4. AUSTRALIAN MYRTLE
THICKET OF AUSTRALIAN MYRTLE – Leptospermum laevigatum (Photo by Steve Coe)
Category 1 plant
This Australian shrub can grow into a tree of height around 8 metres, but is usually seen in tangled thickets of bushes of around 4 meters. It has stiff, leathery grey-green sessile leaves and a twisted stem. The flowers are white and attractive. The fruit is cup shaped and produces masses of winged seed, that propagates readily after fires, making it highly invasive. It is an extremely thirsty plant that keeps other plants at bay, by drying out the soil.
AUSTRALIAN MYRTLE – LEAVES AND SEEDS (Photo by Steve Coe)
Australian Myrtle is easily killed by low cutting as it does not coppice – but the seed cases remain viable and the cut trash and will release the airborn winged seeds soon after being cut. The trash should never be burnt and is best heaped up to reduce the exposure of pods to the wind. On going maintenance is very important to remove the inevitable masses of seedlings.
NOTE : IT IS AN OFFENSE TO HAVE THIS PLANT ON YOUR PROPERTY –
ERADICATE IT ON SIGHT.
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