Potential sleeper weeds of pastoral systems in Northland, New Zealand (data)

The data shows the working involved to shortlist and filter out potential sleeper weeds of Northland pastures for all the 2456 naturalised species identified by Brandt et al 2020. The abstract from the article follows: We identified sleeper weeds—species that have been naturalised for decades, remain limited in distribution, and are likely to spread into pastures in Northland, New Zealand. We focused on species recorded as significant agricultural weeds overseas, including subtropical species that could expand with climate change. In total, we identified 33 potential sleeper weeds, comprising four grasses, nineteen broadleaf herbs, one succulent herb, and six shrubs. The grasses (Chloris gayana, Digitaria ciliaris, Melinis repens, Setaria sphacelata) are known to invade pastures. A few species toxic to livestock were identified. Three quarters of the species are known problems in subtropical or tropical areas globally, so may be emerging problems under climate change. Regular sleeper weed surveys and farmer reporting in both urban and agricultural areas are crucial, as these locations are often overlooked. Vigilance in detecting unusual plants, coupled with strict farm hygiene, remains the best strategy to prevent new weed introductions.