurity duty in New South Wales. Declarations and control requirements differ between states and local government areas, so check the current official list before work starts.

  • New South Wales: Biosecurity Act 2015 (NSW), administered by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
  • Victoria: Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (Vic), administered by Agriculture Victoria
  • South Australia: Landscape South Australia Act 2019 (SA), administered by the regional landscape board

Sources