WEPA is supporting a STEP (South Turramurra Environment Protection) campaign to control the spread of a problematic weed creeping over our suburbs, Tillandsia usneoides (Spanish Moss aka Old Man’s Beard).
It has been officially identified as a problem plant on the NSW Department of Primary Industry WeedWise list. Unfortunately, it has not yet been banned in NSW.
Bush regeneration expert, Dr Robin Buchanan compiled a report focused on the Sydney North region, which found that it is no longer a sleeper weed. Infestations were seen in 34 plant varieties and 90% of these were out of easy reach. A conclusion of the report is that Spanish Moss is a real threat to critically endangered native forests and bushland biodiversity in the Upper North Shore.
Threats to these unique ecosystems and our own local canopy include:
- death of individual trees by reducing photosynthesis
- health impacts through altered water and nutrient cycles
- changed predator/prey interactions
- habitat alteration
- moderation of the microclimate and transformed fire regimes.
Under normal conditions it does not spread rapidly, and hand removal is the commonly recommended approach. However, as primary spread is through wind and the birds that use it for nesting material, it tends to lodge in the upper reaches of tree canopy. This makes removal very difficult and professional support with specialised equipment can be required, making it also very costly.
Unfortunately, humans are also contributing to the problem. Some residents considering it to be harmless or attractive, introduce it into local gardens, unaware of the damage it can inflict on host plants and wildlife.
We are pleased to report that Willoughby Council is taking action to control the spread of this damaging weed. At the June Council meeting, Councillor Dodds moved a motion proposing targeted actions. The motion was carried 11-1.
Willoughby Council’s Spanish Moss information page can be found here.
And the motion that was put forward in the June Council meeting here.
What can you do if you see Spanish Moss when you’re out and about in Willoughby?
- Remove any infestations where this can be done safely.
- Report sightings to Council.
- Let WEPA know if you see it being sold locally
- Spread the word amongst your community and neighbours who may be unaware of the environmental harm caused by Spanish Moss.
- Give a copy of this flyer to your neighbours who have Spanish Moss in their garden.
We also encourage members with access to the free iNaturalist app to log sightings by uploading a photo through this platform. STEP also asks that you note the host tree, if known, as associations are being studied. The app will map individual locations, thereby giving Council or other interested organisations visibility of the problem within our LGA and beyond. You can learn more and download the app via iNaturalist.
North Sydney bushcarers have been particularly active in logging sightings on iNaturalist – as you can see from this map. We’d appreciate your help to get Willoughby mapped so that Council can advance this initiative.
You can visit the STEP website for more information or read the full report here.
We would like to thank STEP and Dr. Buchanan for bringing this to our attention.
At left: Local Spanish Moss infestation less than 500 metres from bushland reserve.
Image: Eva Coulam.
At right: Bird nest lined with Spanish Moss, Flat Rock Gully.
Image: Heidi Key