Frozen Weeds!
 

Every time we get a hard freeze, a certain kind of weed in my yard gets
little columns of ice around the stem (see link below). Anybody know
the story behind why this happens? I surmise that the plant puts off a
lot of water vapor through the stem, but that's just a guess.

Merry Christmas to all.

http://powdercoatoven.4t.com/Misc%20...ew%20Page.html
--
Gary Brady
Austin, TX

The top of the plant is not visible but it is probably Frostweed, a
Verbesina. The water in the stem freezes first but the roots remain
active and continue to send water up the stem where it reaches the
blocked zone - so the stem "explodes" with the expanding water.

This is a common plant around here.

On Thu, 23 Dec 2004 15:07:32 GMT, Gary Brady
wrote:

Every time we get a hard freeze, a certain kind of weed in my yard gets
little columns of ice around the stem (see link below). Anybody know
the story behind why this happens? I surmise that the plant puts off a
lot of water vapor through the stem, but that's just a guess.

Merry Christmas to all.

http://powdercoatoven.4t.com/Misc%20...ew%20Page.html


Rusty Mase

Wild looking, whatever it is!

"Rusty Mase" wrote in message
...
The top of the plant is not visible but it is probably Frostweed, a
Verbesina. The water in the stem freezes first but the roots remain
active and continue to send water up the stem where it reaches the
blocked zone - so the stem "explodes" with the expanding water.

This is a common plant around here.

On Thu, 23 Dec 2004 15:07:32 GMT, Gary Brady
wrote:

Every time we get a hard freeze, a certain kind of weed in my yard gets
little columns of ice around the stem (see link below). Anybody know
the story behind why this happens? I surmise that the plant puts off a
lot of water vapor through the stem, but that's just a guess.

Merry Christmas to all.

http://powdercoatoven.4t.com/Misc%20...ew%20Page.html


Rusty Mase

Definitely looks like Frostweed. Annoying plant, seeds out and
spreads like mad. I am constantly having to battle the stuff, I can't
seem to get the upper hand on it, I have neighbors with the stuff so
thick you'd have a hard time walking through it.


On Thu, 23 Dec 2004 09:40:01 -0600, Rusty Mase wrote:

The top of the plant is not visible but it is probably Frostweed, a
Verbesina. The water in the stem freezes first but the roots remain
active and continue to send water up the stem where it reaches the
blocked zone - so the stem "explodes" with the expanding water.

This is a common plant around here.

On Thu, 23 Dec 2004 15:07:32 GMT, Gary Brady
wrote:

Every time we get a hard freeze, a certain kind of weed in my yard gets
little columns of ice around the stem (see link below). Anybody know
the story behind why this happens? I surmise that the plant puts off a
lot of water vapor through the stem, but that's just a guess.

Merry Christmas to all.

http://powdercoatoven.4t.com/Misc%20...ew%20Page.html


Rusty Mase

On Thu, 30 Dec 2004 14:51:01 GMT, Andyd wrote:

Definitely looks like Frostweed. Annoying plant, seeds out and
spreads like mad. I am constantly having to battle the stuff, I can't
seem to get the upper hand on it, I have neighbors with the stuff so
thick you'd have a hard time walking through it.

I am making a guess here but the irritating one is Goldeneye, a
species of Viguiera. It has yellow flowers whereas Frostweed has
white flowers. Frostweed tends to be a tall(er) understory herb
whereas Goldeneye comes in dense stands commonly in the open and tends
to kill out other plants growing around it.

Rusty Mase

No, definitely frostweed. I have tried to seed Goldeneye (Viguiera
dentata) in my yard (I like the way it looks in the area when it
blooms in Sep-Oct), even starting some out in potting soil and then
transplanted, but the deer around my place mow it down, it doesn't
stand a chance. The frostweed seeds out tremendously, and on the hill
above my place it is very, very thick. The deer don't touch it. Some
of my neighbors that neglect their yard have it invading their lawn.
I have to weedwhack it, if I let it go too long I have to go at it
with a bladed weedwacker, it gets too woody to get with a stringed
weedwacker.

andyd

On Thu, 30 Dec 2004 09:32:19 -0600, Rusty Mase wrote:

On Thu, 30 Dec 2004 14:51:01 GMT, Andyd wrote:

Definitely looks like Frostweed. Annoying plant, seeds out and
spreads like mad. I am constantly having to battle the stuff, I can't
seem to get the upper hand on it, I have neighbors with the stuff so
thick you'd have a hard time walking through it.

I am making a guess here but the irritating one is Goldeneye, a
species of Viguiera. It has yellow flowers whereas Frostweed has
white flowers. Frostweed tends to be a tall(er) understory herb
whereas Goldeneye comes in dense stands commonly in the open and tends
to kill out other plants growing around it.

Rusty Mase