HAVING infested up to 10,000 hectares of land near Maldon, the invasive wheel cactus has recently been found growing around Newstead, Castlemaine and Marong.
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The wheel cactus, declared a noxious weed in 1961, has left areas around Maldon impenetrable and made large tracts of land unsuitable for grazing.
The Tarrangower Cactus Control Group has monitored the spread of the weed as part of the Maldon, Baringhup and Nuggetty Landcare groups.
Group member Lee Mead said it was worrying that the cactus was no longer confined to the Maldon district.
"Wheel cactus is a particularly serious weed as it's an extremely difficult plant to destroy and control," she said.
"Wheel cactus is a close cousin to prickly pear and is often mistaken for the innocent cousin."
The group has encouraged landholders to kill the plants while they are young and small and before they bear red fleshy fruit, which causes the plant to spread.
Wheel cactus is a particularly serious weed as it's an extremely difficult plant to destroy and control.
- Lee Mead
The seeds can survive in the soil for up to 20 years and can be spread when a broken segment remains in contact with the soil.
"The most effective methods of control are by the manual removal of small plants and chemical injection of lobes on medium and large plants," Ms Mead said.
"Both methods are extremely time consuming and labour intensive, especially when infestations become large."
The Tarrangower Cactus Control Group holds monthly field days. Visit www.cactuswarriors.org
