Annual thunbergia
Alert
Be on the lookout for annual thunbergia and report any sightings immediately.
Reporting options
- Report online.
- Phone Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.
- Phone the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.
Annual thunbergia
© Queensland Government
Native to arid parts of northern Africa, annual thunbergia is an erect, annual herb that can degrade the banks of creeks and rivers and threaten native vegetation. While it has not yet been found in Australia, it has the potential to be a major threat to tropical and subtropical areas if released here.
Unlike many other species of thunbergia, annual thunbergia is not a climbing vine.
Scientific name
Thunbergia annua
Similar species
Description
- This annual herb grows up to 35cm tall.
- Leaves are smooth and arranged in opposite pairs along the stem.
- Flowers are white and about 2cm long. They may have a cream centre.
Habitat
- Prefers frost-free locations.
Distribution
- Not know to occur in Queensland, but has potential to spread across tropical and subtropical areas.
Life cycle
- Reproduces from seed and root pieces.
Plants affected
- Native vegetation
Impacts
Environmental
- Could threaten remnant vegetation in Wet Tropics.
- Degrades banks of creeks and rivers.
How it is spread
- Seeds are spread by natural and human processes.
- Also spreads vegetatively by root pieces moving along riverbanks during floods, or in earth removed from infested sites for fill or other soil use.
Prevention
- Find out how farmers can prevent weed spread.
- Find out how gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts can prevent weed spread.
Control
- Before undertaking any preventative or control actions, contact us online, by phone or in person.
Legal requirements
- Annual thunbergia is a prohibited invasive plants under the Biosecurity Act 2014. You must not:
- keep it
- move it
- give it away
- sell it
- release it into the environment.
If you do any of these, penalties may apply.
- You must not take any action that is reasonably likely to exacerbate the biosecurity threat posed by annual thunbergia.
- You must take any action that is reasonably likely to minimise the biosecurity threat posed by annual thunbergia.
- You must report any sightings immediately using 1 of these methods:
- Report online.
- Phone Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.
- Phone the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.
Further information
- Contact us online, by phone or in person.
- Read the thunbergia fact sheet.
- Find out about the similar species Thunbergia grandiflora.