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Miconia (Miconia calvescens)

Miconia is not yet widely naturalised in Australia, but it has been recorded at several locations in coastal far north Queensland and is regarded as an environmental weed there. It is a potential environmental weed in northern New South Wales, and a national eradication program commenced in Australia in 2001.

Key facts

Type: Weed, tree.

Native to: Mexico, parts of Central America and tropical South America.

Established in: QLD, NSW.

Other names: bush currant, purple plague, velvet tree, velvetleaf.

Identification

  • An evergreen tree usually 4–8 m tall, occasionally reaching 16 m.
  • Its very large, opposite leaves are usually green above and bright purple underneath, with three prominent veins running from the base towards the tip.
  • Numerous small white or pinkish flowers grow in large clusters at branch tips.
  • The small fleshy berries are about 6–7 mm across and turn black, bluish-black or purplish when mature.
  • Look-alike: Miconia nervosa has leaves up to 25 cm long, pale green undersides with densely hairy veins, and five prominent veins; Miconia calvescens has much larger leaves, bright purple undersides and three prominent veins.
  • Look-alike: Miconia racemosa has leaves up to 25 cm long, green and mostly hairless undersides, and five prominent veins; Miconia calvescens has much larger leaves, bright purple undersides and three prominent veins.

Where it grows

In Australia it has been recorded at a few locations in coastal far north Queensland, including Cairns, Mossman and Kuranda.

Why it matters

  • It is regarded as an environmental weed in Queensland and a potential environmental weed in northern New South Wales.
  • It can invade closed forests, rainforest margins, roadsides, creek-banks and disturbed sites.
  • It is listed as a priority environmental weed in at least one Natural Resource Management region.

How it spreads

  • It reproduces mostly by seeds, which are primarily dispersed by fruit-eating birds.
  • Other listed dispersal agents are wind, water, vehicles and small mammals.
  • Vegetative reproduction sometimes occurs through layering and re-sprouting.

Control options

  • A national eradication program commenced in Australia in 2001.
  • In New South Wales it is a Class 1 state prohibited weed, and its presence must be notified to the local control authority; it must be fully and continuously suppressed and destroyed.
  • Queensland declares it Class 1, while Western Australia lists it as P1 and P2; the Northern Territory declares it C. These declarations also apply to all Miconia species.

Hygiene and washdown

  • Vehicles are listed as a dispersal agent for this species.
  • 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): National weed eradication program. Targeted for eradication under the nationally cost-shared National Tropical Weeds Eradication Program. Report any sighting straight away.
  • Queensland: Restricted matter. Everyone must also take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise its risks (the general biosecurity obligation).
  • New South Wales: Prohibited matter. It is an offence to deal with it, and you must notify NSW DPIRD as soon as you become aware of it.
  • 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: Not listed. Not found in the Western Australian Organism List. Check with DPIRD before moving or keeping it.
  • Tasmania: Declared weed. Property managers are required by law to control declared weeds, and their import and sale are prohibited.
  • Northern Territory: Declared weed. Weeds Australia lists it as a declared weed in the NT under the Weeds Management Act 2001. Check the NT declared weeds list for its class and what it requires.
  • 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.

  • Queensland: Biosecurity Act 2014 (Qld), administered by Biosecurity Queensland (13 25 23)
  • New South Wales: Biosecurity Act 2015 (NSW), administered by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Sources