Fallopia japonica (Houtt.) Ronse Deer. (Japanese knotweed) - an underrated threat to riparian zones in Australia

摘要

Fallopia japonica (Polygonaceae) is well known as an invasive and troublesome species in many countries. A perennial with tall (3 m) annual stems it out competes native plants and damages infrastructure and amenity. Due to a large and persistent rhizome system it is highly resistant to control efforts. Climate matching shows it is capable of spreading across large areas of Australia. Although present in Australia for around 100 years and naturalised a number of times in New South Wales, Tasmania andVictoria it appears to have so far achieved only very limited spread. Based on the information presently available, eradication of this species from Australia appears both feasible and highly desirable.