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Coastal galenia (Aizoon pubescens)

Introduced to Australia, coastal galenia forms dense mats that can smother low-growing vegetation and prevent native plants from germinating or regrowing. It can also contain toxic levels of nitrates and soluble oxalates when grown in fertile soils.

Key facts

Type: Weed, herb.

Native to: South Africa.

Established in: NSW, VIC, TAS, SA, WA.

Other names: Carpet Plant, Blanket Plant, Blanket Weed, Carpet Weed.

Best time to act: Look for flowering mainly in summer, with some flowering in spring and autumn, and treat actively growing plants during winter, spring or summer on fresh new growth.

Identification

  • A low, spreading perennial herb that forms greyish mats up to 60 cm high and 1.6 m wide or wider.
  • Stems are woody at the base, and stems and leaves have a dense covering of scale-like hairs.
  • Leaves are alternate, slightly fleshy and 5–35 mm long, with rounded to broadly pointed tips.
  • Small white or pinkish flowers grow between the leaves and branches; they may turn yellowish with age.
  • The dry, leathery fruit is a 2–3 mm capsule with five angles.
  • Look-alike: Galenia secunda is very similar, but has leaves clustered on short side branches and greyish, shining, hollow hairs narrowly attached near their base.
  • Look-alike: Native saltbushes can look similar, but galenia flowers have 10 stamens, compared with five or fewer in saltbush species.

Where it grows

In Australia it occurs in several states and territories, particularly in disturbed areas such as roadsides, waterways, coastal environments, waste areas and degraded open vegetation.

Why it matters

  • Dense mats smother low-growing vegetation, prevent its regrowth and stop native or desirable plants from germinating.
  • It invades coastal dunes, disturbed vegetation, roadsides and rocky outcrops, and has been recorded preventing seedling regeneration in an endangered River Red Gum population in the Hunter Catchment.
  • Plants grown in fertile soils can accumulate nitrates and soluble oxalates at levels toxic to stock.
  • Bees collecting its nectar can produce honey with a disagreeable flavour that is unsaleable.

How it spreads

  • Small seeds are dispersed by wind and water, and are also spread by birds and livestock.
  • Contaminated soil on machinery or people can carry seeds and root segments to new sites.

Control options

  • Use an integrated approach, as a single control option is insufficient and established plants are difficult to control.
  • Registered herbicides can be applied as a foliar spray to actively growing plants; control is best on immature plants or before flowering, and follow-up checks and retreatment may be needed.
  • Hand-pull or dig out small infestations, or mechanically remove plants, taking care to remove the large taproot and all root material to prevent regrowth.
  • Revegetate cleared areas to reduce re-establishment and invasion by other weeds.

Hygiene and washdown

  • Clean soil and plant material from machinery, footwear and gear after working in infested areas, as contaminated soil can carry seeds and root segments.
  • 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: Regional priority in 1 of 11 regions. Regional priority weed in Hunter. 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: Not declared. Not declared under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019. Other laws may still apply.
  • Western Australia: Not listed. Not found in the Western Australian Organism List. Check with DPIRD before moving or keeping it.
  • Tasmania: Not declared. Not a declared weed in Tasmania. Other laws may still apply.
  • Northern Territory: Check NT list. There is no NT weed profile for it. Check the NT declared weeds list for its current status.
  • 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
  • Tasmania: Biosecurity Act 2019 (Tas), administered by Biosecurity Tasmania
  • South Australia: Landscape South Australia Act 2019 (SA), administered by the regional landscape board
  • Western Australia: Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (WA), administered by the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Sources