Back to Top

Introduced flora

Wherever humans migrate, they carry plant species with them. Some such as favoured food plants – bananas, Irish potatoes – and pasture grasses are introduced purposefully. The indigenous rainforests of Norfolk Island include very few species with products edible to humans. Other species such as the European weeds of agriculture – dandelions, thistles – have hitch-hiked across the globe and flourish in disturbed ground on farms and roadsides. On this page we showcase some species that are not native to Norfolk and activities to control them.

 

The Norfolk Island Weeds Handbook of 2014 is a good place to commence a study of the introduced vegetation.

 


Madeira Vine

Madeira Vine

Madeira Vine (Anredera cordifolia) is a South American invader with bright green fleshy leaves and tubers growing both underground and at nodes along the trailing stems. There are numerous patches within the Hundred Acres reserve. The first photo is of …

Continue Reading→ ...
Quarantine (pests and diseases) Survey 2012-14

Quarantine (pests and diseases) Survey 2012-14

In 2012-2014 the Department of Agriculture conducted a comprehensive survey of the plant and animal pests and diseases of the Island, coordinated by resident Glynn Maynard. The report is publicly available. Supporting data The data amassed during the survey have …

Continue Reading→ ...
Phytophthora cinnamomi

Phytophthora cinnamomi

Phytophthora is a group of microscopic soil-borne pathogens that can cause dieback and root rot in a range of different plants. Different species of Phytophthora can cause dieback and root rot in different plants. While most species of Phytophthora affect …

Continue Reading→ ...
Kentia Palm

Kentia Palm

Williams, Kevin. 2007. Seed to Elegance: Kentia Palms of Norfolk Island, South Pacific. Norfolk Island: Studio Monarch. Purchase via https://kentiapalmchronicles.wordpress.com/.   The palms that are common around Norfolk Island are the Kentias, Howea belmoreana and Howea forsteriana, endemic to Lord …

Continue Reading→ ...
African Boxthorn

African Boxthorn

African Boxthorn, Lycium ferocissimum, is a Weed of National Significance in mainland Australia. It’s a localised nuisance on Norfolk Island. Spines thick enough to penetrate car tyres can inflict painful puncture wounds in human flesh. The photograph of Boxthorn covering …

Continue Reading→ ...

The eucalypts

Many species of eucalypts have been planted on Norf’k, mainly scattered through the residential portions, except that there are some healthy stands of eucalypts (planted for future timber supply) within what is now the National Park, in the Anson Bay …

Continue Reading→ ...
Porpieh (Strawberry Guava, Cherry Guava)

Porpieh (Strawberry Guava, Cherry Guava)

Raw ingredient of tasty jam and jelly on the Island, and free of the fruit fly that in Australia beats humans to the ripening fruit, it has another valuable use. The timber is durable and widely used for tool handles …

Continue Reading→ ...
The Great Formosan Lily Hunt

The Great Formosan Lily Hunt

  For several years the Flora and Fauna Society offered a reward for collection of stems of the introduced Formosan Lily. These lilies are a very invasive weed and in some places, infestations have totally precluded any native species from …

Continue Reading→ ...