Weed profile: Fireweed
Fireweed flowers always have 13 petals
Fireweed
Senecio spp.
Fireweed, or variable groundsel, is a name that refers to a number of important weed species of the genus Senecio within the Asteraceae (daisy/thistle) family. The most common species is S. madagascariensis. S.lautus does occur but is a minor part of the population.
Fireweed is an invasive plant, quickly colonising heavily grazed, or neglected pastures, and cultivated, or disturbed, land during the autumn to spring period. It competes strongly with existing pasture plants for light, moisture and soil nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen. This competition can lead to the further deterioration of pastures and a reduction in overall grazing area. Fireweed can sometimes be poisonous to livestock, particularly cattle and horses.
Status
- Declared in NSW under the Noxious Weeds Act 1993 (view details)
Related publications
| Title | |
|---|---|
| Review of Fireweed Management in NSW |  654.0 kb |
| Fireweed (Primefact 126) | |