• Erect, woody perennial shrub to 3m from Europe, with ridged, much-branched stems, common in disturbed areas. Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions.
• Sparse, tiny grey-green leaves with three leaflets; older plants may be almost leafless.
• Large numbers of bright yellow pea flowers are borne singly or in pairs along the stems in spring.
• Black flattened pods with hairy margins produce huge numbers of hard brown shiny seeds, believed to survive 70 years or more years in the soil.

Spreads by seed: pods eject seeds up to 4m from the plant (up to 6000 per plant per year). Seeds can also be spread by water, animals, mud on shoes or tyres, or in contaminated soil.

Grows rapidly, competing aggressively with native plants. Forms dense stands and dramatically reduces biodiversity. Transforms the ecosystem into one dominated by weeds. Also a serious fire hazard.

Upper Blue Mountains.

Native Dogwood (Jacksonia scoparia) 3m; Sunshine Wattle (Acacia terminalis) 2m. Golden Bells (Forsythia viridissima) 3m.

Do not mow or slash. Spray, dig out or cut and paint when pods are green. Expect to hand-remove seedlings for years.