Senegal tea plant (Gymnocoronis spilanthoides) weed management guide
Alert List for Environmental Weeds
Department of the Environment and Heritage and the CRC for Australian Weed Management, 2003
ISBN 1 9209 3239 9
PDF file
About the guide
Senegal tea plant is on the Alert List for Environmental Weeds, a list of 28 non-native plants that threaten biodiversity and cause other environmental damage. Although only in the early stages of establishment, these weeds have the potential to seriously degrade Australia's ecosystems.
Senegal tea plant can float on still or very slow-moving fresh water or grow as a bush on wet, marshy soils. It has been recorded at localised sites in most states. It is mainly spread by the careless disposal of aquarium plants or deliberate cultivation for sale.
Because Senegal tea plant grows very quickly, it can rapidly cover water bodies with a floating mat, excluding other plants and the animals that rely on them. The effects of flooding are made much worse because infestations block drainage channels. Recreational activities, irrigation and navigation may also be affected. Water quality may decline if large amounts of Senegal tea plant die off and rot under water.
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