Biosecurity: watch out for Bomarea
Council’s Biosecurity team’s work includes managing plant, animal and marine pest species, with the ever-present risk of new threats that can impact our environment, primary industries and quality of life.
Over the next few weeks we will look at some of these pests.
Bomarea multiflora, also known as climbing alstormeria, is a scrambling perennial vine from South America that twists around any available support, including native plants, and strangles them.
Its leaves are long and pointed and the tubular flowers are red to orange or gold on the outside and yellow inside with dark spots, hanging in clusters of 15 to 20 flowers, from summer to winter. Numerous fleshy, round, bright orange fruit develop from May to August. Its stems come from underground rhizomes bearing numerous tubers which break easily.
Bomarea seedlings creep along the ground, smothering low-growing species.
If you think you have seen Bomarea please contact the Biosecurity team; Ph. 03 520 7400 or email biosecurity@marlborough.govt.nz
Our website has more information on unwanted pests: