NQ DRY TROPICS WEED FREE pg . 23
POND APPLE
Annona glabra
DESCRIPTION
This is a semi-deciduous perennial tree that usually grows between 3 and 6 metres tall , but can reach up to 15 metres .
Leaves vary from light to dark green but may go yellow in the dry season . They are 7 to 12 centimetres long with a prominent midrib . Leaves are arranged on alternate areas of the stem . When crushed , leaves emit a smell .
Flowers are creamy-white opening from a three-angled bud , with the 3 outer petals marked with a bright red spot on the inner surface near the base . Flowers are short-lived and 2 to 3 centimetres wide . It flowers during summer .
Fruit are 5 to 15 centimetres wide , green , apple shaped with stringy orange flesh and a large number of pumpkin-like seeds .
Habitat it is found in wetlands , swamps , mangroves , drainage lines , coastal dunes , Melaleuca woodlands , creeks and rivers .
Weed characteristics form dense thickets that prevent the regeneration of natural plants . It is capable of replacing whole ecosystems .
Dispersal down waterways , as seeds float and can survive long periods of immersion , enabling the plant to spread over very long distances .
BIOSECURITY MATTER
Restricted . This species is Category 3 Restricted matter under Queensland Legislation . This species is also listed a Weed of National Significance ( WONS ).
HOW TO ACT
Basal barking is an option if the plant is growing on dry soil . However , as most grow in water , the best option is to cut stump the tree using a water friendly herbicide . If growing in dry conditions a foliar treatment may be possible .
TREES POND APPLE