Bungendore Residents Group Community action for Bungendore Village

BEWARE! Cat’s Head weed on Frog’s Hollow

I just found a major infestation of the Mediterranean weed ‘Tribulus terrestris’, Preferred Common Name: caltrop, Other Common Names: cat’s head, devil’s thorn, puncture vine on Frog’s Hollow where the recent “rehabilitation” of the verges next to the new k&g appears to have introduced this nasty weed. We’ve never seen it in our area before but saw it out west years ago where an old farmer told us how bad it is. The www.weeds.org.au site describes it as “a troublesome weed of wasteland, pastoral land, cropping, vineyards and recreation areas. Sharp spines on dry fruit hamper stock handling, are a nuisance in recreation areas and fruit may contaminate drying grapes. Photosensitisation, staggers and nitrate poisoning are also caused by stock grazing Caltrop. Young sheep are especially sensitive.” I don’t know if it was the new top dressing or the sprayed cover that brought it here. The sharp spiny burrs are particularly painful to bare feet (human and animal) and are a major nuisance to bike and even car tyres. The plants are covered with masses of the spiky cat’s head burrs right now which can be easily spread by attaching to feet, shoes or tyres.

The council environmental officer said that as it is not a declared noxious weed (although it is in the NT) he’d pass our concerns onto the appropriate works officer. Control measures are urgent to stop this damaging weed from spreading throughout Bungendore and surrounds.

Peter Gill