Known also as prickly saltwort, it is a native species found throughout Australia.
Like most summer weed species, roly poly uses soil moisture and nutrients that would otherwise be available to the following crop. The time taken to clear uncontrolled plants can delay seeding. Livestock will graze the young plants, however they will not eat the mature plants and are injured by the prickly leaves.
The dead plants can break off at ground level, forming the ‘tumbleweeds’ seen in movies. When out here in July, and the strong Westerlies were blowing, they crossed the highway in their thousands. What it remarkable is that then hit by an oncoming truck, we could see them explode into thousands so small pieces. Wow!
Here is what they look like on the road:
Where the roley poleys were, we planted a cache.