Japanese knotweed or Polygonum cuspidatum
- Subject: Japanese knotweed or Polygonum cuspidatum
- From: E*@aol.com
- Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2003 00:44:53 EST
<A HREF="http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/";>Click here: Foraging With the "Wildman"
</A>
Here is a fun link for the well known knotweed which comes up annually on
most plant lists.
The UMass biology dept. had a display entirely on polygonum with potted
plants at various sizes. Those that knew of this plant were astonished at
the light hearted treatment of polygonum and those not treated to it's
presence near their gardens were attracted. On the page above, the link
shows recipes for eating polygonum. Featured was the polygonum and apple
pie. Polygonum (Fallopia japonica) was photographed growing in every
unimaginable place including high up in a tree.
Owning a property which has a good stand of this plant kept from growing
through the building by a lawn mower, I was impressed with the world wide
interest in Polygonum cuspidatum. I have never been able to use any of it's
relatives without fear. If one would live up here, the variegateds mostly do
not, I would dig it out in a year or two because I could not trust it. Here
is a UK site where the plant is currently ID'd as Fallopia japonica:
<A HREF="http://www.ex.ac.uk/knotweed/";>Click here: Japanese Knotweed Control Forum for Cornwall</A>
This site states (and also the UMass exhibit) that knotweed is the single
most invasive plant in England. There are councils formed to combat it.
They mention that it can do 7 meters underground and reappear. I think that
it can do better than that having seen it cross a railroad track. Here is
another page offered which is constructed solely to deal with knotweed:
<A HREF="http://fisher.bio.umb.edu/knotweed/";>Click here: The Japanese Knotweed Page: Research on Fallopia japonica and
Related Species</A>
This page suggests all relatives may be a problem. And finally, we were
given neat bookmarks to use in our catalog reading on Polygonums with the
reminder to steer clear of it. Still one can make an interesting vegetarian
soup from knotweed.
No actors or recreations this year. It must very difficult to come up with
fresh ideas yearly. Marvelous and inspiring garden art and architecture.
You could have a wonderful garden and forget the plants while gazing at all
this art. The weather was in the middle 60's and the sun was shining. We
still have lots of snow inland but the coast was looking much better. There
were more seeds than I have seen in one place and a welcome change of pace
from weekly snow and freezing temps.
Claire Peplowski
NYS z4
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PERENNIALS
