Scientific name: Dovyalis caffra

Description

• Evergreen tree reaching 8 metres with a much branched crown 
• Alternate leaves on young shoots, clustered on older branches with large thorns
• Leaves hairless and elliptic 2 to 5 centimetres long, 1 to 3 centimetres wide
• Small creamy green flowers in summer, 3 millimetres long in dense clusters of 5 to 10 flowers
• Yellow berry 2 to 4 centimetres in diameter.

Problem

• Can form dense impenetrable thickets
• Thorns are hazardous to stock, humans and native wildlife.

Weed status - environmental weed

Environmental weeds are not listed under the Act and there is no regulation for their control.

Although, not declared, these weeds do cause serious environmental harm and where practical, should be managed.

Control method

Cut Stump

Involves lopping the weed close to the ground and then spraying the stump immediately (within 15 seconds) with herbicide to ensure absorption.

Basal Bark Spraying

Involves mixing a suitable herbicide in diesel and spraying the full circumference of the plant’s trunk or stem, completely wetting 30 to 45 centimetres from the ground level up the stem.

Herbicide warning

Before using any herbicide always read the label carefully and ensure that the chemical is registered for use on the target weed. All herbicides must be applied strictly in accordance with the directions on the label.