Know your alien plants: Ant tree

IN the leafy suburbs of KwaZulu-Natal, the subject of alien invasive plants has raised the ire of many conservationists. Environmentalists regularly remind the public about the destructive vegetation and the impact they can have on our country’s biodiversity.

However, these aliens have, in recent months, become a thorn in the side of home owners, as new National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) regulations state that ‘the seller of any immovable property must, prior to the relevant sale agreement, notify the purchaser of the property in writing of the presence of listed invasive species on that property.’ This is according to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA).

Home owners who are planning to sell will either have to hire an accredited invasive species practitioner or dust off their gardening books to catalogue these ‘blooming’ pests. Failure to comply could lead to hefty fines.

Now, the Northglen News and the Duzi uMngeni Conservation Trust (DUCT) have collaborated to bring readers a series of articles on various alien invasive species.

We will be getting up close and personal with their identifying features, what makes them so troublesome in our backyards and how they can be eradicated. This week we will be covereing the Ant tree. In the past we have looked at the Spanish Reed and Yellow bells.

For an entire list of alien species readers can visit the following web site: https://www.durbaninvasives.org.za/.

Triplaris americana aka Ant Tree
For the third instalment of the series we will be exploring the Triplaris Americana, which is more commonly known as the Ant tree. So dubbed for the ants which can often be found on the tree.

The alien invasive plant can easily be identified when in flower. In the months of April and May the tree produces large clusters of bright red beautiful flowers, said Bart Fokkens of DUCT.

The smooth bright green leaves of the tree are poisonous, however the ants manage which live in harmony with the tree. The fast growing tree can easily reach heights of over 10 metres and it is believed to have originated from Central America.

“Like all pioneer plants it produces numerous seeds from the fruit it bears which are dispersed by the wind,” he added.

The Ant tree is fairly common in the Durban North area as well as Springfield Park and Seacowlake. Eastview Road has a few specimens as does Virginia Bush.

It is categorised as a 1B invasive plant according to NEMBA. “eThekweni Metro can assist with the removal of these trees as they pose a threat to the local biodiversity,” added Fokkens. Test yourself and try identify this tree when not in flower.

Four categories of alien invasive plants:
Category 1A: Invasive species requiring compulsory control. Any specimens of category 1A listed species need, by law, to be eradicated from the environment. No permits will be issued.
Category 1B: Invasive species requiring compulsory control as part of an invasive species control programme. These plants are deemed to have such a high invasive potential that infestations can qualify to be placed under a government sponsored invasive species management programme. No permits will be issued.
Category 2: Invasive species regulated by area. A demarcation permit is required to import, possess, grow, breed, move, sell, buy or accept as a gift any plants listed as category 2 plants.
Category 3: Invasive species regulated by activity. An individual plant permit is required to undertake any of the following restricted activities – import, possess, grow, breed, move, sell, buy or accept as a gift – involving a category 3 species. No permits will be issued for category 3 plants to exist in riparian zones.

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