Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Barleria lupulina Lindl.

Family

Acanthaceae

Common Names

barleria, hophead, hophead barleria, hop-headed barleria, hophead Philippine violet, Philippine violet

Origin

Native to eastern India and Mauritius.

Naturalised Distribution

Naturalised in some parts of northern Australia (i.e. in the coastal districts of the Northern Territory and in northern and south-eastern Queensland). Also naturalised on Christmas Island and possibly naturalised in the northern parts of Western Australia.

Naturalised overseas in south-eastern USA (i.e. Florida), Hawaii, Indonesia and East Timor.

Notes

This species is regarded as an environmental weed or as a "sleeper weed" in many parts of northern Australia (i.e. Queensland, the Northern Territory and northern Western Australia). For example, it is listed as a high priority pest plant in the Cook Shire in northern Queensland.

Hophead barleria (Barleria lupulina) is also invasive in open woodland habitats and along watercourses in the Northern Territory and was also recently reported as being invasive in one location at Brookfield, in suburban Brisbane, in south-eastern Queensland. It has since been targeted for eradication at this location, due to the potential of this species becoming a serious environmental weed in the region.