Weeds of Western Australia - Berkheya thistle (Berkheya rida (Thunb.) Bol. and W. Dod.)

The first official record of Berkheya or Hamelin thistle in Western Australia was in 1909. A specimen in the State Herbarium bears this date along with the vague locality of near Bunbury. With little doubt it was gathered from the Hamelin Bay area in the vicinity of Cape Leeuwin. Ships carrying timber to South Africa used the Hamelin jetty during the early years of this century and the introduction of Berkheya thistle from that country, its native habitat, was associated with this timber trade. As the ships arrived in ballast, which was dumped before loading commenced, roots or seed probably arrived by this means