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Weed Seed: Echium plantagineum (Paterson's curse)

Invasive Plant - Paterson's curse (Echium plantagineum)

Family

Boraginaceae

Common name

Paterson's curse

Regulation

Prohibited Noxious, Class 1 in the Canadian Weed Seeds Order, 2016 under the Seeds Act. All imported and domestic seed must be free of Prohibited Noxious weed seeds.

Listed on the List of Pests Regulated by Canada established under the Plant Protection Act.

Distribution

Canadian: There have been several records from Canada but it has not persisted (CFIA 2014Footnote 1).

Worldwide: Broad Mediterranean native distribution. Introduced to Australia, South Africa, southern South America, and the western United States (CFIA 2014Footnote 1).

Duration of life cycle

Winter annual or biennial

Seed or fruit type

Nutlet

Identification features

Size

Shape

Surface texture

Colour

Other structures

Habitat and crop association

Pastures, roadsides and disturbed areas (CFIA 2012Footnote 2). Carries over as a weed in crops when pastures are rotated with cereals or other crops (CABI 2016Footnote 3).

General information

Paterson's curse was introduced into Australia in the 1880s, where it proved to be an aggressive, drought-tolerant, herbicide-resistant and toxic weed (Kloot 1982Footnote 4). The plants contain toxic chemicals that can cause liver damage in pigs and horses (Culvenor 1956Footnote 5).

Similar species

Blueweed (Echium vulgare)

Photos

Paterson's curse (Echium plantagineum) nutlets
Paterson's curse (Echium plantagineum) nutlet, inner side
Paterson's curse (Echium plantagineum) nutlet, side view
Paterson's curse (Echium plantagineum) nutlet, outer side

Similar species

Similar species: Blueweed (Echium vulgare) nutlets
Similar species: Blueweed (Echium vulgare) nutlet
Similar species: Blueweed (Echium vulgare) nutlet
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