Paterson's Curse and Viper's Bugloss

What are Paterson's curse and viper's bugloss? Paterson’s curse (Echium plantagineum) and viper’s bugloss (Echium vulgare) are significant pasture weeds in Tasmania, and both weeds can be toxic to stock. Paterson’s curse and viper’s bugloss are declared weeds under the Tasmanian Weed Management Act 1999. The importation, sale and distribution of Paterson’s curse and viper’s bugloss are prohibited in Tasmania. How to identify Paterson's curse and viper's bugloss Paterson's curse is an erect plant around 60 to 90 cm high. Seedlings appear in autumn and develop into a rosette (a flat whorl of leaves close to the ground) in winter. One or several flowering stems are produced in late winter and flowering occurs in spring. Flowers are trumpet shaped and usually blue/purple, but may be pink or white. Viper’s bugloss is similar to Paterson’s curse, although the flowering stems are more branched and are usually shorter, and the flowers are slightly smaller and generally darker blue. First three images above: Paterson's curse Next three images: Viper's bugloss (All images: K. Fenner, DPIPWE) Paterson's curse and viper's bugloss in Tasmania Paterson’s curse occurs in all agricultural areas of Tasmania as small scattered infestations (see map). It is most common near old homesteads, on housing blocks in suburbs, in rural areas where poultry are kept, and along roadsides. Viper’s bugloss is less common in Tasmania and is generally restricted to dry banks in the south of the State (see map).

Paterson's curse Viper's bugloss See also Paterson’s Curse and Viper’s Bugloss Control Guide Herbicides for Paterson's Curse and Viper's Bugloss control Statutory Management Plan for Viper’s Bugloss Statutory Management Plan for Paterson's Curse Weed Links and Resources Other useful links Pest Genie APVMA

• The legal responsibilities of landholders and other stakeholders in dealing with Paterson’s Curse and viper’s bugloss are laid out in the Statutory Management Plan for Paterson's Curse and the Statutory Management Plan for Viper’s Bugloss.
• Use Table 1 (Zone A municipalities and Table 2 (Zone B municipalities) in the Statutory Management Plan for Paterson's Curse to find out whether your area falls in an eradication or containment zone for Paterson’s Curse. Use Table 1 (Zone A municipalities) in the Statutory Management Plan for Viper’s Bugloss to find out whether viper's bugloss occurs in your municipality.

Weeds Index

Paterson's Curse and Viper's Bugloss Control Guide

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