Re: Weedy Grass - Ehrharta calycina
- Subject: Re: Weedy Grass - Ehrharta calycina
- From: R* S*
- Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 05:16:40 -0700
This species was actually intentionally brought to the US by the US
Department of Agriculture. People working with them developed a variety
they named "Mission", which was released in 1962. Their website now
lists it as "certified seed not available". I don't know if it was ever
commercially sold here or not. It is rumored to have escaped from some
researchers in Davis, California. It can be removed from gardens by
consistent weeding. A little Roundup, judiciously applied, also helps.
Miss any seed heads, and it comes back, however. It is probably
impossible to eradicate in wildlands - seems to be a problem in
australia as well. I did see reference to a paper that reported on it
not being able to establish in California where there was at least 60%
chaparral coverage, with the speculation that inhibiting chemicals in
the dead leaves of chaparral shrubs kept it at bay. Seems to do well
with no water - (which is why the bureaucrats probably wanted to get it
grown here in the first place.)
p.k.peirce@att.net wrote:
> Yes, it grows all year, and makes seeds all year. It can be kept out
> by pulling all seedlings, but once it has taken over an area, it takes
> a lot of pulling to get rid of the seed reservoir. It is, at least,
> relatively easy to pull. There is more than one species, and I do not
> know which we have or which you have, but I think they behave
> similarly.
