Roly poly

Identification and attributes

Roly poly seedlings have two cotyledons that are about 1cm long and round in section. They look more like the seedling of a grass species than a broadleaf species. The juvenile (young) plant has round, succulent leaves that can be 0.5cm to over 5cm long. The leaves on the adult plants are different to the leaves on the young plants, with the result that the young plants are often mistaken for a separate species. The adult plants have leaves that are short (usually less than 1cm), flat and taper to a spine. The adult plants are branched from the main stem and grow in a round shape. However, plants are occasionally prostrate (low growth along the ground), particularly in a saline soil type.

Single seeds form at the base of leaves. Each seed is found inside a fruit with five 'wings', although wingless fruit are also found on each plant. The fruit look a bit like small, dry flowers. Seeds shed before and after the plants die. Once the adult plant is dead, it may break free from the root system to form the iconic ‘tumbleweed’ and the wind-dispersed plants frequently travel over 1km (while shedding more seed) before becoming entangled in fence lines, vegetation or piles of other dead roly poly plants.

The images displayed on this website are the most common form of roly poly found in agricultural regions. However, this species is native and there is a lot of genetic diversity between populations. Many different forms of this species have been recorded, including variants that are perennial (live for several years) rather than annual (live for one year or less). Further, this species is commonly confused with black roly poly (Sclerolaena muricata), which has spiny burrs and is generally hairier. It may also be confused with kochia (Kochia scoparia) and tumbleweed (Amaranthus albus).

If in doubt, download 'MyPestGuide' app and make a report. Include a photo taken on your phone and in the 'Send report' field, click on 'MyPestGuide' and change it to 'MyWeedWatcher'. Alternatively, send a photo to the authors of this page.

Biology

When they emerge

Roly poly seeds have variable dormancy. There are short term after-ripening requirements as the seed finishes maturing, and then seedlings germinate following exposure to sufficient moisture. Seeds will germinate over a wide temperature range, although 11-20°C is the optimal temperature. No germination occurs over 40°C and germination is reduced at 5°C. Burial is not necessary for germination, but increases the likelihood that a seedling will successfully establish.

As seeds have little dormancy and can germinate over a broad temperature range, emergence can occur throughout the year. Peak establishment is variable between populations. Roly poly seed collected from plants at Lake Grace had peak establishment in summer. Seed collected from Morawa had peak emergence in winter. Seed from Merredin emerged in small cohorts throughout the year. All of these three populations had the same temperature range for optimal germination and yet all populations had different optimal germination times when grown at Perth. Clearly these populations have evolved differences in dormancy/after-ripening requirements in response to different environmental conditions or agronomic management regimes in the different regions.

Where they grow

Roly poly is most abundant in disturbed habitats and prefers alkaline or saline soils. However, it can tolerate a very wide range of soil types and climates. If habitats remain undisturbed for over three years (that is, a long term pasture) the roly poly population quickly declines.

Seed production

Roly poly seed production in Lake Grace and Morawa ranged from less than 100 to approximately 20 000 seeds per plant and was directly related to plant size. Between different populations, seed viability can range from less than 10% to over 90%.

The seedbank

In the event of rainfall during seed production (direct water contact with the seeds), some seeds will sprout prior to shedding. Seeds shed when the mature plant is still actively growing and then more rapidly after the senesced plant breaks off to form a tumbleweed and starts moving (not all plants break free to form a tumbleweed). A mature, senesced plant also contains younger seeds that will not initially shed (even in a thresher). These retained seeds have similar viability to the shed seeds, but have greater dormancy (due to lack of maturity). The retained seeds shed over time due to natural aging and weathering, regardless of whether the senesced tumbleweed is mobile or stationary. However, viability of the retained seed dropped to less than 2%, two months after the plant reached senescence (a decline of 79%). Since these retained seeds have such low viability, the will have little impact on the population growth rate. However, the retained seeds maintain a capacity for dispersal, as the mature tumbleweed may continue to move. The dead tumbleweed plants have been recorded moving anywhere from 1m to over 1km at Morawa. Over 10% of the Morawa population of plants blew over the (1m high) fence to move into neighbouring fields. In a dense stand of roly poly, about half of the plants become entangled with other roly poly plants before they can travel far.

An average of 19% of seed from field plants and 68% of seed from plants grown in controlled conditions germinated in the year following seed production. However, it is not known if the ungerminated seeds were dormant or had degraded and lost viability. The very thin seed coat indicates that the seed is unlikely to last long in the soil seed bank.

Why is it a weed?

Roly poly, along with a range of other species in the Salsola genus, is a prominent weed of agricultural systems internationally. Like most summer weed species, roly poly utilises soil moisture and nutrients that would otherwise be available to the following crop. The time taken to clear uncontrolled plants may delay seeding. Livestock will graze the young plants. However, they will not eat the mature plants, and are injured by the prickly leaves. This species has tentatively been linked to oxalate poisoning, but most tests indicate that oxalate levels are too low to poison sheep. Levels of oxalates and nitrates in roly poly may increase in the presence of nitrogen fertiliser or legume species. The dead, mobile tumbleweeds can become a significant fire hazard, particularly when too many plants pile up against fences or buildings. Note that as a native species, this species is not a problem in areas of native vegetation, and plays a valuable role in revegetation of disturbed sites.

Herbicide resistance

Herbicide resistance in roly poly populations has not been recorded in Australia, but it is a common problem in the USA and Canada. Mature roly poly plants can travel outside their field of origin and disperse seeds over a wide area. Therefore, if resistance is suspected, it is important to crush or burn the mature plants before they have a chance to roll away.

Tactics for integrated weed management

Knockdown herbicide options

A knockdown of paraquat (for example, Nuquat^®) or paraquat+diquat (for example, SpraySeed^®) may be more effective than glyphosate. However, mature plants can re-sprout after paraquat or paraquat+diquat application with sufficient rainfall. High rates are required to kill the mature plants growing over summer, but young plants in the juvenile vegetative stage are relatively easy to kill.

Crop

There are no herbicides registered for control in crop. However, roly poly plants are generally shorter than crop, and highly susceptible to crop competition. Therefore, narrow row spacing or high seeding rates can reduce roly poly growth in crop.

Pasture

The only registered herbicide product for pasture is 2,4-D (for example, Surpass^® 475). Heavy grazing will remove young plants, but plants may re-sprout. A Lake Grace population in a volunteer, grazed pasture did not have significantly reduced seed production compared to un-grazed pasture (28 000 seeds/m² compared to 40 000 seeds/m²). Rolling or crushing can be used to remove mature plants. Roly poly prefers disturbed soil and is unlikely to remain in a long term pasture (more than three years).

Non-agricultural areas

Products registered for non-agricultural areas include 2,4-D (for example, Surpass^® 475), imazapyr (for example, Arsenal^®) or imazapyr+glyphosate (for example, Arsenal^® Xpress) and paraquat (for example, Nuquat^®) or paraquat+diquat (for example, Spray.Seed^®).

Residue burning

The small seeds have a thin seed coat and papery wings, making them very easy to destroy through burning, if sufficient residue is available. Note that the mature plants may be a fire hazard if they roll around while burning.