Local native species have evolved in New Zealand over the last 80 million years and with some more enthusiasm we can keep them here for a wee bit longer.

The trouble is that when New Zealand was populated by the new settlers, not that long ago, they missed the plantings of their homeland and introduced a large range of 'exotic' species. These plants, whilst quite mostly fine in their homeland, weren't naturalised in NZ and their natural climate and predators which kept them under control, were not present here. This meant that many of the introduced plants became out of control. Take Gorse for example. Check out the following list of known weeds, it is astoundingly long and quite disturbing!

Whilst browsing the list have a thought for all the fantastic native plants that have been smothered, obliterated and generally ignored because of these introduced pests.

It's all about bio-diversity. The argument that bio-diversity is increased because of introduced plants misses the point entirely. The introduced plants are already in abundance elsewhere whereas native plants have been systematically made extinct thereby reducing world-wide bio-diversity. Check out the links in the list for photos and publications dedicated to this very important subject.................................................

WEEDS of New Zealand

Acanthaceae - acanthus

Acanthus mollis bear's breeches

Aceraceae - maple

Acer pseudoplatanus sycamore

Aizoaceae - mesembryanthemum

Carpobrotus edulisice plant

Alismataceae - water plantain

Alisma plantago-aquatica water plantain

Alliaceae - onion

Allium triquetrum three-cornered garlic

Amaranthaceae - amaranth

Alternanthera philoxeroides alligator weed Amaranthus deflexus prostrate amaranth Amaranthus powellii redroot

Apiaceae - carrot

Aegopodium podagraria goutweed Anthriscus caucalis beaked parsley Apium nodiflorum water celery Conium maculatum hemlock Daucus carota wild carrot Foeniculum vulgare fennel Heracleum mantegazzianum giant hogweed Hydrocotyle moschata hydrocotyle Hydrocotyle tripartita Australian hydrocotyle Oenanthe pimpinelloides parsley dropwort Pastinaca sativa wild parsnip Petroselinum crispum wild parsley Sison amomum stone parsley

Apocynaceae - periwinkle

Vinca major periwinkle

Aponogetonaceae - pondweed

Aponogeton distachyus Cape pondweed

Araceae - arum

Alocasia brisbanensis elephant's ear Arum italicum Italian arum Zantedeschia aethiopica arum lily

Araliaceae - ivy

Hedera helix ivy Tetrapanax papyriferus rice-paper plant

Asclepiadaceae - asclepia

Araujia sericifera moth plant

Asparagaceae - asparagus

Asparagus asparagoides smilax Asparagus scandens climbing asparagus

Asphodelaceae - asphodel

Asphodelus fistulosusasphodel

Asteraceae - daisy

Achillea millefolium yarrow Ageratina adenophora Mexican devil Anthemis cotula stinking mayweed Arctium minus burdock Arctotheca calendula Cape weed Artemisia verlotiorum mugwort Aster subulatus sea aster Bellis perennis daisy Bidens frondosa beggars' ticks Carduus nutans nodding thistle Carduus tenuiflorus winged thistle Carthamus lanatus saffron thistle Centaurea calcitrapa star thistle Centaurea nigra knapweed Centipeda cunninghamii sneezeweed Chrysanthemoides monilifera boneseed Cichorium intybus chicory Cirsium arvense Californian thistle Cirsium palustre marsh thistle Cirsium vulgare Scotch thistle Conyza albida broad-leaved fleabane Cotula australis soldier's button Crepis capillaris hawksbeard Dittrichia graveolensstinkwort Erechtites valerianifolia Brazilian fireweed Erigeron karvinskianus Mexican daisy Euchiton involucratus creeping cudweed Galinsoga parviflora galinsoga Gamochaeta spicata purple cudweed Helminthotheca echioides oxtongue Hieracium aurantiacum orange hawkweed Hieracium pilosella mouse-ear hawkweed Hieracium praealtum king devil Hypochoeris radicata catsear Lactuca virosa acrid lettuce Lapsana communis nipplewort Leontodon taraxacoides hawkbit Leucanthemum vulgare oxeye daisy Matricaria dioscoidea rayless chamomile Mycelis muralis wall lettuce Onopordum acanthium cotton thistle Osteospermum fruticosum dimorphotheca Ozothamnus leptophyllus tauhinu Pseudognaphalium luteoalbum Jersey cudweed Senecio bipinnatisectus Australian fireweed Senecio jacobaea ragwort Senecio mikanioides German ivy Senecio skirrhodon gravel groundsel Senecio vulgaris groundsel Silybum marianum variegated thistle Soliva sessilis Onehunga weed Sonchus oleraceus sow thistle Tanacetum vulgare tansy Taraxacum officinale dandelion Tragopogon porrifolius salsify Xanthium spinosum Bathurst bur

