Invasion of native plant communities by Chrysanthemoides monilifera (bitou bush and boneseed)

NSW Threat Abatement Plan

Since the arrival of Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. rotundata (bitou bush) from South Africa in 1908, this highly invasive shrub has spread to occupy approximately 80% of coastal New South Wales. It now poses the single greatest threat to NSW coastal ecosystems and coastal biodiversity, especially along the north coast.

Date
1 July 2006
Publisher
Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW)
Type
Publication
Cost
Free
Language
English
Tags
  • ISBN 1-74137-8559
  • ID DEC20060115
  • File PDF 906KB
  • Pages 95
  • Name bitou-bush-chrysanthemoides-moniliferathreat-abatement-plan-060115.pdf

Chrysanthemoides monilifera forms dense infestations that smother sand dune, headland and hind dune vegetation communities including coastal grasslands, heathlands, woodlands, swamps/wetlands and forests.

Invasion of native plant communities by bitou bush and boneseed (C. monilifera) was listed as a key threatening process under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act) in 1999. In accordance with the TSC Act, the Department of Environment and Conservation has finalised a Threat Abatement Plan (TAP) which proposes actions to reduce the impacts of C. monilifera on biodiversity, particularly threatened species, populations and ecological communities.