Cha-om
Alert
Have you seen Cha-om?
Be on the lookout for Cha-om and report it to Biosecurity Queensland. Early detection and reporting are the key elements in preventing Cha-om from becoming a major problem in Queensland.
Call us on 13 25 23.
Cha-om leaves
© Queensland Government
Cha-om pods
© Queensland Government
Pennata wattle or cha-om stem
© Queensland Government
Pennata wattle or cha-om plant
© Queensland Government
Cha-om stem close up
© Queensland Government
Native to south and South-East Asia, cha-om is a prickly shrub. It can be confused with the native species Senegalia albizioides and a near-threatened, native climbing and prickly subspecies. It invades nature ecosystems.
You must take reasonable action to minimise the risk of spreading Cha-om to ensure the situation isn't worsened.
You must report all sightings to Biosecurity Queensland within 24 hours.
Cha-om is not a leafy vegetable and must not be grown in your backyard to use in cooking.
Scientific name
Description
- Shrub up to 5m tall.
- Scattered prickles along branchlets, stems.
- Leaves are bipinnate.
- Flowers are cream-yellow.
- Pods are flattened.
- Flowers, leaves, stems have strong odour.
- Can be confused with native species Senegalia albiziodes and Senegalia pennata subsp. kerrii.
Habitat
- Prefers disturbed habitats, generally near rainforests.
Distribution
- Occurs in South East Queensland and Far North Queensland.
Impacts
Environmental
- Invades natural ecosystems.
Economic
- Invades pastures and reduces beef production.
How it is spread
- Spread by people who grow it for use as a vegetable.
Prevention
Control
- Before undertaking any preventative or control actions, contact our Customer Service Centre.
Legal requirements
- Cha-om is a prohibited invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014.
- You must not keep, move, give away, sell or release into the environment. Penalties may apply.
- You must not take any action reasonably likely to exacerbate the biosecurity threat posed by cha-om.
- You must take any action that is reasonably likely to minimise the biosecurity threat posed by cha-om.
- You must report all sightings to Biosecurity Queensland within 24 hours.