Chrysanthemoides monilifera
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| Bitou Bush | ||||||||||||||
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| Chrysanthemoides monilifera (L.) Norlindh |
Chrysanthemoides monilifera is an evergreen flowering shrub with glossy round leaves in the Asteraceae family. It is native to southern Africa and has become a major environmental weed in Australia and New Zealand. In South Africa it is known as the Bietou, Tick Berry, Bosluisbessie, or Weskusbietou. It's black fruits are edible and taste like salty dried dates, with a crunchy texture.
There are two distinct subspecies which are both regarded as weeds in Australasia:
- ssp. monilifera (known as Boneseed in Australia and New Zealand)
- ssp. rotundata (known as Bitou Bush in Australia)
Subspecies monilefera is an erect shrub up to 3 metres in height. It produces yellow daisy-like flowers from winter to early summer that have between 4 and 8 ‘petals’ (ray florets). It occurs naturally in coastal areas from Mozambique to southern South Africa. It was introduced to Australia and New Zealand as a garden plant and has become an environmental weed in parts of Victoria and New Zealand.
Subspecies rotundata usually ranges from 2 to 3 metres in height or much higher when it becomes entangled in adjacent vegetation. It flowers throughout the year and has between 11 and 13 ‘petals’ (ray florets). It is endemic to southwestern South Africa. Bitou bush is thought to have been introduced to Australia in ship ballast. It was used in the 1950’s and 1960’s to revegetate disturbed coastal areas in New South Wales and has spread along the coast of New South Wales and parts of Victoria.
