Malva parviflora fruit

Reviews

• Bush Invaders of South East Australia
• Australian Weed Management Systems
• Plants of Importance to Australia - a checklist

A guide to the identification and control of environmental weeds found in South-East Australia.

This book should be on the shelves of anybody in New Zealand who has to deal with or is interested in dealing with the weeds that invade and despoil areas of native bush. Although directed at the parts of Australia closest to us, almost all of the weeds described in this book are serious problems of similar areas in New Zealand, and the techniques described for controlling them can also be used here. Some of the weeds described are not yet problems in New Zealand, but may yet become so. That lovely, innocuous garden plant Freesia is a bush invader in Australia and may also, one day, be a problem here.

A warning, too, that our own native plants can become dangerous when they get overseas. Two of the plants described in this book are New Zealanders that are causing problems in SE Australia. These are the toetoe Cortaderia richardii and Coprosma repens, sometimes called looking-glass bush. Cortaderia richardii gets lumped in with wicked pampas and purple pampas, and is seen as a serious threat to World Heritage areas in south-west Tasmania. Coprosma has escaped from gardens and become a problem in coastal bushland, and sometimes inland.

Australian plants, too, can be dangerous if they escape from their original habitats. Several species have been widely planted outside their natural ranges, and are spreading into forests and woodland. Among those that cause problems both in parts of Australia and also here are Racosperma baileyanum (Acacia baileyana), Racosperma longifolium (Acacia longifolia), and Paraserianthes lophantha (originally from Western Australia, widely planted and now a problem weed in costal areas of SE Australia).

A book to help in the identification of weeds is available in New Zealand - An Illustrated Guide to Common Weeds of New Zealand, by Roy, Popay, Champion, James and Rahman. Books on controlling weeds in New Zealand are scarce and mostly out-of-date, and this book provides some helpful information on controlling many weeds found in bush areas in both Australia and New Zealand. For the professionals in NZ, the Department of Conservation has produced a large loose-leaf folder called Weed Manager, which provides descriptions and control methods for weeds of conservation areas, but this is not widely available.

The taxonomists have been at work again, and some of the species in the Bush Invaders book now carry new Latin names. Cape ivy, which we know as Senecio angulatus, has become Delairea odorata, and climbing dock, Rumex sagittatus, has become Acetosa sagittata. Cape tulip, Homeria collina, is now known as Moraea flaccida.

The first part of the book deals with environmental weeds, the problems they cause and why, and deals with the management of environmental weeds, with a very wide range of weed control methods, including herbicides, grazing and burning. The section on the use of herbicides goes into considerable detail on how to minimise risks to non-target vegetation. HortResearchÕs Vigilant gel herbicide has obviously not yet reached Australia, since this very useful and practical approach to herbicide use is not mentioned in this section of the book.

In the second part of the book, 93 individual entries give information on over 150 species. The species discussed are divided into sections of grasses, other narrow-leaf herbs, broadleaf herbs, climbers and creepers, shrubs, trees and aquatics, which is a very useful approach.

The information presented for each species is impressive. Its common names, family, country of origin, method of introduction (most commonly for ornamental purposes!), plant form and Australian distribution appear first. Next comes an 'invasive summary', explaining where and why the plant is a problem, followed by 'diagnostic features' to help in its recognition, and 'reproduction and dispersal'. 'Control and removal' comes next, giving vital information on how to control the pest without or with herbicides. [I think I would have preferred some guidance on which herbicide to use. Glyphosate kills most, but not all, plants, and some suggestions of when it isn't so good and then what alternatives to use would have helped.] Notes on 'similar invasive species' follow, and then 'confusing indigenous species'. 'References' at the end of each species notes refer the reader to the list of nearly 400 reference works near the end of the book. The notes on each species or group of species are very comprehensive.

Each species is clearly illustrated with one or more good colour photographs, most of which show diagnostic features well. Some photographs are less clear (balloon vine, on p129, for example, could be almost any climber).

The book is hardly comprehensive - I am sure there are many more species than this that cause problems in natural environments in SE Australia. Some of the species described here are of limited distribution, and the impacts of the herbaceous species, like some grasses, are small by comparison with scrubweeds and creepers.

IÕm not sure either that the aquatic weeds shown in this book really fit into the definition of Ôbush invaders', especially in the case of the seaweed Undaria. All are invaders of natural environments, but hardly bush areas.

It's another attractive and well-presented book from the Rob and Fiona Richardson stable, and yet another Australian weed book. The Australians have always been much better off than we have for books about identifying and controlling weeds, and they're not especially cheap, especially this side of the Tasman. It's partly because there are more of them than there are of us of course, but I think it's because they take their weeds much more seriously than we do, as their spending on research shows.

Bush invaders of South-East Australia: A guide to the identification and control of environmental weeds found in South-East Australia by Adam Muyt was published in August 2001 by RG and FJ Richardson. It is a sturdy paperback of 304 pages, with coloured and black and white plates and line drawings, retails for A$59.95 and is available from RG and FJ Richardson, PO Box 42, Meredith, Vic 3333, Australia, or at www.weedinfo.com.au.

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Until now weed science teaching in Australian colleges and universities has relied on overseas textbooks, mainly from the USA. Whilst the principles are undoubtedly the same our weeds are different, our ecosystems are different, and our approaches to weed management are different. The main educational objectives of the highly successful Cooperative Research Centre for Weed Management Systems were the production of a common syllabus for weed science and a supporting text book, and at last we have our own Australian text on this important topic.