Basellaceae

Anredera cordifolia Madeira vine

Berberidaceae - barberry

Berberis glaucocarpa barberry

Betulaceae - birch

Alnus glutinosa alder

Boraginaceae - forget-me-not

Amsinckia calycina yellow gromwell Borago officinalis borage Echium plantagineum Paterson's curse Echium vulgare viper's bugloss Myosotis arvensis field forget-me-not Symphytum x uplandicum Russian comfrey

Brassicaceae - cabbage

Barbarea intermedia winter cress Brassica rapa subsp. sylvestris wild turnip Cakile maritima sea rocket Capsella bursa-pastoris shepherd's purse Cardamine hirsuta bitter cress Cardaria draba hoary cress Coronopus didymus twin cress Coronopus squamatus wart cress Hirschfeldia incana hoary mustard Lepidium africanum peppercress Lobularia maritima alyssum Nasturtium officinale watercress Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. raphanistrum wild radish Rorippa sylvestris creeping yellow cress Sisymbrium officinale hedge mustard

Buddlejaceae - buddleja

Buddleja davidii buddleia

Callitrichaceae - starwort

Callitriche stagnalis starwort

Caprifoliaceae - honeysuckle

Leycesteria formosa Himalayan honeysuckle Lonicera japonica Japanese honeysuckle Sambucus nigra elder

Caryophyllaceae - pink

Arenaria serpyllifolia sandwort Cerastium fontanum mouse-ear chickweed Cerastium glomeratum annual mouse-ear chickweed Dianthus armeria Deptford pink Polycarpon tetraphyllum allseed Sagina procumbens procumbent pearlwort Silene gallica catchfly Silene vulgaris bladder campion Spergula arvensis spurrey Spergularia rubra sand spurrey Stellaria media chickweed

Celastraceae - spindle tree

Euonymus europaeus spindle tree

Ceratophyllaceae - hornwort

Ceratophyllum demersum hornwort

Chenopodiaceae - fathen

Atriplex prostrata orache Chenopodium album fathen Chenopodium ambrosioides Mexican tea Chenopodium pumilio clammy goosefoot

Clusiaceae - St. John's wort

Hypericum androsaemum tutsan Hypericum perforatum St. John's wort

Cobaeaceae

Cobaea scandens cathedral bells

Commelinaceae - commelina

Tradescantia fluminensis wandering Jew

Convolvulaceae - bindweed

Calystegia sepium pink bindweed Calystegia silvatica great bindweed Convolvulus arvensis field bindweed Cuscuta epithymum dodder Dichondra repens Mercury Bay weed Ipomoea indica blue morning glory

Coriariaceae - tutu

Coriaria species tutu

Crassulaceae - stonecrop

Sedum acre stonecrop

Davalliaceae

Nephrolepis cordifolia tuber ladder fern

Dipsacaceae - teasel

Dipsacus sylvestris wild teasel

Dryopteridaceae wood fern

Dryopteris filix-mas male fern

Elaeagnaceae - elaeagnus

Elaeagnus x reflexa elaeagnus

Equisetaceae - horsetail

Equisetum arvense field horsetail

Ericaceae - heath

Calluna vulgaris heather Erica lusitanica Spanish heath

Euphorbiaceae - spurge

Euphorbia lathyris caper spurge Euphorbia maculata spotted spurge Euphorbia peplus milkweed Ricinus communis castor oil plant

