IT'S bright red bell-shaped flowers may look appealing to a gardener's eye, but mother-of-millions is a cattle killer.

Mother-of-millions (Bryophyllum spp.) has been found in areas including the Leviachan Road area near Gilgai, along the Bruxner Highway between Texas and Yetman, near Atholwood Road, near Delungra and also at Bingara.

Farmers need to be particularly vigilant with where they kept their cattle over the next couple of months while the plant is flowering as the flower was the most succulent and potent part of the plant.

Chief weeds advisory officer for Inverell and Gwydir Shire Councils Les Tanner (pictured) said what looked like a harmless garden plant was in fact a highly poisonous plant that was declared noxious in November of last year.

The plant killed 125 head of cattle near Moree in 1997.

Mr Tanner said symptoms in cattle included loss of appetite, scouring and heart problems and treatment needed to be carried out by a veterinarian within 24 hours of consumption.

"It's very easy to grow and hardly requires any water so it's very popular to gardeners out west.”

Mr Tanner said mother-of-millions had been placed in a W2 plant classification, which meant farmers were compelled by law to destroy the plant.

"Noxious weeds are classified according to their seriousness and whether we can treat the plant.

"W2 means the plant must be fully and continuously suppressed and destroyed,” he said.

Mother-of millions spreads mainly by water and is difficult to kill, but chemicals used on the plant include 2,4-D, Grazon and Starane.

© 2004 Inverell Times

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