Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Synonyms Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Amsinckia calycina (Moris) Chater

Synonyms

Amsinckia angustifolia Lehm.
Amsinckia hispida (Ruiz & Pavon) I.M. Johnst.
Lithospermum calycinum Moris
Lithospermum hispidum Ruiz & Pavon

Family

Boraginaceae

Common Names

amsinckia, buckthorn, corn gromwell, fiddle neck, fiddleneck, hairy fiddle neck, hairy fiddle-neck, ironweed, tar weed, yellow burr weed, yellow burr-weed, yellow burweed, yellow burrweed, yellow gromwell, yellow iron weed

Origin

Native to southern South America (i.e. Argentina and Chile).

Naturalised Distribution

Widely naturalised in the southern parts of the country, particularly in the temperate regions of south-eastern Australia. It is most common in Victoria, south-eastern South Australia, the ACT and the eastern and southern parts of New South Wales. Occasionally naturalised in western New South Wales, Tasmania, the inland parts of south-western Western Australia, other parts of South Australia, and in the southern parts of the Northern Territory. Also sparingly naturalised in the cooler inland districts of south-eastern Queensland.

Notes

Hairy fiddle-neck (Amsinckia calycina) is a weed of disturbed sites and cultivated land, particularly winter cereal crops, in many parts of Australia. In the south-eastern parts of the country, where it is most abundant, it also invades pastures and natural habitats.

It is sometimes regarded as an environmental weed in Victoria and appears on some local and regional weed lists in this state (e.g. in Mornington Peninsula Shire and the Goulburn Broken Catchment). Hairy fiddle-neck (Amsinckia calycina ) is also listed as a highly invasive and high impact weed species in plains grassland communities in the Lowan Mallee bioregion.

Fiddle-necks (Amsinckia spp.) are also reported to be invasive in intact native vegetation in south-eastern South Australia, with a moderate potential to reduce native species diversity. They are said to produce dense and persistent stands, and can only be controlled with sustained effort. As hairy fiddle-neck (Amsinckia calycina) is currently the only fiddle-neck species (Amsinckia sp.) thought to occur in South Australia, it is most likely the cause of these concerns.

While it is generally not regarded as an environmental weed in other states, hairy fiddle-neck (Amsinckia calycina) has been recorded in natural areas in southern New South Wales (e.g. in Kinchega National Park and in sub-alpine and alpine areas of the Australian Alps) and grassland areas in Tasmania.