Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), the cultivated South American intoxicant, growing as a fence weed in one of Collingwood’s mixed use streets. Experimentation with the cultivation of … Read the full post
Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis)
Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis), revisited in environmental positions on Merri Creek and Kororoit Creek. This channel has already covered this East African species’ urban … Read the full post
Mexican Marigold (Tagetes erecta syn T. patula)
Mexican Marigold (Tagetes erecta syn T. patula), known as African or French Marigolds depending on the cultivar / chromosome count. An alien orange aster lovingly … Read the full post
Tender Brake (Pteris tremula)
Tender Brake (Pteris tremula), a graceful fern that can be found in a variety of covert contexts across Richmond, East Melbourne and Abbotsford, and surely … Read the full post
Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium)
Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium), a Spanish-origin, pan-Mediterranean poisonous weed likely distributed to Australia with imports of Merino sheep. The plant is appropriately named—as a relative … Read the full post
New York Aster or Michaelmas Daisy (Symphyotrichum novi-belgii)
New York Aster or Michaelmas Daisy (Symphyotrichum novi-belgii), a North American perennial aster adopted into ornamental cultivation and from there into weediness. New York Aster … Read the full post
Blue Passionflower (Passiflora caerulea)
Blue Passionflower (Passiflora caerulea), a Brazilian perennial vine and close relation to Passionfruit. Producing unpalatable (though edible) fruit, Blue Passionflower is a popular grafting choice … Read the full post
Chinese or Ladder Brake (Pteris vittata)
Chinese or Ladder Brake (Pteris vittata), established on two structures in Melbourne’s southwest. The last time we checked in with Pteris vittata, it was holding … Read the full post
Clammy Goosefoot (Dysphania pumilio or Chenopodium pumilio)
Clammy Goosefoot (Dysphania pumilio or Chenopodium pumilio), a native Australian turned into cosmopolitan export now found throughout the world’s temperate regions. In its original range … Read the full post
Balkan Spurge (Euphorbia oblongata)
Balkan Spurge (Euphorbia oblongata), a relatively common nursery distribution originating in Greece, which has naturalised in California, Britain and the low countries, and here in … Read the full post
Unidentified shield fern (Polystichum sp.)
Unidentified shield fern (Polystichum sp.), growing on a brick dividing wall separating the front steps of adjacent terrace houses in East Melbourne. This was a … Read the full post
Prairie Ground Cherry (Physalis hederifolia)
Prairie Ground Cherry (Physalis hederifolia), a nightshade family member from the southwestern USA and northern Mexico, and a regionally controlled or prohibited weed throughout much … Read the full post
Whitetip Nightshade (Solanum chenopodioides)
Whitetip Nightshade (Solanum chenopodioides), an Argentinian nightshade in the Solanum nigrum complex that has been exported to other wet temperate locales since European colonisation. Reaching … Read the full post
African bush daisy (Euryops chrysanthemoides)
African bush daisy (Euryops chrysanthemoides), a favoured ornamental garden shrub now naturalising into Victorian floodways. Have you seen this plant in suspicious circumstances? Native to … Read the full post
Sweet Scabious, Pincushions (Scabiosa atropurpurea)
Sweet Scabious, Pincushions (Scabiosa atropurpurea), a Mediterranean wildflower cultivated globally as a garden annual and cut flower. Where have you seen these familiar blooms growing … Read the full post
Spotted Spurge (Euphorbia maculata)
Spotted Spurge (Euphorbia maculata), a North American spurge (also known as ‘Eyebane’) that is a pioneer species and common lawn weed in its native setting, … Read the full post
Sunflower Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)
Sunflower Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus), a North American aster on something of a march along Melbourne’s waterways. Also known as Jerusalem Artichoke, Sunchoke, topinambour. Although still … Read the full post
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), a plant that appears poorly adapted for a pavement existence but tries it all the same. Tomato has been reported as an … Read the full post
Great Mullein, Shepherd’s Club, Velvet Weed (Verbascum thapsus)
Great Mullein, Shepherd’s Club, Velvet Weed (Verbascum thapsus), a broad-leaved Eurasian biennial herb flowering in its second season. The plant was introduced to Melbourne no … Read the full post
Heart-leaf Madeira Vine (Anredera cordifolia)
Heart-leaf Madeira Vine (Anredera cordifolia), a succulent vine and South American native, the common name being the result of early Portuguese networks of colonial exchange. … Read the full post
Sword Brake (Pteris multifida)
Sword Brake (Pteris multifida), a spontaneous and covert colonist of Melbourne infrastructure. Although this fern is listed in Flora of Victoria as being known from … Read the full post
Love-lies-bleeding, Tassel Flower, Grain Amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus)
Love-lies-bleeding, Tassel Flower, Grain Amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus), a pseudocereal food crop, favoured ornamental of Victorian England, and rare infestation of historical and contemporary Victoria. Domesticated … Read the full post
Purslane, Pigweed (Portulaca oleracea complex)
Purslane, Pigweed (Portulaca oleracea complex), the patchwork succulent carpet of Melbourne’s ruinous pavements. A globally distributed species complex, P. oleracea was once treated as a … Read the full post
Great Willow-herb (Epilobium hirsutum)
Great Willow-herb (Epilobium hirsutum), the spontaneous offering of a rootbound tree-cut in the footpath of Nicholson Street, Fitzroy this weekend. Great Willow-herb is native to … Read the full post
Gallant Soldier (Galinsoga parviflora)
Gallant Soldier (Galinsoga parviflora), a Central American annual herb now distributed throughout the temperate and subtropical world as a consequence of 19th century botanical and … Read the full post
Sprawling Bluebell (Wahlenbergia gracilis)
Sprawling Bluebell (Wahlenbergia gracilis), a widespread indigenous plant that copes well with disturbance and regularly shows up colonising pavements, walls, garden beds and plant pots … Read the full post
Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis)
Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis), a shrub or minor tree native to Eastern Africa. The species has been distributed throughout the global tropics and warm … Read the full post
Blue Morning Glory (Ipomoea indica)
Blue Morning Glory (Ipomoea indica), alien infestation of metropolitan Melbourne. A pan-tropical plant of uncertain origin, Blue Morning Glory was sold in Melbourne from 1855 … Read the full post
Four o’clock flower (Mirabilis jalapa)
Four o’clock flower (Mirabilis jalapa), a cultivated pre-contact plant of Central America that became a minor pan-tropical weed and garden escape worldwide following its adoption … Read the full post
Nemesia hybrid cultivars (Nemesia cv.)
Nemesia hybrid cultivars (Nemesia cv.), growing as an infestation over a block and a half of East Melbourne. Nemesia as a genus stems exclusively from … Read the full post