Binomial name : Macroptilium atropurpureum
Common name: Siratro
Another weed species that occurs here in summer is Siratro. It is a rampant creeper and climbing vine with a large tap root that can be difficult to pull out if the ground is dry. The flowers are pea type and a dark red purple colour. The leaves occur in 3 broad leaflets/node and are 2-7cm with small silky hairs.
It was introduced as a stock feed, as it has about 15% protein but has become another just another weed species to be managed! I dislike it as it smothers other plants and can damage them - for example we have a young Bunya pine that was infested with it last year and it took a ladder, gloves and much effort to free the tree from it. Then the top was bent over and I needed to run a length of rope around it to strain it to become straight again.
The Queensland DPI link is :
http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/4790_7356.htm
I don't use this plant for anything around the yard but I guess the chooks would eat it.
Still picking peaches and nectarines - one of our best crops ever this year.
I am on a mission this morning to buy more jars for bottling as we have run out of our old Agee jars.
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