Macquarie Valley W.C. & Lachlan Valley W.A.C.

Athel Pine

Botanical Name:

Tamarix aphylla

Other Common Names:

Declarations

Class	Regions
Class 5	All Of N.S.W.

Landholder Responsibilities:

The requirements in the Noxious Weeds Act 1993 for a notifiable weed must be complied with

Why Is It Bad?:

Identification

Habit:

Tree

Leaves:

Dull green leaves resembling needles. Leaves excrete salt, leaving the surrounding soils highly saline. This saltiness also means leaves are unpalatable to stock. Further identification information can be found in a factsheet located in the Documents section of this website.

Flowers:

Flowers are a whitish-pink and grow on long spikes. Further identification information can be found in a factsheet located in the Documents section of this website.

Fruit:

The fruits are small and bell shaped, containing hairy seeds. These hairs allow for greater dispersal by wind. Further identification information can be found in a factsheet located in the Documents section of this website.

Roots:

The deep root system allows for greater usage of soil moisture, and together with their saline soils, excludes native species from competing. Further identification information can be found in a factsheet located in the Documents section of this website.

Control Methods

Manual Removal:

Seedlings can be hand-pulled and large infestations can be removed with machinery, however care needs to be taken to remove the roots (to a depth of 1m) and all debris. Leaving any part of the plant behind is unwise as new plants will easily regrow.

Chemical Use:

There is no registered herbicide for Athel Pine, managers need to use an "off-label permit". Care should be taken when using chemicals near waterways as off-target contamination can occur easily. Herbicides can be used for foliar spray, basal bark or cut-stump treatments.

Fire:

Not recommended as Athel Pine will quickly and easily regrow from root stock.

Slashing & Cutting:

Not recommended as Athel Pine will quickly and easily regrow from root stock.

Biological Control:

There are currently no biological control agents for Athel Pine. Research into a leaf-eating beetle (Diorhabda elongata) has been undertaken in the US but results were not promising for control of Athel Pine in Australia.

Grazing:

Athel Pine is generally unpalatable due to its high salt content.

Cultivation & Scalping:

Not recommended as Athel Pine will quickly and easily regrow from root stock.

Smothering:

Solarisation:

Competition:

Revegetation is often required to maintain the site as Athe Pine often grows along waterways. Species must be salt tolerant and ideally local provenance.

Monitoring:

Successful treatment programs rely on ongoing monitoring of sites. Regrowth and new seedlings can easily become larger infestations if follow-up treatments are not part of the management program

Macquarie Valley Weeds Committee & Lachlan Valley Weeds Advisory Committee

Athel Pine

Declarations

Identification

Control Methods

Images