Bathurst bur caught in S.I.

Press, 26 February 1982, Page 20

Bathurst bur caught in S.I.

A .noxious weed which could damage New Zealand's wool industry was found recently in the Nelson area. About 80 Bathurst Bur plants were found on a 1.5 hectare block of land at Richmond. The bur has a hard seed pod which is protected by thorns. The smaller plants were destroyed by hand but older plants were sprayed because of the danger of seeds spreading from ripe seed heads, said the head noxious weeds officer for the Waimea County Council, Mr G. J. Strickett. This was the first time the plant had been found in the Nelson area, although it was detected in Marlborough several years ago. Samples of the weed were sept to the D.S.I.R. at Lincoln who advised that the remain- &

ing plants be destroyed immediately. said Mr Strickett. The weed could be a problem if it spread. The weed is named after the town of Bathurst in New South Wales and is also found in the North Island. Mr Strickett said it was not known how the weed became established at Richmond and a close watch would be kept in case of a reinfestation. As a result of publicity about the weed, council staff had been informed of several other possible noxious weeds but none were Bathurst Bur. The pods can become entangled in sheep fleeces which causes the value of the wool to be reduced. Because the pods are so hard shearers in Australia had broken equipment after striking the pods with their handpieces.