Re: Weedy Grass - Ehrharta calycina

Thanks for the background on this pest. It loves the
cracks in the sidewalks in my neighborhood (Western
Addition, SF). BTW, What's its native climate? Med or
other? 'Veldt' is such a generic common name.
-Jason Dewees


--- Richard Starkeson <johnsaia@dnai.com> wrote:
> 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.
> 


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