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 The following extract is from recent items published in the Hout Bay press.
Fruit Flies ahead.

By Dave Cowley - Sentinel Apr 1999

(Rt:-   Bugweed - Solarnum Mauratainum )
Many readers will have read of the explosion of the fly population in the Peninsula, a seasonal irritant not unusual in Hout Bay. The Authorities tell us that it is due to the reduced number of refuse collections and the resultant breeding of maggots due to careless packaging of refuse. That may be the case, however Hout Bayites must brace themselves for a plague of fruit flies which will inevitably occur due to the presence of a noxious weed which is proliferating in Hout Bay and elsewhere in the Peninsula. Solarnum Mauritainium (Bugweed) is popping up in many areas and is not being controlled.

The attractive shrub grows to 3m in height, has eliptic shaped light green leaves +\- 10cm in length with a lighter "velvet" look on the underside. It has a pastel purple flower and right now it is fruiting gooseberry sized yellow berries which are poisonous to man and animals. The berries host the flies and strangely are not poisonous to birds which carry them over large distances where the seeds will germinate once more and exacerbate the problem. The shrubs also host plant nematodes and which cause large scale damage to other plants and crops.

Solarnum Mauratainum is a declared Noxious Weed and it is a punishable offence to have it on ones property - Ist offence up to R5000 or two years imprisonment, 2nd offence up to R10000 or 5yrs imprisonment.

The draconian penalties seem ridiculous but to a farmer whose entire crop has been wiped out by it - they are paltry.

If you suspect you have it on your property - contact the Parks and Forest Dept on 7901045 and they will help you positively identify it and suggest how you can get rid of it. Incidently the leaves give off fine hairs when you try to control it causing respiratory problems.

I'll be covering other dangerous plant invaders in subsequent issues and the Hout Bay and Llandudno Heritage Trust will be making significant announcements about how we can mobilise effort to combat this scourge in our beautiful valley. Please contact Richard Timms, Chairman of our Natural Environment Committee on 7903089 if you are interested in participating in our alien vegetation control program.

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