POM+POM+PLANT

POM POM PLANT

__**//Names://**__ Botanical: Campuloclinum Macroephalum Common: Pom Pom weed

Pom Pom weed is a 1.5m long herb. It has stems and leaves covered with hairs. The leaves are scattered along the stem and clusters to the the base. The plant has a short root. It produces bright pink flowers that grow 22m long.
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This weed which belongs to the daisy family, Asteraceae, originated in South America- Brazil.
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This plant came into South Africa because of its beauty, it came as an ornamental plant. The date in which the plant entered South Africa is yet unknown.
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This category of plants are basically weeds, they alter and change plant communities by killing or fusing with native plants. These plants may not be planted, sold or imported. They should be eradicated.
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Pom Pom weed was first recorded between 1970 and 1980. In wild areas such as Pretoria and Durban. This weed is currently found in Gauteng but is finding its way into Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Free State, Kwa-Zulu natal, North West Province and the Eastern Cape. Here is a map where Pom Pom weeds are found in South Africa.
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Pom Pom weed is found in grasslands open savanna ,wetlands and disturbed sites.
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Pom Pom weed is rapidly replacing native species reducing both the biological diversity and carrying capacity of vlies and vield. The plant establishes itself in disturbed sites such as road sided and invades grasslands. This plant threatens conservation and agriculture in South Africa. This plant is poisonous to livestock and is very difficult to control.

There are two physical methods in eradicating Pom Pom weed and these include uprooting and burning of plant. Another efficient method is that of herbicide and the herbicide in this case is Access. This herbicide has a mode of action that prevents the growth of the plant due to discruption of plant growth. Before the method of manual removal begins ( which requires that the entire plant is dug out and burned ) the heads of the flowers are cut to minimize spread.You can also cut the plant at soil surface.
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The application of herbicide over 3 years has reduced the number of Pom Pom weed but the plant has shown adaptation and is growing shorter. If the plant is burned and not removed, chemicals which are as destructive as Pom Pom weed are released. These chemicals prevent other plants from growing and other grasslands eradicated.
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