Stinkwort - introduced (*Dittrichia graveolens)

Other names: Inula graveolens.

Family: Asteraceae (Daisy family).

Native of Europe and Asia.

Occurrence: A widespread, late-summer weed, especially of roadsides and disturbed areas.

Identification:

• the plant grows to about 40 cm high.
• it is covered with glandular, sticky hairs
• the plant is light green in colour
• the petals of the yellow daisy flowers are not spreading
• it begins growing in late summer/early autumn.

It is a noxious weed and listed Resricted in central Victoria.

It grows strongly during the dry late summer months when most other vegetation is dormant. The plant taints dairy products and meat, can cause stock death by poisoning and bowel damage by the fluffy seed heads, and can cause dermatitis in humans.

Photos: 1 Stinkwort. Golden Point.
2. Stinkwort. The stems are covered with sticky, glandular hairs. Black Hill, Kyneton.