Time To Deter Noogoora Bur

Environment Bay of Plenty is calling for help to identify and remove the invasive pest plant Noogoora bur from our region.

Environment Bay of Plenty Pest Plant Officer, Andy McKay said Noogoora bur is a problematic cropping weed that is rare in New Zealand, but currently present in a few maize paddocks in the western Bay of Plenty area, and also on the Waikato/Bay of Plenty boundary.

“Aggressive weeds like Noogoora bur can rapidly invade riparian and seasonally wet areas, as well as grazing and cropping land. It can significantly impact production as it displaces valuable grazing species and is highly toxic if eaten by farm animals.

“We’re not sure how it arrived here but it’s possible it was part of a contaminant of maize seed decades ago,” said Mr McKay.

Noogoora bur is an erect, summer growing annual up to about two meters in height. It can grow with a single stem or as a branching, spreading plant. The leaves are a little like maple leaves in shape.

The seeds are held in a bur with hooked spines and they attach themselves to clothing or animal fur and easily spread this way. The burs can also float on water enabling the plant to spread easily along drains and streams.

“We’re very keen to hear from anyone who may know of or may have seen Noogoora bur anywhere in the region. We’re particularly asking all maize growers and rural land occupiers to be on the lookout for it.

If you have seen this pest plant anywhere in the Bay of Plenty please contact a Pest Plant Officer at Environment Bay of Plenty on 0800 ENV BOP (368 267).

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