Author Archives: Sylvan Kaufman

South American Invasive Plants

I’m in Argentina for six weeks, and it’s been interesting observing what species invasive here are well-known to me from North America.  One of the best ways of predicting species’ invasiveness is by knowing if they are invasive elsewhere after … Continue reading

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Invasive Plants and Biodiversity

Finally a study specifically addresses why some invasive plant studies show a decrease in biodiversity, and some show an increase or no change in biodiversity.  Not surprisingly, scale matters.  If you walk through a forest heavily invaded by non-native shrubs, … Continue reading

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Which Eucalyptus are High Risk?

Eucalyptus are being considered as possible biofuel and timber crops in tropical and subtropical parts of the United States.  A group of researchers assessed 38 Eucalyptus species currently being tested and cultivated in the U.S. for their risk of becoming … Continue reading

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Maryland’s new invasive plant regulations

Maryland has posted its regulations for assessing plant invasiveness.  These regulations will be used to develop a two tier list of invasive plants.  Tier 1 plants will be banned from sale, and Tier 2 plants will be labeled as invasive. … Continue reading

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Is Perilla frutescens spreading?

In the mid-Atlantic people seem to be noticing large patches of beefsteak plant, Perilla frutescens, this year. This mint plant is used as an Asian herb and ornamental with its ruffly purplish leaves.  I’ve seen it growing in sun to … Continue reading

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Escape and hybridization of a genetically modified invasive plant

Back in 2002 Scotts Company planted Roundup resistant Agrostis stolonifera (creeping bentgrass) in a trial field in Oregon.  The genes moved in pollen carried by the wind to wild Agrostis stolonifera and A. gigantea plants up to 21 km away. … Continue reading

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Plants evolve greater phenotypic plasticity in invaded range

I’ve been interested in the expression of phenotypic plasticity by invasive plants since studying Melaleuca quinquenervia population genetics for my dissertation.  Often invasive plants seem to be able to grow in a wider range of habitats and perform better in their … Continue reading

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Defeating garlic mustard

For those of you faced with small patches of garlic mustard, or if you have access to a lot of volunteer labor, a new study  illuminates the best times to pull or cut plants.  Plants pulled before any seeds begin … Continue reading

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