On Sun, 30 Jan 2011 20:04:57 +0000, Rusty Hinge
wrote:

Jake wrote:
pruned bits

Let's not forget that gardeners introduced Japanese Knotweed,
Hilalayan Balsam, the so-called "Oxford Ragwort" and others. OK, maybe
the last was introduced by botanists not gardeners.

I understand Oxford ragwort to have arrived in ships' ballast, M'Lud.

AFAIK it was first introduced into Oxford Botanical Gardens whence it
escaped, hence it's "Oxford" name. It's not currently a problem as far
as I know.
ortunately, Japanese knotweed requires both sexes to set seed, and (ATM)
only the female plants are feral.

Well the stand near me has advanced about 10 yards in the last year,
despite being chopped, burned, sprayed and whatever. Must all be
female then. It seems to be spreading underground, not by seed above!

I'm worried about the "being" that's being released to combat
knotweed. If the experiment succeeds knotweed will presumably cease to
be a problem but then a horde of "beings" will look for an alternative
food source. It's called evolution I think.

Biological controls control, they don't eradicate, or the control would
be commiting suicide.

I understand that the young shoots of J.K. can be eaten in the same
way(s) as rhubarb - a very useful biological control...

Great as long as you're preparing your food on the same "plot" as the
weed. It's illegal to move it off your land without a licence. I don't
want to wait until it covers the remaining 80 yards and hits my garden
before experiencing the delights of knotweed salad! I may not like it!

But this is the dilemma. I'm worried about "it" and I'm equally
worried about the "it" released to control "it".

OTOH, the world's going to end next year, I believe, so why worry
;-)))

Cheers