- Reference
- Ann.Sci.Nat., Bot. Ser. 4, 11:22-23 (1859)
- Conservation Code
- Not threatened
- Naturalised Status
- Alien to Western Australia
- Name Status
- Current
Prostrate annual, herb. Fl. yellow, Jan to Feb or Apr to May. Disturbed areas.
Distribution
- IBRA Regions
- Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains, Gascoyne, Geraldton Sandplains, Hampton, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Murchison, Nullarbor, Pilbara, Swan Coastal Plain, Yalgoo.
- IBRA Subregions
- Augustus, Chichester, Eastern Murchison, Fitzgerald, Geraldton Hills, Hamersley, Hampton, Katanning, Merredin, Northern Jarrah Forest, Nullarbor Plain, Perth, Recherche, Southern Cross, Southern Jarrah Forest, Tallering, Western Mallee, Western Murchison.
- IMCRA Regions
- Leeuwin-Naturaliste.
- Local Government Areas (LGAs)
- Ashburton, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Chittering, Cunderdin, Dumbleyung, Dundas, East Pilbara, Esperance, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Koorda, Leonora, Meekatharra, Menzies, Mukinbudin, Mundaring, Narrogin, Northam, Northampton, Nungarin, Plantagenet, Ravensthorpe, Sandstone, Swan, Upper Gascoyne, Wandering, Yalgoo, Yilgarn.
Management Notes (for the Swan NRM Region)
Alternative Names. Gooseberry Cucumber, Paddy Melon.
General Biology. Growth form. Herb. Life form. Annual. Reproduction. Seed. Dispersal. Birds, water, machinery, garden/other waste, herbivorous mammals (including rabbits and cattle). Toxicity. Potentially toxic to sheep, cattle, horses and pigs.
Notes. Prefers bare disturbed areas with summer moisture. Slender taproot with many, strong, shallow laterals. Germinates in spring and summer, particularly after summer rain. Grows rapidly. Declared plant in California.
Additional information. Origin. Southern Africa.
Suggested method of management and control. Hand remove isolated plants before flowering. Has a high tolerance to glyphosate. Metsulfuron applied by backpack at 4.2 g/ha + wetting agent is effective, otherwise spot spray 2 ml Garlon® in 10 L of water + wetting agent. Read the manufacturers' labels and material safety data sheets before using herbicides. For further information consult the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to determine the status of permits for your situation or state.
Management Calendar
| Calendar Type | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germination | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Often after summer rainfall | ||||||
| Active Growth | Y | Y | Y | ||||||||||
| Flowering | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||||||||
| Fruiting | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||||||||
| Manual Removal | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||||||||
| Herbicide Treatment | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Legend: Y = Yes, regularly, O = Occasionally, U = Uncertain, referred by others but not confirmed.
References
- Brown, K. & Brooks, K. (2002) Bushland Weeds: A Practical Guide to their Management. Environmental Weeds Action Network, Greenwood.
- Hussey, B.M.J., Keighery, G.J., Dodd, J., Lloyd, S.G. & Cousens, R.D. (2007) Western Weeds. A guide to the weeds of Western Australia. 2nd Edition. The Plant Protection Society of Western Australia, Victoria Park.
- Leys, A.R., Amor, R.L., Barnett, A.G. & Plater, B. (1990) Evaluation of herbicides for control of summer growing weeds on fallows in south-eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 30: 271-9.
- Malo, J.E. & Suarez, F. (1995) Herbivorous mammals as seed dispersers in a Mediterranean dehesa. Oecologia, 104: 246-255.
- McKenzie, R.A., Newman, R.D., Rayner, A.C. & Dunster, P.J. (2008) Prickly paddy melon (Cucumis myriocarpus) poisoning of cattle. Australian Veterinary Journal, 65 (6): 167 - 170.
- Moore, C.B. & Moore, J.H. (2002) Herbiguide, the pesticide expert on a disk. Herbiguide, PO Box 44 Albany, Western Australia, 6330.
- Parsons, W.T. & Cuthbertson, E.G. (2001) Noxious weeds of Australia. 2nd Edition. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood.
- Simmonds, H., Holst, P. & Bourke, C. (2008) Factsheet: Cucumis myriocarpus. Australian Weeds and Livestock URL: http://www.weeds.mangrovemountain.net/data/Cucumis%20myriocarpus%20-%20Paddy%20melon.pdf - Accessed July 2010.
- USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program (2009) Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL: https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysimple.aspx - Accessed October 2009.