Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Synonyms Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Gmelina elliptica Sm.

Synonyms

Gmelina asiatica L. (misapplied)
Gmelina asiatica L. var. villosa (Roxb.) Bakh.
Gmelina villosa Roxb.

Family

Verbenaceae (Northern Territory)
Lamiaceae (New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia)

Common Names

Asiatic beechberry, badhara bush, common bulang, oval-leafed gmelina, parrot's beak

Origin

Native to south-eastern Asia (i.e. Cambodia, northern Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines) and some islands in the Indian (i.e. Mauritius, Andaman and Nicobar) and Pacific (i.e. Palau and Kiribati) Oceans.

Naturalised Distribution

This species is locally naturalised in central Queensland. It has also become naturalised overseas in Jamaica and Zaire.

Notes

Badhara bush (Gmelina elliptica) forms dense impenetrable thickets and it is regarded as an environmental weed in Queensland. This thorny shrub has significant impacts on natural areas, decreasing biodiversity and causing lasting environmental effects. It spreads mainly by bird-dispersed seeds, and was possibly deliberately introduced as a garden ornamental.

The only known infestations of Badhara bush (Gmelina elliptica) in Australia occur near Rockhampton (e.g. at Stanage Bay) and this species is currently the target of an extensive eradication program. However, it is a potential weed of wetter habitats throughout the tropical and sub-tropical regions of Australia, and is thought to pose a serious threat to rangeland biodiversity in northern Australia.