invasive weed need ID.

Its such a pretty invasive weed.anyone know it. Left alone will grow 6ft .I did.t plant it , it just appeared a few years ago and I thought it so pretty I spread the seed around ,now its a pest.

I've never seen that one before. It is pretty. I had a look on a couple of weed sites but couldn't see it. I'll look a bit further later.

Thanks Gail . I've looked at weed site also , can;t find anything.I may have to send pics to D.P.I.

Why is it that most weeds a re very pretty

All I can say Pitta...it's a pretty weed

I thought .What a pretty plant a few years ago and ditributed seeds hither and yon.Now its really spreading too far . John dug up 4 barrow loads last year and got rid of them for me.But its too little too late .I have exhausted all avenues trying to find out something about it .
I sent specimens to weed dept,Cooktown Council ,no reaction,after several phone calls I gave up
So today I sent email to Cairns Herbarium ,I included 4 pics.Talk abouf fast result.
1 hour later results.The name is Barleria strigosa
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The woman who answered my request for info, had sent my request on to the =National Herbarium in Canberra,===the Herbarium in Sth Australia=== and the Herbarium in Melbourne.
Now they are asking if they can get someone to come and collect specimens as they need specimens for several Herbariums.
They are suggesting that if they consider it too invasive they could have it irradicated.
Apparently it escaped from the Cooktown Botanic Gardens at some time in the past.
Its turning into quite a saga.
To be con't
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Interesting Gwen..Gee you never know what you are going to find in your back yard do you..

I wouldn't have guessed barleria and that was a quick response Looking forward to the rest of the story

My mother had a barleria in her garden but never caused a problem. Her place was very dry though. It wasn't that one though, looked more like this one http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantab/barleriaobtusa.htm

sounds all rather exciting Gwen

Gail . thanks for that site . I looked at lots of sites , the one I have has a common name Philippine violet. I think the only reason its a curse here is that I have the perfect conditions for it .
Acidic soil, organic mulch,sun and shade, heat, humidity , summer rainfall etc.
It maybe would not be a problem anywhere else.
The flowers on the site you gave me do remind me of mine,.. only rhe petals are arranged differently. I AM EXPECTING TO GET MORE CORRESPONDENCE TODAY FROM THE HERBARIUM. I'LL KEEP YOU ALL UPDATED.

There seems to be quite a few different barleria, some weedy, some not. If you do a seach for barleria and weeds you will see a few different ones mentioned. The one my mother had only had small leaves about 2cm long and only grew about .5m high and wide but some I've seen mentioned grow bigger.

I find it quite interesting looking at all the different plants... very time wasting... or should that be time consuming as it is learning and keeping those old brain cells active... that's my excuse anyway