The book consists of six parts and 24 chapters, each written by eminent Australian authorities and refereed by others with experience in that area. The result is an authoritative and readable text which is up to date, well presented and well referenced, and which reflects the current Australian view of all the main branches of weed science.

Australian Weed Management Systems opens with an essay on weeds and their impacts, which covers their history, alien, naturalised and native plants as weeds, the imperatives of weed management, and prerequisites for effective weed management.

The second part of the book covers the ascendancy of weeds and their place in ecosystems. An interesting chapter on weed invasion, distribution and succession asks where our weeds came from, when, and at what rate are they still arriving. Why are some ecosystems more prone to invasion than others? Are any Australian ecosystems proof against weeds (probably not). How and to where do weeds get distributed? What awakes the sleepers? What are the windows of invasion (continually renewed in croplands)? This is followed by a chapter on weed ecology and population dynamics, including the effects of rising fertility, disturbance, climate, soil type, population dispersal and growth, and competition. The section concludes with a discussion of weed interference, with a glance at allelopathy and an in-depth discussion of competition.

Techniques available for weed control is necessarily a lengthy section. The over-riding requirements for effective regional weed management, legislation and quarantine in which Australia leads the world are fully discussed, including our proactive and strategic approaches to weed management. Other chapters discuss tillage and other physical management methods (mulching, rouging, flooding, heat, mowing and hygiene), cultural management methods including rotations, crop competition and cover crops, and grazing management methods, which although frequently mishandled are the main method by which we must struggle to keep our extensive pastures relatively free from weeds. Australia leads the world in classical biocontrol of weeds with many successful examples, and this area is well covered. Continuing Australian development of inundative biocontrol with bioherbicides is also well covered. Two chapters are necessarily devoted to herbicides - their mode of action and resistance, and their application and fate in the environment. We still depend on herbicides for the quick fix required in cropping systems and always shall, and these chapters provide the background that students need to understand their use and potential abuse.

Two brief but important chapters provide historical and economic perspectives on weed control in the fourth section of the book. They cover the development of integrated weed management systems, and the all-important topic of the economics of weed control at farm and community levels. Although not all weed control is driven by economic needs, this is surely the most important factor in most farmers' minds.

The rationale behind the CRC for Weed Management Systems is that weed management must be approached as an interaction between the weeds, crops, pastures or other desired vegetational outcomes of the ecosystem, and the physical, climatic, soil, economic and social opportunities and constraints that control the functioning of the ecosystem and the decision making of the ecosystem manager. The largest section of Australian Weed Management Systems is then rightly concerned with an overview of weed management systems in our nine most important managed ecosystems. Chapters include detailed studies of weed management in crops, pastures, natural ecosystems, vegetables and tree crops and viticulture. The socially important area of weed management in lawns and sports turf is well reviewed, as is weed control in plantation forests and in rangelands. Weed management in freshwater aquatic ecosystems is covered, but we remain unable to manage the emerging but potentially serious weeds of marine areas.

Weed science and weed management are rapidly evolving disciplines, driven by increasing research, knowledge and integration and interaction both within the subject and between weed scientists and the rest of the community, and ever tightening economic, legislative and social forces. These are compounded by the (hopefully now reduced) continual introduction of new weeds from abroad, the spread of existing weeds within Australia, the awakening of sleepers, and the emergence of new types of herbicide resistance. This complex but vitally important area is reviewed in the final chapter.

Australian Weed Management Systems is a tour de force by Australian weed scientists. Linked with a national weed science syllabus in weed science and weed management it cannot fail to improve our weed management. It is recommended to all of us who are involved in weeds and their management; we shall all find valuable information within its covers. I wish it had been available when I was teaching weed science.

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As Australian agricultural and environmental sciences continue to grow in importance and complexity, so does our need for reliable and up-to-date-reference books such as this recent checklist of the scientific and common names of Australian plants. It is one of those books that needs to be always at hand - an office essential to the working agriculturist, horticulturist, environmentalist and weed scientist.

The checklist contains two sections. The A-Z Botanical Names Index (Abelia x grandiflora (Rovelli ex Andre) Rehder to Zygophyllum prismatothecum F.Muell.) provides an inclusive list of the agricultural, vegetable, ornamental, shade, salinity management, pastoral, forestry, plantation, tropical, medicinal and other useful plants of Australia, together with the major natives, weeds and poisonous plants. It includes 145 species of Acacia, and over 350 species of Eucalyptus and Corymbia. Each genus is referred to its family, each species to its preferred common name and other common names, and major synonyms to the relevant current botanical name. The scientific names given are those used in the most authoritative references consulted up to the end of 2000. The A-Z Common Names Index (Aaron's beard to Zucchini) refers common names to the preferred species application and to other species that are referred to by the same common name.

Plants of Importance to Australia - A Checklist is a mighty work, which has taken the three compilers several years to complete. They are congratulated on providing a reference work that will be invaluable to us all. The checklist is backed up by a website on which additions, changes and updates will be posted until the next edition is printed.

Those of us who remember Bill Hartley's slim Checklist of Economic Plants in Australia will be impressed by this vastly expanded volume. It covers far more plants in more detail, and will be a constant and invaluable companion to all of us who regularly use the scientific or common names of Australian plants.

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