A problem plant is any plant, shrub or tree which has a negative environmental impact in a particular locality. The main negative impacts of problem plants are invasiveness i.e. the supplanting of naturally occurring species and subsequent loss of bio-diversity, and excessive water consumption. Most invasive plants are alien to the biomes in which they thrive, but some indigenous species such as Acacia nilotica can become invasive as a consequence of poor grassland management practices.
The Agricultural Research Council - Plant Protection Research Institute (ARC-PPRI) conducts reseach and publishes information on problem plants in South Africa. The published newsletters of ARC-PPRI's SAPIA (SA Plant Invaders Atlas) can be downloaded as pdf files (sizes vary - between 150kb and 1Mb). The SAPIA general website page can be accessed here.
SAPIA Newsletters:
- no 51 - January 2019
- no 50 - October 2018
- no 49 - July 2018
- no 48 - April 2018
- no 47 - January 2018
- no 46 - October 2017
- no 45 - July 2017
- no 44 - April 2017
- no 43 - January 2017
- no 42 - October 2016
- no 41 - July 2016
- no 40 - April 2016
- no 39 - January 2016
- no 38 - October 2015
- no 37 - July 2015
- no 36 - April 2015
- no 35 - January 2015
- no 34 - October 2014
- no 33 - July 2014
- no 32 - April 2014
- no 31 - January 2014
- no 30 - October 2013
- no 29 - July 2013
- no 28 - April 2013
- no 27 - January 2013
- no 26 - October 2012
- no 25 - July 2012
- no 24 - April 2012
- no 23 - January 2012
- no 22 - November 2011
- no 21 - October 2011
- no 20 - July 2011
- no 19 - April 2011
- no 18 - January 2011
- no 17 - October 2010
- no 16 - July 2010
- no 15 - April 2010
- no 14 - January 2010
- no 13 - October 2009
- no 12 - July 2009
- no 11 - April 2009
- no 10 - January 2009
- no 09 - October 2008
- no 08 - July 2008
- no 07 - April 2008
- no 06 - January 2008
- no 05 - November 2007
- no 04 - August 2007
- no 03 - April 2007
- no 02 - January 2007
- no 01 - October 2006
Mondi Limited has published a set of excellent guides dealing with the control of certain invasive alien plants:
- Bracken Fern
- Bramble
- Bugweed
- Chromoleana
- Eucalyptus
- Guava
- Jacaranda
- Lantana
- Mauritius Thorn
- Pompom Weed
- Poplar
- Syringa
- Wattle
- Also see the Mondi guide to eradication methods here
For any additional information please contact us.