Habitat: bank, cliff, coast, hill, lowland, margin, open, roadside, rock outcrop, sand, shrubland, terrace, wasteland

Dispersal: Seed

Distribution from the Australasian Virtual Herbarium. CC-BY 3.0 AU
Distribution from the Australasian Virtual Herbarium. CC-BY 3.0 AU
 Recognition
  • a large robust shrub often growing 3 m or more in height.
  • its thick, hollow, hairless stems bear large leaves up to 70 cm across.
  • these leaves usually have 7-9 finger-like lobes and the leaf stalk is attached to their undersides.
  • separate male and female flowers are borne in elongated clusters (8-15 cm long), with the reddish female flowers on top and the yellowish male flowers below.
  • its capsules (10-30 mm across) are greenish to bright red when young and covered in soft, blunt spines.

[From: Environmental Weeds of Australia]

 Images
Image: Peter Heenan © Landcare Research
Image: Peter Heenan © Landcare Research
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Weeds Key – interactive key to the weed species of New Zealand
 References
Biosecurity New Zealand 2012: Regional Pest Management Strategies Database. http://www.biosecurityperformance.maf.govt.nz/
Connor, H.E. 1977: The Poisonous Plants in New Zealand. Edition 2. Government Printer, Wellington.
Connor, H.E.; Fountain, J. 2009: Plants that Poison: A New Zealand Guide. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln.
Howell, C. 2008: Consolidated list of environmental weeds in New Zealand. DOC Research & Development Series 292: 42.
Stewart, J. 1971: Plants in New Zealand Poisonous to Man. New Zealand Department of Health, Wellington.