• Common crupina is a declared weed in Tasmania under the Tasmanian Weed Management Act 1999. The importation, sale and distribution of common crupina are prohibited in Tasmania.
• The legal responsibilities of landholders and other stakeholders in dealing with common crupina are laid out in the Common Crupina Statutory Weed Management Plan.

What does common crupina look like?

• Common crupina is an erect and slender annual herb growing to 1 metre tall. The stems are ridged and bear short stiff spines. The cotyledon leaves (the first leaves growing from the seed) are fleshy and purplish-red. The rosette leaves are entire but with toothed margins, while the stem leaves are divided into lacy leaflets with short stiff spines on the margins. The daisy-like flowers are lavender to purple and occur on stalks. An individual plant may produce up to 40 flower heads. Each flower produces 1 to 5 cylindrical tapering seeds covered in silvery hairs and with a dark stiff pappus or tuft of hair.
• Seed germination occurs mainly in autumn with the onset of cooler weather. The plant overwinters as a rosette (a whorl of leaves close to the ground), then bolts and produces its flowering stems as temperatures rise. Flowers form in late spring and summer, the rosette leaves shrivelling during this period. Seeds remain dormant until the following autumn.
• Spread is by seed, with most seed germinating in the first autumn after shedding. Seed can be spread short distances by wind, with longer distance dispersal by moving water, birds, wildlife and domestic stock. Seed can also be spread as a contaminant of hay or other fodder.

Image top right: Common crupina rosettes, photo: CDFA 2001
Images above: Flower and seeds of common crupina, photos: CDFA 2001

Impacts of common crupina

• Common crupina is a serious pasture and roadside weed.

Where does common crupina occur?

• Common crupina is a native of northern African, temperate Asia and Europe. Common crupina has naturalised at only one site on mainland Australia, at Hope Valley, South Australia.
• Common crupina does not occur in Tasmania.

What you need to do

• If you locate common crupina anywhere in Tasmania, or if you find a plant that you think could be common crupina, immediately contact your Regional Weed Management Officer on 1300 368 550 to report this weed.

See also
Common Crupina Statutory Weed Management Plan
Weed Links and Resources

Other useful links
Pest Genie
APVMA

Important Disclaimer

To the extent permitted by law, the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (including its employees and consultants) excludes all liability to any person for any consequences, including but not limited to all losses, damages, costs, expenses and any other compensation, arising directly or indirectly from using information or material (in part or in whole) contained on this website.