Bellyache bush

• Squat, thick-stemmed shrub 2.5–4m tall.
• Develops from short, single-stemmed plant with 3 or 4 young leaves sprouting from top.
• Young leaves are purple, sticky, deeply divided into 3 rounded lobes.
• Older leaves are bright green, about 10cm in diameter, with up to 5 lobes and edges covered in coarse, dark-brown hairs.
• Flowers are small, red with yellow centres, in small clusters throughout plant's upper part.
• Seed pods are smooth, oval, 12mm across (about the size of a cherry), containing 3 to 4 seeds about 8mm long.
• Bellyache bush looks similar to castor oil plant, Ricinus communis. However, castor oil plant is taller, has larger fruit, and has larger leaves with pointier tips and 7–9 lobes.

• Sometimes grown as garden plant.
• Common along riverbanks and roadways, and in grasslands and open woodland.

• Visit the Weeds Australia website and click on the distribution tab to access the distribution map.

• Seeds germinate October–December.
• Flowers throughout year where moisture is adequate.

Environmental

• Out-competes native vegetation.
• Takes over extensive sections of river frontage, reducing biodiversity.
• Poisonous to native animals.

Economic

• Increases mustering costs.
• Reduces pasture growth.
• Poisonous to stock.

Social

• All parts are poisonous to humans.

• Spread by fruit-eating birds, water, livestock and machinery.

• Find out how farmers can prevent weed spread.
• Find out how gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts can prevent weed spread.

Physical control

• Hand-pull entire plant, including roots.
• Dispose of plants and other reproductive materials and wash hands thoroughly to reduce the risk of re-infestation.
• Fire can be an effective control if the fuel load is sufficient to carry fire through a bellyache bush infestation.

Mechanical control

• Repeatedly slash infested areas to help reduce density.

Herbicide control

• Herbicides are effective.

Read the bellyache bush fact sheet (PDF, 1.7MB) for herbicide control and application rates.

Biological control

• Jewel bug Agonosoma trilineatum was released as biological control but seems not to have established.

• Bellyache bush is a category 3 restricted invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014.
• It must not be given away, sold, or released into the environment. Penalties may apply.
• You must take all reasonable and practical measures to minimise the biosecurity risks associated with dealing with balloon vine under your control. This is called a general biosecurity obligation (GBO).
• At a local level, each local government agency must have a biosecurity plan that covers invasive plants and animals in its area. This plan may include actions to be taken on bellyache bush. Some of these actions may be required under local laws. Contact your local council for more information.