Christ's thorn

• Spiny shrub 3-10m tall.
• Short spines are positioned in pairs along branches.
• Bark is whitish-brown or pale grey, cracked.
• Trunk is twisted.
• Leaves are alternate, oval, more pointed at tips.
• Flowers are small, greenish-yellow.
• Fruits are 1cm in diameter, red-brown, with stone in centre.

• Found in areas of low rainfall.
• Capable of growing in desert or semi-desert where soils are often silty

• Not yet recorded in Queensland.

• Propagates from seeds held in woody capsules.

Environmental

• Forms dense thickets, displacing native vegetation.

Economic

• Dominates grazing land in arid/semi-arid areas.

• Find out how farmers can prevent weed spread.
• Find out how gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts can prevent weed spread.

• Call 13 25 23 if you find a plant you suspect may be christ's thorn to seek advice on control options.

• Christ's thorn is a prohibited invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014.
• It must not be given away, sold, or released into the environment without a permit.
• The Act requires that all sightings to be reported to Biosecurity Queensland within 24 hours.
• By law, everyone has a general biosecurity obligation (GBO) to take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise the risk of Christ's thorn spreading until they receive advice from an authorised officer.