Description:
Originating from Tropical Asia, Africa and America, Balloon Vine is a
vigorous climber growing as high as can be supported. Common in wet areas especially
along urban creeks.
Light green leaves are compound with three sets of three leaflets. Leaflets
are thin, toothed and softly hairy
Small white flowers, occurring in mid-summer.
Fruit is a pale green balloon-like papery capsule enclosing 3 black seeds.
Seeds are produced in autumn.
Dispersal:
Often dumped on bushland edges. The papery capsules can be carried by wind, and
float on water along adjacent creeklines. Regrows from root fragments
Impact on Bushland:
Balloon Vine has the ability to kill native plants by smothering, blocking out
sunlight. Favours creeklines and the margins of rainforest, grows rapidly into
the tops of trees, forming a thick curtain of stems. This weed is invasive and
poses a significant threat to the bushland environment. It may cause distress
to neighbouring properties both through the plant stems spreading over boundary
lines and seeds blowing in. These seeds germinate readily and will start new infestations.
Due to the plant's invasive nature, treatment to contain this weed must start
immediately. As this weed is likely to continually grow and spread, total removal
is recommended.
Control:
| Manual: |
Cut the vines close to the ground and dig
out as much of the root system as possible |
| |
Or cut and scrape and
paint stems with an undiluted glyphosate-based
product
Some regrowth is likely and should be retreated in the same way. |
| |
The remaining vines in the tree can either be removed or left to rot in situ. |
| Chemical: |
Please contact your local control authority for
advice on chemical control. |
Similar Species:
Suggested Alternatives:
Old Man's Beard (Clematis aristata), Wonga Vines (Pandorea species),
Wombat Berry (Eustrephus latifolius), Water Vine (Cissus antarctica),
and Clematis (Clematis montana)
References:
Weeds of Blue Mountains Bushland, Blue Mountains City Council and NPWS
Blue Mountains
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