General description

Sprawling, scrambling, climbing, annual vine < 6 m long. Stems are spindly and reddish, with downwards pointing barbs. Leaves are triangular and light green, with downwards pointing barbs on midrib. Ocreas surround stem at intervals and are circular, cup-shaped and leafy. Flowers are small, white and borne in ocreas. Fruit is metallic blue and segmented.

What you need to know

To help protect our environment:

You must not breed, distribute, release or sell devil's tail within the Auckland region.
You must not plant devil's tail within the Auckland region, unless you are transferring an existing plant on your land to another location within the boundaries of the same property.
You must destroy any devil's tail on land that you occupy if it has been planted in breach of the above rules and you are directed to do so by an authorised person.

Habitats

Open and disturbed areas, forest and riparian margins, forest gaps, roadsides, pastures.

Dispersal

Seeds dispersed by water and birds. Vegetative spread from roots.

Impact on environment

Suppresses juvenile tree growth. Likely to outcompete and smother native plants in open, disturbed habitats. Barbs may injure children and pets.

Control

Site Management

Follow up treated areas 3 times per year. Encourage natural regeneration of native plants or replant treated areas where possible after 2-3 treatments to establish dense ground cover and minimise reinvasion.