Help us target South African Weed Orchid

Ranger Diary by Conservation Leading Hand Kim Hammond

As Rangers, we’re asking community members to help us target highly invasive South African Weed Orchids in Lorne and Jan Juc. 

We’ve just finished the first of three operations targeting South African weed orchid (Disa bracteate) around the edges of Queens Park in Lorne.  

We’re asking people in Lorne, particularly on George, Francis and Charles Streets near Queens Park, to look out for these plants and remove them as soon as possible.  

Each plant potentially releases millions of seeds, which are as fine as dust, so they are a real threat to the biodiversity of Queens Park, particularly native orchids, which are abundant in the area. 

This year we’ve noticed a significant increase in this highly invasive weed. Finding and removing them is time-consuming and difficult as young plants in their first year can be as small as a blade of grass.  

The best way to remove the plant is to dig out the tubers using a trowel or knife, ensuring that all tubers are removed. 

Disa have two to three tubers. One tuber is generally quite shrivelled, as it has provided food for the plant to grow.  

It's important to try not to brush cut or mow Disa bracteate because this will spread the seeds. If you do mow it, you should consider decontaminating your equipment using bleach to prevent more seeds spreading. 

The plants and tubers need to be double bagged in plastic and put in general waste so that they don’t contaminate green waste.  

We advise double bagging the plants and tubers and leaving them in the sun to cook for a couple of weeks before disposing of them in the waste bin.