| Common name: | spiny broom |
| Scientific name: | Calicotome spinosa (L.) Link |
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Plant status
Catchment management authority boundaries
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Regionally prohibited in the North East, Port Phillip and Western Port Catchments |
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Regionally controlled in the Wimmera and Corangamite Catchments |
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Restricted in the Mallee, Goulburn Broken, Glenelg Hopkins, West Gippsland, North Centra, East Gippsland Catchments |
Read more about the classification of invasive plants in Victoria
Plant images
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Plant biology
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Appearance |
Shrub (or bush) |
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Description |
Spiny broom is a perennial shrub. |
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Stems |
Stems of spiny broom are multi-branched from the base and armed with sharp, rigid spines to 75 mm long. Young stems remain green for the first 2-3 years before turning brown. |
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Leaves |
Spiny broom leaves are dark green or grey-green, hairy underneath and may occur in clusters. Leaves are alternately arranged and are divided into three oblong to oval-shaped leaflets 5-10 mm long, with the middle leaf being the largest . The plant is deciduous but may also lose leaves under severe stress. |
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Flowers |
Spiny broom flowers are bright yellow, 12-15 mm long and clustered towards the end of branches. Spiny broom flowers in spring and summer usually when it is two or more years old. |
| Fruit |
The fruit of spiny broom is grey-black or dark reddish-brown in colour. Fruit are smooth, flattened pods about 40 mm long with two pronounced ridges along one edge ending in a short spine. Pods contain between 3-15 seeds. |
Growth and lifecycle
Method of reproduction and disperal
Spiny broom is dispersed locally when its seeds are ejected from the pods during hot sunny weather. It is dispersed over further distances when it contaminates equipment, machinery, produce, animals and mud.
Seedbank propagule persistence
Little is known about the seedbank and propagule persistence of spiny broom, but closely related species like English Broom can produce over 12,000 seeds annually, with seeds able to last up to 30 years in the soil.
Preferred habitat
Spiny broom prefers warm-temperate regions growing on slightly acidic, dry, rocky soils in areas with moderate rainfall.
Growth calendar
The icons on the calendar below represent the times of year for flowering, seeding, germination, the dormancy period of Spiny broom and also the optimum time for treatment.
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Impact
Impact on ecosystems and waterways
Spiny broom can out-compete native plants and has an impact on native ecosystems, waterways, and agricultural land.
Agricultural and economic impacts
Dense infestations of spiny broom reduce grazing potential.
Management
Recommended treatment
- Application of a registered herbicide
- Cultivation
- Physical removal
Important information about prescribed measures for the control of noxious weeds
Other management techniques
Cultivation of the soil in which young African boxthorn plants grow may also support its management after implementing the prescribed measures above.
Read more about management and control of invasive plants
References
Parsons, WT & Cuthbertson, EG 1992, Noxious Weeds of Australia, Inkata Press, Melbourne, Sydney.
Department of Primary Industries, Spiny Broom Regionally Prohibited Weed Fact Sheet, February 2010