Fabaceae - pea

Chamaecytisus palmensis tree lucerne Cytisus scoparius broom Galega officinalis goat's rue Lathyrus latifolius everlasting pea Lotus pedunculatus lotus Lotus suaveolens hairy birdsfoot trefoil Lupinus arboreus tree lupin Medicago lupulina black medick Medicago sativa lucerne Melilotus indicus King Island melilot Ornithopus perpusillus wild serradella Paraserianthes lophantha brush wattle Psoralea pinnata dally pine Racosperma mearnsii black wattle Trifolium arvense haresfoot trefoil Trifolium dubium suckling clover Trifolium pratense red clover Trifolium repens white clover Trifolium subterraneum subterranean clover Ulex europaeus gorse Vicia hirsuta hairy vetch Vicia sativa vetch

Fumariaceae - fumitory

Fumaria muralis scrambling fumitory

Gentianaceae - gentian

Centaurium erythraea centaury

Geraniaceae - geranium

Erodium cicutarium storksbill Geranium dissectum cut-leaved geranium Geranium molle dove's foot Geranium robertianum herb Robert

Grossulariaceae - currant

Ribes sanguineum flowering currant

Haloragaceae

Haloragis erecta shrubby haloragis Myriophyllum aquaticum parrot's feather

Hydrocharitaceae - frogbit

Egeria densa egeria Elodea canadensis Canadian pondweed Lagarosiphon major lagarosiphon Ottelia ovalifolia swamp lily

Iridaceae - iris

Aristea ecklonii aristea Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora montbretia Gladiolus undulatus wild gladiolus Iris foetidissima stinking iris Romulea rosea onion grass Sisyrinchium iridifolium purple-eyed grass Watsonia bulbillifera watsonia

Lamiaceae - mint

Clinopodium vulgare wild basil Galeobdolon luteum aluminium plant Galeopsis tetrahit hemp-nettle Glechoma hederacea ground ivy Lamium amplexicaule henbit Lamium purpureum red dead nettle Marrubium vulgare horehound Melissa officinalis lemon balm Mentha x piperita var. piperita peppermint Mentha pulegium pennyroyal Origanum vulgare wild marjoram Plectranthus ciliatus plectranthus Prunella vulgaris selfheal Salvia verbenaca wild sage Stachys arvensis staggerweed Stachys sylvatica hedge woundwort Thymus vulgaris culinary thyme

Lemnaceae - duckweed

Lemna minor duckweed

Linaceae - flax

Linum bienne pale flax Linum trigynum yellow flax

Lythraceae - loosestrife

Lythrum hyssopifolia hyssop loosestrife

Malvaceae - mallow

Hibiscus trionum bladder hibiscus Lavatera arborea tree mallow Malva parviflora small-flowered mallow Malva sylvestris large-flowered mallow Modiola caroliniana creeping mallow Sida rhombifolia paddy lucerne

Melianthaceae - honey flower

Melianthus major Cape honey flower

Myrtaceae - myrtle

Leptospermum scoparium manuka

Nymphaeaceae - water lily

Nymphaea alba water lily

Oleaceae - olive

Jasminum polyanthum jasmine Ligustrum lucidum tree privet Ligustrum sinense Chinese privet

Onagraceae - willow-herb

Epilobium ciliatum tall willow-herb Epilobium nummulariifolium creeping willow-herb Ludwigia palustris water purslane Oenothera glazioviana evening primrose

Orobanchaceae - broomrape

Orobanche minor broomrape

Osmundaceae - royal fern

Osmundia regalis royal fern

Oxalidaceae - oxalis

Oxalis articulata sourgrass Oxalis corniculata horned oxalis Oxalis latifolia fishtail oxalis Oxalis pes-caprae Bermuda buttercup Oxalis vallicola pink shamrock

Papaveraceae - poppy

Argemone ochroleuca Mexican poppy Eschscholzia californica Californian poppy Papaver rhoeas field poppy

