Kills native wildlife

Creeping or scrambling vine with stems up to 1.5 metres long. Stems, leaves and fruits are covered with hooked hairs and stick to skin or clothing. Hence its local common name of velcro plant. Alternate compound leaves with three leaflets borne on stalks 2-6 cm long. Its leaflets have pointed tips with a silvery stripe on the top surface. Pea-shaped flowers cluster at the tips of the stems or in upper leaf forks. Pink or purplish flowers 7-10 mm long usually turn bluish as they age. Its elongated pods separate into 3-10 small one-seeded segments. Native to Latin America and introduced as a fodder to Africa, India, New Guinea, Australia and Hawaii. Considered invasive in Australia and Hawaii. Regarded as an important environmental weed in South-East Queensland where it is ranked among the top 100 invasive plants species in the region. Trails over shrubs and the ground but does not climb into trees. Reportedly traps and kills native wildlife such as frogs, birds, lizards and microbats. Other common names include, silverleaf desmodium, spanish clover, tick clover, velcro plant and velcro vine. Remove by pulling out the plants by hand, cut stump then treat with herbicide or foliar spray with herbicide.

Leaves. Photo: Macleay Grass Man CC BY 2.0

Flower cluster. Photo: Harry Rose CC BY 2.0

Seed pods. Photo: Harry Rose CC BY 2.0