Posted on 07/12/2005 4:41:28 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
.................Invasive plants can weaken biological diversity and transform the look of the land.
Japanese knotweed, or Fallopia japonica, is one of the more nightmarish members of this group, botanists say, because it is hard to get rid of and it spreads quickly.
....Knotweed thrives in areas that have been disturbed, such as land used by people, who trample plant beds and create trails, causing native plants to wither, said Peter Del Tredici, a senior research scientist at the Arnold Arboretum.
''These plants aren't intrinsically evil," Del Tredici said. ''They are just taking advantage of the disturbance humans create."
Park officials started listing knotweed as a problem plant about 20 years ago, but the movement to ban the weed gained momentum only about five years ago, Del Tredici said. ''Before, people used to see weeds as harmless," he said. ''Now, there is a real awareness about the effects they have on the environment."
Many park officials and conservationists are struggling to find a way to eradicate or contain knotweed growth in the Emerald Necklace. While some advise constant mowing of the weed and careful disposal of the stems, such care requires staffing that the parks department lacks, officials said.
....''We haven't found a technique that is environmentally sensitive, cost-effective, and just plain effective," she said. ''We experiment with different things in different places, but we haven't found an answer yet."
Though herbicide has been touted as the most effective way of getting rid of knotweed, park officials said it is too expensive and can be toxic to soil and other plants. Boston stopped using herbicide about three years ago, Dyson said. Brookline uses it sparingly, Chute Gallentine said.
....................Overwhelmed park officials are hoping for state help. ...
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
Kudzu is evil. Never let anyone convince you otherwise.
Japanese Knotweed is a member of the buckwheat family and the young shoots are fine eating. They are highly nutritious for humans and herbivores.
Sounds like Kudzu. An import from Japan. I was planted here by the local/state government to prevent erosion. Baka. Its a relative of the bean and pea plants but does not bear fruit. Instead it grow up to 1 foot a day and strangles anything in its way.
I = It in my last post.
I did not plant it here!
I know about kudzu.
The more "experts" try to fix things, the worse things can get.
Second on my own list after kudzu, is Japanese honeysuckle. Not nearly as tough or as fast growing as kudzu, if you give Japanese honeysuckle a chance to really get going, after a couple of years, you have a real mess...
This ain't just about kudzu or zebra mussels.
If you think the Endangered Species Act is tyrannical, wait until your friendly federal gestapo bureaucrat gets the green light to go on your property and declare your tomato garden, dog, cow, lawn, rose bush, peach tree, or prized orchid as invasive species.
And demand their removal.
This will be the third leg in the Marxist attack on private property.
"We've come for your tomato plants and Bertha's Mussels."
It isn't so much about loving nature. It's mostly about hating people. Why, uniquely among the animals, our evil touch causes plants to die.
I'm amazed you have that picture. That was my house in the center. Now the nightmares are going to start again! :-)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.