Passifloraceae - passion fruit

Passiflora tripartita banana passion-fruit

Phytolaccaceae - inkweed

Phytolacca octandra inkweed

Pinaceae - pine

Pinus contorta lodgepole pine

Plantaginaceae - plantain

Plantago coronopus buck's horn plantain Plantago lanceolata narrow-leaved plantain Plantago major broad-leaved plantain

Polemoniaceae - phlox

Navarretia squarrosa Californian stinkweed

Polygalaceae - milkwort

Polygala myrtifolia sweet pea shrub

Polygonaceae - dock

Acetosa acetosella sheep's sorrel Acetosa sagittata climbing dock Emex australis spiny emex Fallopia convolvulus cornbind Muehlenbeckia australis large-leaved muehlenbeckia Persicaria hydropiper water pepper Persicaria persicaria willow weed Polygonum aviculare wireweed Reynoutria japonica Asiatic knotweed Rumex crispus curled dock Rumex obtusifolius broad-leaved dock

Portulacaceae - purslane

Calandrinia menziesii Curnow's curse Montia fontana subsp. chondrosperma dwarf montia Portulaca oleracea purslane

Potamogetonaceae - pondweed

Potamogeton crispus curled pondweed

Primulaceae - primrose

Anagallis arvensis subsp. arvensis scarlet pimpernel

Proteaceae - protea

Hakea salicifolia willow-leaved hakea Hakea sericea needlebush

Pteridaceae - brake

Paesia scaberula ring fern Pteridium esculentum bracken

Ranunculaceae - buttercup

Clematis vitalba old man's beard Ranunculus acris giant buttercup Ranunculus flammula spearwort Ranunculus repens creeping buttercup Ranunculus sardous hairy buttercup Ranunculus trichophyllus water buttercup

Resedaceae - mignonette

Reseda luteola wild mignonette

Rhamnaceae - buckthorn

Discaria toumatou matagouri Rhamnus alaternus evergreen buckthorn

Rosaceae - rose

Acaena agnipila Australian sheep's bur Acaena novae-zelandiae piripiri Aphanes inexpectata parsley piert Cotoneaster species cotoneaster Crataegus monogyna hawthorn Duchesnea indica Indian strawberry Fragaria vesca alpine strawberry Potentilla recta tall cinquefoil Rosa rubiginosa sweet briar Rubus fruticosus blackberry Rubus phoenicolasius Japanese wineberry Sanguisorba minor sheep's burnet

Rubiaceae - bedstraw

Galium aparine cleavers Galium divaricatum slender bedstraw Sherardia arvensis field madder

Salicaceae - willow

Populus alba silver poplar Salix cinerea grey willow Salix fragilis crack willow

Salviniaceae - water fern

Azolla rubra / Azolla filiculoides azolla

Scrophulariaceae - snapdragon

Cymbalaria muralis ivy-leaved toadflax Digitalis purpurea foxglove Linaria purpurea purple linaria Mimulus guttatus monkey musk Parentucellia viscosa tarweed Verbascum thapsus woolly mullein Veronica anagallis-aquatica water speedwell Veronica persica scrambling speedwell

Selaginellaceae - selaginella

Selaginella kraussiana selaginella

Simaroubaceae - quassia

Ailanthus altissima tree of heaven

Solanaceae - nightshade

Brugmansia candida angel's trumpet Cestrum aurantiacum orange cestrum Datura stramonium thorn apple Lycium ferocissimum boxthorn Nicandra physalodes apple of Peru Physalis peruviana cape gooseberry Salpichroa origanifolia lily of the valley vine Solanum aviculare poroporo Solanum dulcamara bittersweet Solanum linnaeanum apple of Sodom Solanum mauritianum woolly nightshade Solanum nigrum black nightshade Solanum pseudocapsicum Jerusalem cherry

Tropaeolaceae - nasturtium

Tropaeolum majus garden nasturtium

Urticaceae - nettle

Urtica urens nettle

Valerianaceae - valerian

Centranthus ruber spur valerian

Verbenaceae - vervain

Lantana camara lantana Verbena bonariensis purple top Verbena officinalis vervain

Violaceae - violet

Viola arvensis field pansy

Zingiberaceae - ginger

Hedychium gardnerianum Kahili ginger