Weeds - A Purple Haze

Common names:
Paterson's Curse & Salvation Jane

Botanical name:
Echium plantagineum L.

Origin: This weed originated in western Europe and the Mediterranean Region. It was first recorded in Australia in 1843 and was initially cultivated as a garden plant. It is now widely spread throughout Victoria, particularly in the north east. In all Victorian Catchment Management Authority Regions (except the Mallee) it is landholders' responsibility to take all reasonable steps to control and prevent the spread of this weed. Description An erect, hairy annual, occasionally biennial, generally 30 to 60 cm in height, reproducing from seed.

Paterson's Curse is poisonous to grazing animals, pigs are most susceptible, followed by horses.

Stems - erect, maybe up to 1.5 metres high, light-green, bristly, stout, branching mainly towards the top.

Leaves - Green to light-green, alternate, hairy, thick.

Flowers - purplish-blue (rarely pink or white), funnel-shaped. Flowers appear from September to December.

Seeds - dark-brown to grey, tough, angular, beaked, 3mm long, 2mm wide.

Properties
Paterson's Curse is poisonous to grazing animals, pigs are most susceptible, followed by horses. Sheep, cattle and goats are least affected. The plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids which can cause cumulative chronic liver damage, loss of condition and sometimes death. The plant is nevertheless extensively grazed in mixed pastures in southern Australia apparently without really harmful effects. Animal deaths may be avoided by good livestock and pasture management. In dairy areas, the stiff bristles on the mature plants irritate the udders of cows.
Paterson's Curse is a prolific seed producer and rapid spreader. It may cause serious loss of production by smothering pasture and leaving patches of bare ground. It is increasingly common in urban areas especially on vacant land.

Dispersal
Seeds can be spread by vehicles, farm implements, humans, animals, water, wind, in hay, silage and wool, and as a contaminant of commercial seed.

Control
Priorities for controlling different infestations must be worked out when planning a Paterson's Curse management program. A good strategy is to keep clean areas free of Paterson's Curse and manage them in a way that prevents infestations. Lightly infested areas should be cleaned up as soon as possible to prevent spread. On farms, extensive infestations are best quarantined and tackled progressively as part of pasture improvement programs. The integration of a number of control techniques coupled with good pasture management will give the best long-term results.
Pasture establishment is a vital follow-up to other control measures. Once pasture is established, appropriate grazing management, fertiliser regimes and weed control maintenance programs are vital.
In urban areas and roadsides manually pulling out Paterson's Curse could be an option. Chemical treatment is possible with selected herbcides or mowing prior to flowering will prevent seeding.

Biological Control
The leaf-mining moth has been released in all Paterson's Curse areas of Victoria. Two weevils which attack the crown and root of Paterson's curse have been widely released. A flea beetle which attacks the tap root has been released at a small number of sites.
Other insects, which will attack different parts of the plant, are being prepared or are under investigation for future release in Victoria.