This is Bindii also known as Onehunga and Jo-Jo weed

distribution of bindii or onehunga in Australia

Bindii (Soliva sessilis).

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Bindii is also called Jo-Jo Weed or Onehunga. It is infamous for its tiny sharp-pointed seeds and is a good indicator weed of compact soils.

For more information, please check out our weed ID chart.

Bindii is often confused with carrot weed. However, the key difference is that carrot weed produces pale yellow flowers on the end of stalks in early Winter, whilst Bindii flowers much later, and has no flower stalks.

After you finish reading this, you will be able to:

Identify bindii, Jo-Jo or Onehunga.
Know the habitat of Bindii.
Know the best cultural and chemical options to control Jo-Jo.

Onehunga is an annual weed that appears from May to October. It grows low to the ground and spreads quickly. The seeds sit dormant in the soil from the previous year and then germinate.

The distribution Map is courtesy of The Living Atlas of Australia.

Young plants have a low-forming rosette, and the leaves look like carrot or parsley leaves. As the plant matures, the stems spread sideways and produce small yellow flowers.

These then form seed heads, and it is these that contain the small spiky seeds. At this stage, the seeds can be transported by machinery, foot traffic and pets.

As the new growing season arrives and temperatures increase, the plants die out. This results in hard spiny prickles that tend to drop in early to mid-Summer.

Bindii causes bindii dermatitis, which is an irritant contact dermatitis thar results from injury by the seed.

The best way to control Onehunga is when you treat it as soon as you see it, and before the spiky seeds form.

Bindii Identification.

Onhunga is a low-growing and fast-spreading weed.

Photosynthetic Pathway: C3 Weed

Category: Broadleaf (Dicot).

Flower: Onehunga has small, bright yellow flowers that are not on stalks.

Height: It grows up to 50mm in height.

Reproduction: Bindii reproduces only by seed.

Comments: Onehunga spreads up to 150 mm and has small, parsley-like feathery leaves.

Habitat: Jo-Jo is a good indicator of soil problems. It thrives in full sun or partial shade in compact, stressed, worn, or bare areas.

How to remove Bindii from your lawn.

Both cultural and chemical control will remove Bindii from your lawn and turfgrass, but you will get the best results with an integrated approach.

Cultural control of Bindii.

Hand pull or use a weeding tool. As it favours compact soils, a compaction relief program helps to manage this weed. Also, bear in mind that keeping N up to your turf helps deter this weed, so make sure you fertilize properly.

Another key to controlling Bindii is to mow at the right height for your turf species.

Properly maintaining a turf area through these cultural practices, promotes dense and vigorous turf cover, and allows it to better compete with weeds.

Chemical control of Bindii.

The most important factor to effectively control Bindii is to apply post-emergent herbicides in the early Winter prior to flowering and seed set. This is because this weed becomes difficult to control once the burrs form.

There are several post-emergents for Bindii control. We recommend 2,4-D, Dicamba, Duke 100WG, ProForce Recondo, Warhead Trio, Casper Herbicide and Contra M. (Do not use Contra M and Casper on Buffalo grass).

Treatment is best over the entire area rather than spot treating, with Bindii being dead 7-10 days after you spray.

Non selective options include Glyphosate (Rapid Fire 800), Numchuk Quad and Cortex Duo.

If you use Glyphosate and water quality is an issue then we recommend the use of ProForce Manta Ray.