African club moss

African club moss is small carpet forming fern ally. Fern allies are a group of seedless plants that resemble ferns but are not true ferns.

Description

• Stems are slender, irregularly branched, and root at the nodes.

• Leaves are small and arranged in rows.

• Aerial roots are long and fine.

• Spore cones are rounded and 10mm long.

• Produces spores, vegetative spread from stem fragments.

• Habitats include damp situations; forest, riparian areas, gardens, nurseries, and hothouses.

What you need to know

African club moss forms dense mats, excluding native ground cover and preventing native seedling establishment. It alters native invertebrate habitat and may facilitate the establishment of other pest plants.

Management approach

African club moss is declared an unwanted organism by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) because it is capable of causing harm to the natural environment, physical resources or human health in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

These species pose a high risk to our environment, economy, recreation, and cultural values.

Rules

Any species declared a pest cannot be sold or be in a place where plants are being sold. Pest plants cannot be propagated, bred, multiplied, communicated, released, caused to be released, or otherwise spread.

To help protect our environment:

Consider removing this invasive species from your property and consult your local council for appropriate disposal. Consider lower-risk alternatives for your garden, such as native plants.

Control

Site management

Follow up treated areas three times per year. Encourage natural regeneration of native plants or replant treated areas where possible after 2-3 treatments to establish dense ground cover and minimise reinvasion.

Physical control

Dig out small infestations

Plant parts requiring disposal: all parts

Contact your local council for appropriate disposal locations

Chemical control

Foliar spray with 20ml glyphosate plus 2ml penetrant per 1L of water.

Caution: When using any herbicide or pesticide please read the label thoroughly to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed.