Invasive Species on the Move

The following is shared from the frequently asked questions page on the Center for Invasive Species Research website… How do invasive species move from place to place? Invasive species reach new areas outside of their home range in one of two ways: (1) self introduction on their own, or (2) with human assistance that may [...]

Invasive Plant Focus: Poison Hemlock, Conium maculatum

Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum) is noted for its toxicity. It is a herbaceous biennial plant which grows between 1.5-2.5 m tall, with a smooth green stem, usually spotted or streaked with red or purple on the lower half of the stem. The leaves are finely divided and lacy, overall triangular in shape, up to 50 [...]

Invasive Plant Focus: Russian-Thistle, Salsola tragus

Photo: Forest & Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Photo: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org Russian thistle, Salsola tragus, also known as tumbleweed, is in the goosefoot family (Chenopodiaceae). Its scientific name is Salsola tragus, but it also has been known as Salsola iberica, Salsola kali, and Salsola australis. It is a summer annual native to [...]

National Invasive Species Awareness Week 2012, Focus on Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum)

Cheatgrass: photo credit February 26th through March 3rd is National Invasive Species Awareness Week, 2012! To answer the question, “What is an invasive species?”.  Invasive species are, according to ISDA, “harmful, non-native plants, animals, and pathogens that damage our economy and environment. They include species like white pine blister rust, zebra mussels, Asian gypsy moth, [...]

What is an Invasive Plant?

Photo credit: invasive.org,  John D. Byrd What is an Invasive Plant? Answered by The Untied States Arboretum: An invasive plant has the ability to thrive and spread aggressively outside its natural range. A naturally aggressive plant may be especially invasive when it is introduced to a new habitat. An invasive species that colonizes a new [...]

Invasive Plant Focus: Heracleum mantegazzianum, Giant Hogweed

(photo by Terry English, Bugwood.org) Giant Hogweed, Heracleum mantegazzianum, is a tall (up to 15-20 ft), herbaceous, biennial plant that invades disturbed areas across both the Northeast and Pacific Northwestern United States. Giant hogweed is designated as a Federal Noxious Weed, because it produces sap that causes skin sensitivity to UV radiation and leads to [...]

Cheatgrass is Extremely Flammable!

(photo) Dry cheatgrass, nature’s kindling… Dry cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), is one of the most easily ignitable substances on Idaho’s rangelands. It is the kindling that fuels many of our wildfires. Once ignited, cheatgrass fires travel very fast…faster than you can run! Don’t start a cheatgrass fire… Cheatgrass fires have been started by catalytic converters on [...]

Invasive Focus: Berteroa incana, Hoary Alyssum

Invasive Focus: Berteroa incana, Hoary Alyssum, is a plant in the mustard family. It grows from a deep taproot and is an annual, biennial or short-lived perennial herbaceous plant with alternate, simple gray-green leaves. The foliage is rough with star shaped hairs. Young plants have a basal rosette of leaves that give rise to upright [...]

Invasive Focus: Convolvulus arvensis, Field Bindweed

Invasive Focus: Convolvulus arvensis, Field bindweed, is a perennial vine native to Eurasia. Leaves are round to arrow-shaped, 1-2.25 in. (2.5-5.7 cm) long and alternate. Flowering occurs in the mid-summer, when white to pale pink, funnel-shaped flowers develop. Flowers are approximately 0.75-1 in. (1.9-2.5 cm) across and are subtended by small bracts. Fruit are light [...]

Invasive Focus: Polygonum x bohemicum, Bohemian Knotweed

Invasive Focus: Polygonum x bohemicum, Bohemian Knotweed, are usually 6.5 to 10 feet tall, shorter in dry areas. Stems are stout, cane-like, hollow between the nodes, somewhat reddish-brown and usually branched. The plants die back above ground at the end of the growing season. However, the dead reddish brown canes often persist throughout the winter. [...]