Lippia biology
Phyla nodiflora var.
nodiflora
Family: Verbenaceae (Verbena family).
Common names: Lippia, Carpetweed, Fog fruit, No mow grass, Phyla.
Description:
Seedlings – cotyledons are a broad club shape and very small, 2.5 mm long. The first true leaf is roughly the same shape, but much larger, 8 – 10 mm long by 3 – 4 mm wide. Later leaves are again larger, and are serrated towards the tip.
Leaves – are broadly club shaped, with serrated teeth towards the tip, 5 – 15 mm long, 2 – 4 mm wide, and opposite along the stems. Leaves are borne on a short stalk 1 – 8 mm long.
Plants – a highly invasive, prostrate, matting, perennial weed with an extensive root system. Stems are 30 – 90 cm long and highly branched. Plants readily root at the stem nodes and can establish from short stem sections.
Flowers – are in small clusters on the end of stalks 1 – 10 cm long. Flowers are generally white with a light yellow centre, but can be pink or mauve. Flowers are each 2 – 2.5 mm in diameter.
Seeds – each fruit contains 2 light brown seeds 1.8 mm in length.
Lifecycle/Biology: Lippia flowers through spring, summer and autumn, setting large quantities of seed. It also readily establishes from small pieces, particularly after flooding. Plants become dormant in winter, but grow actively during the warmer months.
Ecology: Lippia grows in flood plains and damp area, such as road table drains. In favourable conditions, lippia grows very rapidly and spreads through the plant under story, eventually choking out other plants. It is able to climb up and over most pasture plants.
The problem: Lippia does not tolerate cultivation, and so is not a problem in cultivation country. However, it is a major weed of pastures and could be increasingly problematic in zero-tillage cultivation and on irrigation structures. Lippia produces only a relatively small bulk of feed and has a major negative impact on pastures by replacing other species in what are often the most productive areas. Lippia also has a major negative impact on water ways, as its extensive root system dries the soil to depth, leading to extensive soil cracking, leaving the soil very open to erosion. This characteristic could easily lead to cracking and failure of storages and irrigation banks if this weed becomes established on these places. Lippia is not difficult to kill with herbicides, but can re-establish rapidly from seed.
Distribution: Has become established in many of the river systems of Australia.
References:
Plants of Western New South Wales, p. 568.
