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Miconia nervosa (Miconia nervosa)

Miconia nervosa is prohibited matter in NSW, and Miconia species have been detected in Queensland. Miconia can invade moist areas, form dense thickets and displace native plants, so report any sighting in NSW.

Key facts

Type: Weed, shrub.

Native to: Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.

Established in: QLD, NSW.

Identification

  • Miconia nervosa is a sprawling shrub that grows up to 3 metres tall.
  • Its leaves grow in opposite pairs and are about 20 cm long, with green upper surfaces.
  • Leaves have 3–5 prominent lengthwise veins, which are purplish red on M. nervosa, and young leaves have velvety hairs.
  • Flowers are white, pink or purple, sweet-scented and arranged in clusters; each flower is 4–5 mm long and short-lived.
  • Look-alike: Other Miconia species may look similar; M. calvescens is a small tree that can grow to 15 metres and has leaves up to 80 cm long, while M. nervosa is a sprawling shrub up to 3 metres tall with leaves about 20 cm long.

Where it grows

Miconia nervosa has been detected in Queensland, and Miconia plants thrive in tropical and subtropical areas, particularly in shaded, closed-canopy environments with more than 1,600 mm of annual rainfall.

Why it matters

  • Miconia can invade moist areas and form dense thickets that replace native understorey plants in rainforests.
  • It can reduce food and habitat for native animals, biodiversity, and animal movement through forests.
  • It can increase the risk of erosion and landslides on steep slopes.

How it spreads

  • Mature plants, aged 4–5 years, can flower and fruit three times a year and produce up to 5 million seeds; seeds can remain viable in the soil for up to 16 years.
  • Birds and other small animals eat the fruit and spread the seeds; seeds can also travel in mud on clothes, shoes, tyres and machinery.
  • Stems and branches touching the soil can root and form daughter plants, while cut trunks can resprout and cut limbs may regrow if they touch the soil.

Control options

  • Do not attempt to treat or dispose of this weed yourself; report any sighting in NSW immediately by calling the NSW Biosecurity Helpline on 1800 680 244.
  • NSW DPIRD, Agriculture and Biosecurity, will lead the initial response for treatment and disposal.
  • Control must be carried out carefully to prevent large numbers of seedlings re-establishing from the soil seedbank.

Hygiene and washdown

  • Seeds can spread in mud on clothes, shoes, tyres and machinery, so check these for mud after working in infested areas.
  • 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