Author Archives: Sylvan Kaufman

Updated Florida Non-Native Plant Management Guidelines

The University of Florida IFAS Extension has published a revised edition of “Integrated Management of Nonnative Plants in Natural Areas of Florida” by K. A. Langeland, J. A. Ferrell, B. Sellers, G. E. MacDonald, and R. K. Stocker (SP 242).  This … Continue reading

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Stop the seeds, stop the spread? Sterile burning bush developed.

Researchers at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station  have painstakingly developed a sterile triploid cultivar of Euonymus alatus, winged burning bush.  This ever-popular landscape plant has created dense thickets when it escapes into forests.  The process for developing the sterile cultivar is … Continue reading

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Swallow-wort leaf-eating beetles for biocontrol

Two moths have passed a major test towards becoming approved biocontrol agents for swallow-wort vines (Vincetoxicum spp.).  Swallow-wort is related to milkweeds, but these moth larvae appear to specialize on swallow-wort and don’t touch native milkweeds.  http://www.northeastipm.org/about-us/publications/ipm-insights/swallow-wort-biocontrols-pass-test/

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Could Phragmites be a major allergen?

Two University of Minnesota researchers propose that the rapid spread of Phragmites australis around urban areas could be responsible for high levels of allergenic pollen.  Currently most people are simply tested for allergies to grass pollen without differentiating different species … Continue reading

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Herbicide resistance in weeds

The current issue of Weed Science (vol. 59 issue 3) includes several articles on the growing resistance of agricultural weeds to herbicides. Several plant species show resistance to glyphosate, commonly used in invasive plant control. Some agricultural weeds can become … Continue reading

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Lyme disease, Japanese barberry and flame throwers

Two Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station researchers have been spending a lot of time among the barberry.  One frequently cited study of theirs links the prevalence of Lyme-disease carrying ticks with Japanese barberry infestations.  Another study discusses control techniques including herbicides and … Continue reading

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Posted in Berberis thunbergii, New England | 1 Comment

New uses for Japanese honeysuckle

There is always controversy about finding uses for invasive plants because you don’t necessarily want to turn them into a commodity in their non-native range, but here are two uses for Japanese honeysuckle that I recently learned about: 1. Using … Continue reading

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Texas Invasive Species Citizen Science initiative

A partnership of organizations in Texas has put together a citizen scientist program for reporting invasive species across the state.  The web site has online training tools and a handbook as well as a section on information for individual species, … Continue reading

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