Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Synonyms Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Chamaesyce hirta (L.) Millsp.

Synonyms

Euphorbia hirta L.

Family

Euphorbiaceae

Common Names

asthma plant, asthma weed, asthmaplant, cat's hair, flowery headed spurge, garden spurge, hairy spurge, Jean Roberts, old blood, pill bearing spurge, pill-bearing spurge, pillpod sandmat, pillpod spurge, Queensland asthma weed, red euphorbia, red milkweed, snake weed, snakeweed, sneeze weed, spurge

Origin

This species is widely distributed throughout the topical regions of the world (i.e. pantropical), however it is generally thought to be an early introduction from the Americas into other tropical regions. It is thought to be native to southern USA, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and tropical South America (i.e. from Colombia south to northern Argentina).

Because of doubt over the origin of this species, and its probable very early introduction into this country, it is sometimes regarded as being native to northern and eastern Australia.

Naturalised Distribution

Widely naturalised in northern and eastern Australia, but most common and widespread in tropical and sub-tropical regions (i.e. in northern Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales). Occasionally also recorded from other parts of New South Wales and in north-western Western Australia. Also naturalised on Christmas Island, the Cocos Islands and Ashmore Reef.

Widely naturalised in the tropical regions of the world, including in south-eastern  and eastern Asia (i.e. Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, China, Taiwan and Japan), Mauritius, New Zealand and on numerous Pacific islands (e.g. American Samoa, Palau, Niue, Nauru, New Caledonia, the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Hawaii, Guam, French Polynesia, Fiji and the Galápagos Islands).

Notes

Asthma plant (Chamaesyce hirta) is a very widespread introduced plant that is predominantly found in tropical and sub-tropical environments in Australia. It is a common weed of disturbed sites, waste areas, roadsides, gardens, footpaths, lawns, bare areas, crops and pastures. However it also invades natural vegetation, particularly in northern Australia, and is sometimes regarded as an environmental weed in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and northern Queensland.

In Western Australia, where asthma plant (Chamaesyce hirta) often grows along watercourses, it was rated as a moderate priority species in the the state's environmental weed strategy. It has also been recorded in conservation areas in the Northern Territory (e.g. Gregory National Park). In Queensland, asthma plant (Chamaesyce hirta) is a weed of rangelands in the Burdekin region and a weed of highways, roads and powerline corridors in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.