Wed Nov 21 2007 - 16:09:41 PST

Contents
1. Bunias orientalis--hill mustard (Wisconsin, USA)
2. Don't plant a pest brochure (California, USA)
3. Conyza bonariensis--a glyphosate-resistant weed (California, USA)
4. Observations on Miscanthus sinensis (Kentucky, USA)
5. Epilobium hirsutum help needed (Colorado, USA)
6. A few herbicide questions (Nationwide, USA)
7. CIPM seeking new director (Montana, USA)
8. Have you checked the meeting listings lately? (Global, Planet Earth)
9. Poetry (Global, Planet Earth)

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1. Bunias orientalis--hill mustard (Wisconsin, USA)
From: Mark Renz (mrenz(at)wisc.edu)
 
Jerry Doll and I have been tracking a new invasive mustard called hill
mustard spreading throughout the southern part of Wisconsin. The major
infestations is in Green county near Monroe, but another patch was found in
Lafayette county last year. Here is a link to a fact sheet that discusses
this species and provides characteristics and pictures to help with
identification. Key traits to help differentiate it from other mustards are
its robust yellow flowers and "warty bumps" on the stems.
http://ipcm.wisc.edu/Portals/0/Blog/Files/17/280/Hill%20Mustard%20Fact%20Sheet%20MR.pdf

(Note from Barry: This is an old posting from May 2007 that I just found,
but may be of interest to those in the Midwestern USA)
 
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2. Don't plant a pest brochure (California, USA)
From: Elizabeth Brusati (edbrusati(at)cal-ipc.org)
 
A new "Don't Plant a Pest!" brochure is available from the California
Invasive Plant Council. Aimed at the growing interest in water gardening,
it describes alternatives to pond margin and bog plants, floating and
rooting emergent species, and submerged plants. We would especially like to
distribute the Aquatic Plants brochure to agencies and other organizations
that manage waterways in California, as well as local watershed groups. A
pdf of the brochure is posted at:
http://www.cal-ipc.org/landscaping/dpp/brochures.php.
 
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3. Conyza bonariensis--a glyphosate-resistant weed (California, USA)
From: Barry Rice (brice(at)ucdavis.edu)
 
Glyphosate resistance has now been reported for hairy fleabane (Conyza
bonariensis) in south central California. In laboratory tests, plants
survived applications 8X to even 16X the labeled application rate. There
are, currently, 13 species of plants worldwide with glyphosate resistance,
and the use of "RoundUp Ready" crops will probably encourage heavy herbicide
applications, resulting in the development of resistance in other species.
For more information:
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/NEWS/hairy_fleabane-news.html
 
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4. Observations on Miscanthus sinensis (Kentucky, USA)
From: David Taylor (dtaylor(at)fs.fed.us)
 
In parts of eastern Kentucky, this species has invaded rocky roadcuts,
fields and roadsides, sometimes covering 15ha or more. It is currently
spreading into the Daniel Boone National Forest in the Red River Gorge area
along system hiking trails and along roads. In one area, it has taken over
wildlife openings and is spreading into burned forest.
 
We have successfully dug this species out by hand (volunteers). It may be
that the variety we have has short rhizomes. Small plants, including all the
rhizomes, can even be pulled up by hand. The rhizomes are short (at least in
the fall), 1cm or less in length. We have had no regrowth of the species in
dug areas, but it is back-breaking work.
 
The grass burns violently and very hot. In large areas of infestation, it
becomes a danger for wildland firefighters. Near a house, it is probably a
liability in the event of fire. I have noticed that at least with early
spring burns, the center of the clump will hold heat and coals and sometimes
burn the growing shoots out of the middle, leaving a donut.
 
Some varieties appear to be sterile, especially a variety that keys to
Miscanthus sinensis var. gracillimus in Hitchcock and Chase (Manual of
Grasses).
 
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5. Epilobium hirsutum help needed (Colorado, USA)
From: Kelly Uhing (kelly.uhing(at)ag.state.co.us)

Does anyone have experience or knowledge of effective controls for
willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum)? A patch was just confirmed in Jefferson
County CO. I've been researching this on the internet and have found sites
for identification but nothing for control.

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6. A few herbicide questions (Nationwide, USA)
From: Sunny Himes (slhimes(at)yahoo.com)
 
Perhaps some of you out there could help me with the following questions:
 
1) How long is the herbicide, Arsenal AC, soil active? How far will it
spread through soil from the spot of application?
 
2) I'm finding that an application of 20% glyphosate to cut stumps of Rosa
multiflora (multiflora rose) is not killing the plants. I am seeing stump
sprouts the next year. I wonder if the timing of application or the amount
of time between the cut and the application of the herbicide are
significantly contributing to the problem.
 
3) What chemical and methods do you think work best to kill Ailanthus trees
that do not need to be felled?
 
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7. CIPM seeking new director (Montana, USA)
From: Mandy Tu (imtu(at)tnc.org)
 
The Center for Invasive Plant Management, Montana State University, is
seeking a talented and enthusiastic individual to promote ecologically sound
invasive plant management by facilitating collaboration and communication
among researchers, educators, and land owners/managers. Screening begins
December 15, 2007.
For more information and instructions:
http://www.montana.edu/level2/jobs.html
 
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8. Have you checked the meeting listings lately? (Global, Planet Earth)
From: Barry Rice (bamrice(at)ucdavis.edu)
 
Since the USDA National Invasive Species Information Center (NISIC) does
such a great job of keeping exhaustive lists of upcoming meetings, I remind
you that we don't send out meeting announcements on this listserve. But that
means you must look yourself, to see if anything approaching is of interest.
Some very interesting meetings are on the horizon!
NISIC Meeting Listing: http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/news/calendar.php

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9. Poetry (Global, Planet Earth)
From: Barry Rice (bamrice(at)ucdavis.edu)
 
For better or worse, the Aliens listserve has been buzzing with invasive
species poetry lately. For your benefit (or torture), I provide one item
culled from the many, credited to Cheri Marsh, Master Gardener...

It looked so pretty,
There in the ditch,
So I moved it to the rockery,
In a little niche .
It loved the sun, the water, the care,
it flourished, it bloomed and had seeds to spare.
The sprouts, they were many, all over the place,
I moved them again, now my walkway they graced.
My friends all admired them, and gladly I shared,
for the beauties abounded, I had plenty to spare.
They seemed to enjoy all my loving attention,
so I transplanted more, too many places to mention!
I was proud as punch of those pretty flowers,
as I watched them spread, almost by the hour.
then one day Terry Weedboard stopped by for a visit,
so I pointed it out and asked, "What the heck is it?"
"Oh my gosh, it's noxious, you'll have to spray!"
and with that one little sentence, he ruined my day.
This story, it's true, and 'twas mournful for me,
the day St. John's Wort succumbed to the 2,4-D.