Read the below fact sheet on the bridal creeper to complete your table
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Bridal creeper is a Weed of National Significance. It is regarded as one of the worst weeds in Australia because of its invasiveness, potential for spread, and economic and environmental impacts.
Bridal creeper entered the country as a garden plant and is now a major weed of bushland in southern Australia, where its climbing stems and foliage smother native plants. It forms a thick mat of underground tubers which impedes the root growth of other plants and often prevents seedling establishment. Rare native plants, such as the rice flower Pimelea spicata, are threatened with extinction by bridal creeper. It invades undisturbed habitats and is a major threat to most low shrubs and groundcover plants in mallee, dry sclerophyll forest and heath vegetation. In South Australia and southwestern Western Australia bridal creeper is considered the most important weed threat to biodiversity. It also causes losses to primary industries (eg by shading citrus and avocado trees and interfering with fruit picking), especially in the Murray River irrigation area. What to do about it Herbicides have been the most effective method of control. However, because bridal creeper often grows in areas of native vegetation, it is particularly important to avoid contact with desirable plants or soil near tree root zones. Fire can help in larger infestations. Fires in late summer and early autumn can remove all understorey vegetation and improve access for later spraying. As well as improving the effectiveness of herbicide application, fire may help to destroy bridal creeper seed and the dense tuber mat. Grazing can provide some control of bridal creeper. Tamar wallabies on Garden Island in Western Australia have successfully kept it at low levels there, and sheep grazing may be an option to control it under trees in remnant vegetation, woodlots and shelterbelts.
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Biological control
In South Africa bridal creeper is an uncommon plant that is kept in check by its natural enemies. Three of these enemies have been released in Australia: the bridal creeper leafhopper (Zygina sp.), rust fungus (Puccinia myrsiphylli ) and leaf beetle (Crioceris sp.). The bridal creeper leafhopper has been released at more than 700 sites throughout southern Australia since 1999. The adult insect is white, 2–3 mm long and lives on the underside of bridal creeper leaves. Both the adult and juvenile stages feed on the leaves of the weed, causing them to turn white and, in severe cases, fall off. The bridal creeper rust fungus was released in 2000 and more than 700 releases have been made across Australia. The rust fungus attacks leaves and stems, reducing the amount of green plant material
The bridal creeper leaf beetle (Crioceris sp.) was first released in 2002 in Western Australia. The grubs of the beetle can cause major damage to bridal creeper by stripping the shoots and leaves that enable the plant to climb.
(Source: http://www.environment.gov.au/) |