Dally pine
Botanical Name
Psoralea pinnata
Family
Fabaceae (legume)
Where is it originally from?
South Africa
What does it look like?
Evergreen short-lived shrub (<2 m, occasionally <5 m) with erect, much-branched, soft-woody stems that are hairy and ribbed when young. Leaves (15-40 mm long) are each divided into 2-4 opposite pairs of leaflets and a terminal leaflet, all similar to pine needles. Solitary or small clusters of pea-like blue-white or mauve-white flowers (13 mm diameter, Nov-Jan) are followed by hairless, wrinkled seed pods (4-5 mm long) each containing one dark brown seed.
Are there any similar species?
Often mistaken for young pine trees.
Why is it weedy?
Produces many, long-lived seeds, and fire stimulates germination. Nitrogen fixer that thrives in poor and moderate soils. Tolerates low or high rainfall, salt, wind, hot temperatures, damage and grazing, but is only partially shade-tolerant. Tolerates a wide range of growing conditions, and because it can fix nitrogen, it changes the type of plants which can grow in any area that it has colonised.
How does it spread?
Mostly by soil disturbance and water movement, and possibly by livestock or birds. Roadsides, quarries, wasteland, poor pasture, exotic plantations, and gardens are all common seed sources.
What damage does it do?
Dominates low canopy habitats, delaying (occasionally preventing) the establishment of native plant seedlings. Increased nitrogen in gumlands and other impoverished soil types may change the species that are present and resulting change in habitat may be to the detriment of specialised plants eg. orchids, ferns, herbs, etc, or encourage further weed invasions. Can replace manuka in successional process.
Which habitats is it likely to invade?
Gumlands, dry shrubland, coastline, estuaries, bush tracks, forest margins, and fernland, especially in warmer areas.
What can I do to get rid of it?
1. Pull out small infestations: Leave on site to rot down.
2. Spray (spring-summer): triclopyr 600 EC (30ml/10L + penetrant) or triclopyr 120g/L (15ml/L).
What can I do to stop it coming back?
Cut stems resprout. Never use fire as a management tool. In regenerating bush habitats over 4 m this plant is normally succeeded by tall-growing native species. Where plant is dense (ie. no native species present), possibly encourage regeneration with partial and selective control methods. Control in low-growing habitats and vector corridors (quarries, roadsides, etc).
