Thornapple

Scientific name: Datora ferox
Declaration status: Class A

Thornapples are native to Central and South America and Mexico, and are also known to occur in Asia and North Africa.

It was introduced to Australia as a garden plant, and is still closely associated with human settlements in the Northern Territory.

It has been used for medicinal purposes.

Thornapples prefer disturbed sites and fertile soils such as stock camps, around bores, stockyards and stables and along riverbanks.

Small infestations occur around bores, stockyards, and stables in the Katherine, Victoria River and Gulf districts.

Thornapple can have all of the following impacts:

the fruits have alkaloids that are potentially toxic
there are records of pig, horse, poultry and human deaths
toxicity to stock varies
cattle appear to eat it without suffering any effects
competes with native plant species and reduced available food for native animals
has the potential to impact fire frequency and intensity.

You should use this as a guide. There may be other plants or weeds that look similar.

erect, branched, annual plant that grows to about 1m tall with smooth stems
leaves are lance or oval shaped, up to 15cm long and have toothed margins and pointed lobes
trumpet-shaped flowers with white petals, 6cm to 10cm long
single flowers grow in the forks of the branched stems
fruit is round, spiny and green, 4cm to 5cm in diameter with four compartments containing numerous brown to black kidney shaped seeds.

If you are unsure, contact the Weed Management Branch.

There are four similar looking varieties of thornapples:

There is no harm in controlling any of the latter three species and it is imperative that the longspine thornapple is controlled.

If you think you may have seen thornapple, or have this weed on your property, contact the Weed Management Branch immediately for assistance.

The best time to treat thornapple is from December to March. Below is a list of treatment methods that can be used.

Chemical and concentration	Rate	Situation, method and notes
2, 4-D amine 625g/L Various trade names	320ml / 100L	Seedling or adult (individuals or infestation): Foliar spray - apply when actively growing
Glyphosate 360g/L Various trade names and formulations	15ml / 1L	Seedling or adult (individuals or infestation): Foliar spray - apply when actively growing
MCPA 340g/L and Dicamba 8g/L Various trade names	350ml / 100L	Seedling or adult (individuals or infestation): Foliar spray
Fluroxypyr 200g/L Various trade names	1 L / 100L	Seedling (individuals or infestation): Foliar spray - Uptake® spraying oil required
Fluroxypyr 333g/L Starane® Advanced	450ml / ha (boom)	Seedling (individuals or infestation): Foliar spray - Uptake® spraying oil required Boom application - apply when actively growing

Weeds, including their roots, are pulled out of the ground by hand or using hand tools.

This is an effective method of control for individual weeds and recent outbreaks that haven’t released seeds yet, but it requires a lot of labour.