In 1937, a botanical garden in Tahiti planted an ornamental tree; today, a single tree can produce 8.9 million seeds and threaten Queensland’s World Heritage rainforests July 24, 2026 at 11:17PM

An ornamental tree planted in Tahiti in 1937 now poses a serious biosecurity threat. This invasive miconia species aggressively invades forests and smothers native vegetation. A single mature tree can produce millions of seeds, rapidly spreading across landscapes. Queensland's World Heritage rainforests face irreversible ecological damage from this plant. Early detection and eradication efforts are crucial to protect these precious ecosystems.