Poisoning prompts urgent plea to Aussies over invasive backyard plant

Yahoo

3 days ago

A poisoning has prompted a plea to Aussies to be aware of the grim truth lurking behind the alluring appearance of a 'pretty' plant often found on roadsides. While it might look like a harmless succulent, mother-of-millions — an invasive weed that escaped from suburban backyards — poses a serious risk to humans, pets, wildlife and livestock.
The plant, native to Madagascar, is known for its striking red flowers that emerge every winter, however the blooms have a less than attractive side. The flowers are 'extremely toxic' to cattle, which 'often seek out alternative food sources when seasonal conditions impact pastures', a spokesperson for NSW's Local Land Services (LLS) told Yahoo News.
A case of mother-of-millions poisoning in livestock was recently identified by a LLS veterinarian near Gravesend in the state's north west, the spokesperson explained, prompting a warning from the government agency.
'Cattle are the usual victims of poisonings,' the organisation posted online, adding ingesting even a small amount can cause diarrhoea, drooling, loss in appetite and death from heart failure. Livestock poisonings occur more frequently during the cooler months when 'plants are flowering, and frosts and dry weather have reduced palatable feed'.
Popular backyard plant causes sudden death in livestock
Mother-of-millions is also toxic to pets — especially dogs — and humans, but it's unlikely either would eat enough to become poisoned, according to NSW WeedWise.
'While mother-of-millions poisoning is uncommon, it can cause sudden death in livestock,' the LLS spokesperson told Yahoo. 'Livestock can die quite rapidly depending on the amount ingested and they can continue to die for a number of days after removal from the source.
'Landholders are encouraged to regularly inspect their properties and learn how to identify weeds such as mother-of-millions using NSW WeedWise, and report any new weed incursions to the Local Control Authority.'
Invasive mother-of-millions can 'spread rapidly'
Mother-of-millions, which was historically planted in gardens due to its ornamental qualities, is a declared weed in Queensland, but it's also considered a problem species in NSW and the Northern Territory, Imogen Ebsworth, the Invasive Species Council's (ISC) engagement director, told Yahoo.
'It spreads rapidly and can quickly take over natural areas if it escapes gardens,' she said. 'Because it's still legally sold and traded in many places, it's slipping under the radar — most Australians don't think of succulents as weeds.'
However, experts are taking the plant very seriously. 'It was nominated as a Weed of National Significance, which is reserved for species with the potential to cause major environmental and economic damage,' Ebsworth explained.
Following an assessment process, the species was not included. Mother-of-millions remains a weed of potential national significance and is widely distributed in the country's east. It can also be found in Victoria and parts of southern and Western Australia.
The plant is frequently introduced to new areas in dumped garden waste and spreads in waterways or flood events. It is commonly found growing on sandy soils and disturbed sites such as roadsides, fence lines, and rubbish tips
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Calls to remove toxic weed from nurseries
Ebsworth told Yahoo the ISC would 'love to see mother-of-millions removed from sale across the country'. 'Escaped garden plants are the primary source of new weeds in Australia,' she said, noting three-quarters of all listed weeds started out as ornamentals.
She described the status quo as "a regulatory failure". "To date, self-regulation has failed. We are relying on everyday Australians to either have a botany degree or realise they need to research legally sold plants to find out if they are a weed. That's a system designed to fail.'
In the meantime, Aussies are encouraged 'to be really careful' and refrain from tossing garden cuttings. 'Don't share or swap it, and if you need to dispose of it, bag it up securely and put it in the bin, not the compost,' Ebsworth said.Do you have a story tip? Email: [e-mail].
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