This weed species, wild tobacco, has sprung up all over the Dawn Road Reserve.
In between its leaves you can see the tiny, pink and yellow flower clusters of another pest species, lantana.

Wild tobacco (Solanum mauritianum) shrubs, which can grow up to 4m in height, can be seen in many places throughout the Dawn Road Reserve. Originally from Argentina, this weed forms dense stands and suppresses the growth of other species.

According to the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, wild tobacco likes disturbed sites and its seeds stay in the soil until stimulated by fire. However, while its ripe fruit is sometimes eaten by birds, all parts of this plant are poisonous to humans.

Source: Wild tobacco fact sheet, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

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Image: Trina McLellan