Common Alien Plants of

Kube Yini

Private Game Reserve.

Why do we rid Kube Yini from Alien Plants?

• In most cases Alien plants find South African climate favourable

for accelerated growth.

• This allows the plants to out compete natural plant species.

• Out competing natural plants, if left, can have a drastic effect on

carrying capacity on the reserve.

• In conjunction with the above can threaten naturally occurring

plant species especially if they are found in minority.

Procedure on dealing with them if found.

• Location is key.

• Inform Management as soon as possible with location.

• Please do not remove. It is best to inform management as there

could be more plant that may have been missed that could lead

to an outbreak through seeding.

Chromolaena odarata

Common name:

Triffid Weed or

Paraffin Weed

Chromolaena is usually found in the valleys, next to dams and along

roads on Kube Yini. They occupy large stands or as on Kube Yini most

likely a single small plant. Between July and June, Chromolaena’s

flowers will be visible and is usually white to pale blue in colour.

Alternanthera pungens

Found in any disturbed areas. It has a tendency to take over in

large creeper like plants that inhibit any new grass growth. The

rapid spread of this plant is directly related to animal movement

and vehicles.

Common name: Paper Thorn

Parthenium hysterophorus

This noxious weed could be found almost anywhere due to its resilience,

very quick growth and seeding capability. It would most likely be spotted

on recently disturbed areas and along road sides.

Common Name: Famine Weed

Jacaranda mimosifolia

Common name: Blue Jacaranda or just Jacaranda tree

Jacaranda trees will grow in wooded valleys, they can also be found on

the rocky ridges and in valleys that were occupied by old home steads.

The most common place found on Kube Yini is behind the workshop

and ridge running toward Sausage Tree picnic sight.

Common Name: Milk Weed. Also referred to as “Old man’s balls”

Found in disturbed ground along roads and open grass fields on Kube

Yini. Although Gomphocarpus has been naturalised to South Africa it

can be characterised as a weed which was introduced from central

Africa to South Africa many years ago and in keeping to Kube Yini

management plan of a natural ecosystem this plant gets removed. It

does have an interesting side to the plant in that it plays the host to

the African Monarch Butterfly.

Gumphocarpus fruticosus