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Re: OT? NEWS: bur reed, or Sparganium erectum,

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

ADNchomi forwarded parts of an Associated Press story about the introduction
of exotic bur-reed into the United States and its subsequent sale at various
Home Depot stores in the Denver area.

I can verify the correctness of this account.  My employer, USDA's Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service, is the federal agency charged with
keeping plants on the Federal Noxious Weeds List out of the country.
Sparganum erectum got past our inspectors somehow but was spotted in some
Home Depot nursery departments on sale in Colorado.

I had not heard "35 states" or the identification of Holland as the source,
but there should be more information on the agency Website
(www.aphis.usda.gov).  When you get there, use the built-in search engine on
"sparganum" and you should find our press releases on this subject and
possibly other stuff, too.

The Federal Noxious Weeds List is managed by APHIS and all plants on it are
listed on the Website, too.

Home Depot is reported to be cooperating completely with us in the attempt
to get this situation  under control.  It's entirely possible they were not
aware of the status of exotic bur-reed.  It's not exactly a household word.

--Janet


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