Mulberry Tree – Morus alba Erect Sword Fern – Nephrolepis cordifolia Knotweed – Persicaria capitata Lollipop Climber – Diplocyclos

Knotweed – Persicaria capitata Lollipop Climber – Diplocyclos palmatus

3 1b 1b 1a

Consultants and Inspectors

Origin: Northern China
How it spreads: The seeds are widely dispersed
by birds
Characteristics: Leaves – Light green with finely
serrated margins, which turn yellow in autumn.
Flowers- Emerge in spring to form cylindrical
spikes. Fruit – Juicy bulbous reddish-black edible
berries.
Origin: Southern Australia
How it spreads: Thousands of spores produced by
one plant are dispersed by wind and water
Characteristics: Stalks – Brownish and up to 15cm.
Leaves – Alternatively arranged narrow leaflets
(<6cm), margins are often finely scalloped and
alternate. Flowers—Many brown round spore
structures found on leaf undersides.
KZN receives nearly twice the rainfall than the rest of South Africa combined. This contributed to
the rapid infestation of alien invasive species in the region. The NEMBA Act Alien Invasive Species
Regulations aim on addressing this threat to our environment. These new regulations aim on
Origin: Asia Origin: Australia
controlling a list of alien plants identified as threats. These species have been categorized into
four categories of control: How it spreads: Seed and vegetative dispersal. How it spreads: Disperses by fruits and seeds.
Characteristics: Leaves – Hairy and 1-6cm long and Characteristics: Perennial, growing up to 6m, hairless
 1a - Remove and eradicate on site
0.7-3cm wide, with a reddish midrib creating a ‘V’ stem which becomes thick and white dotted when
 1b - Manage and control as much as possible
shape. Leaves can turn red when under stress. older. Leaves – Alternate, palmate, hairy, bright
 2 - Require permits for agriculture and forestry (without a permit they become 1b); and
Flowers— Tiny pink flowers are clustered in sphere green leaves, whereas their undersides are paler &
 3 - Species being monitored (‘Watch List’) smoother. Flowers – are small & yellow and occur in
shaped spikes above their leaves. The balls are 7-
This poster provides details on the most common NEMBA Act listed species in the KZN region. March/April. Fruit – red/orange with white stripes.
20mm across. Flowering occurs from Oct to March.
Source: www.invasives.org.za

Black Wattle – Acacia mearnsii Bugweed – Solanum mauritianum Wild Ginger –Hedychium gardnerianum Canna/Indian Shot – Canna indica Goosefoot – Syngonium podophyllum Singapore Daisy – Sphagneticola trilobata

2 1b 1b 1b 1b 1b

Origin: Australia
How it spreads: Seed dispersal.
Characteristics: An evergreen growing 5-10m high.
Leaves – Dark olive-green short leaflets (1.5-
4.0mm), with fine hairs. Flowers – Small pale
yellow/cream, globe shaped flowers in large,
fragrant sprays, occurring August-September.
Fruit/seeds – Finely haired, dark brown pods.
Origin: South America
How it spreads: Seed dispersal.
Characteristics: Large (<4m), broad-leaved shrubs
with velvety stems and leaves. Leaves – Surfaces are
dull green and velvety, underneath they are white
and felt-like. Their leaves emit a noxious smell when
crushed. Flowers – Purple and in compact clusters
on 100mm long, felty inflorescences. Fruit – Their
berries turn from green to yellow.
Origin: Himalayas,Asia
How it spreads: Spread by seeds and rhizomes.
Characteristics: Vigorous herbs rising from
rhizomes which grow up to 2m high. Leaves -
broad, bright green/greyish leaves which
sheath the stems. Flowers – Yellow with red
protruding stamens, flowering from January to
March. Fruits/Seeds – Capsules.
Origin: Caribbean and Tropical America
How it spreads: Seed dispersal and
underground rhizomes.
Characteristics: A perennial rhizomatous herb
growing between 1-2m. Leaves – Large green,
broad leaves, which taper to a point. Flowers –
Red or orange, usually yellow below, narrow
with long petals. Fruit/Seeds – Green, spiny,
three-valved capsules.
Origin: Mexico and Central America
How it spreads: Almost exclusively vegetatively.
Characteristics: Leaves- A creeping or climbing plant
with leaves that vary in shape, size (at their base are
often goose foot shaped) and colour depending on
their position on the plant. Flowers – Elongated,
whitish spikes surrounded by creamy/greenish
structures. Fruit – Red to orange and mostly hidden.
Origin: Central America
How it spreads: Usually vegetatively.
Characteristics: A spreading herb growing up to
30cm high. Leaves – Dark green three-lobed hairy
leaves that are irregularly toothed or serrated and
underneath they are paler. Flowers – Yellow daisy-
like flowers blossom between spring and autumn.

Gum Tree – Eucalyptus spp. Wax-leaved Privet – Ligustrum lucidum Camphor Tree – Cinnamomum camphora Devil’s Pumpkin – Passiflora suberosa Cat’s Claw – Dolichandra unguis-cati Morning Glory – Ipomoea indica

2 1b 1b 1b 1b 1b

Origin: East and North-east Australia
How it spreads: By seed dispersal.
Characteristics: Tall, evergreen trees with large
trunks, 25-55m high. Bark – smooth, up to 4m,
peeling off in long strips. Leaves – dark green and
glossy above, paler below. Cream flowers occur
April – August. Seeds – Brown capsules (7-10mm).
Origin: Korea and China, Asia
How it spreads: Seed dispersal, mainly by birds.
Characteristics: Evergreen shrub or small tree up to
10m high. Leaves – Dark green, glossy leaves are
thick and leathery. Flowers – Scented, white
flowers appear in large terminal clusters from Oct –
February. Fruit/seeds – Many shiny black berries.
Origin: East Asia
How it spreads: By seed dispersal.
Characteristics: Evergreen trees with massive
trunks, 10-26m high, with dense canopies and
smooth, green bark becoming rough. Leaves -
Glossy, bright green and camphor-scented.
Flowers – Yellowish occur Sept– October.
Origin: South America
How it spreads: Seed dispersal, mainly by birds.
Characteristics: Glaborous to densely hairy
perennial tendril climber with angular stems.
Leaves – Oval to deeply three-lobed leaves with
small linear stipules. Flowers – Similar to
Granadilla, found Nov – April. Fruit – Small black
berries.
Origin: Mexico and Argentina, South America Origin: West Indies
How it spreads: Pods burst releasing winged seeds. How it spreads: Spreads by small seeds.
Characteristics: Evergreen climber with 3-part, claw-like Characteristics: Herbaceous perennial twiner with
tendrils. Leaves – Bright green, lance shaped leaves. hairy stems up to 3m tall. Leaves – Bright green,
Flowers – Clusters of trumpet-shaped, yellow flowers sparsely hairy, oval to heart shaped leaves (40-150mm
(<80mm x 100mm) found Sept – Feb. Fruit/Seeds – Long, long). Flowers – Usually purple-blue, funnel-shaped
flat, brown capsules (<300mm long) which explode. flowers (Nov – May). Fruit/Seeds – Small capsules.