Re: Psuedacorus banned

In a message dated 6/8/2004 1:06:41 PM Central Daylight Time, rpries@sbcglobal.net writes:


Tallgrass prairies were relatively unexposed to the Cedars when they were rare, but now they quickly invade and destroy native prairie. Prairies themselves will self destruct unless they are frequently burned.


I find you post interesting as always. I have some knowledge of the Eastern Red Cedar. The community in which I live is called Evergreen and is so named because that tree dominates the area.

On occasion I burn here for various reasons. These trees are the single most susceptible tree to fire. They also have the interesting trait of producing a toxin in their needles that apparently acts as a natural preemerge herbicide. Strangely perhaps the toxin has little effect on most mature plants transplanted underneath them.

Dead needles trapped in the lower branches are a tinder box of sorts that, should flame touch them, are capable of turning the entire tree into flame in a matter of seconds as the increase heat from their burning ignites the oils found within the living tissues of the green needles. The wood if burned in a fireplace pops and sends firey embers across the room as oils in the wood heat and expand.

The tree exhibits a preference here for alkaline soils not easily colonized by other species nor does it compete well at all with other tree species. They are generally shallow rooted and short lived though the wood from a dead tree will last "forever" exposed to the elements. I find myself some surprised that it is considered invasive in other soil types.

Someday (a time often contemplated by the lazy) I hope to chip eastern red cedar and try it as a garden mulch on established plants. We know the oils in its wood repels some insects and the preemerge effects of its needles. Beyond its invasion of meadows it may possess environmentally friendly ecological benefits yet untapped.

It is man's job to make proper use of the resource provided beyond cedar chests and closets and to reap the greatest benefit from them. Once a resource's value is evident it will be depleted...... and of course government protected beyond what you encounter now. (laughin')

As a point in passing, deed descriptions from just 100 years ago in this part of the world rarely, if ever, made reference to pine trees much less Southern yellow pine. It is now the dominant tree in our Southern landscape. Many times in rows very similar to the houses they are so often used to construct. I don't care much here for neatly ordered things but see the necessity for such. Too, I suspect the burning fear results at least partly from fear of loss of both types of rows.

Smiles,
Bill Burleson
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