Legacy bulbs-desirable plants or weeds (Alberto Castillo)

Kathleen Sayce ksayce@willapabay.org
Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:42:29 PDT
".........growing in the same hardiness zone you garden in, be very wary

> of introducing it to your garden. Colder zones might be safe........."
>

              That's right, but plants can show a surprising  
adaptability. Here in Argentina, Iris pseudacorus, atlhough not a  
bualb, a cold climate species, has invaded the subtropical wetlands  
where it chokes all other forms of vegetation with a mat of rhizomes  
and is moving south into cooler regions. Besides fulminant vegetative  
reproduction it sets plenty of corky seed that floats around and with  
the rains sail away to anchor in new locations to be colonized.  
Catastrophic.

Some plants are thugs no matter what. Not only does Iris pseudacorus  
disperse by freshwater, it is also at least moderately saltwater  
tolerant. In my area, it comes down the Columbia River and out to the  
ocean beaches, along the beaches, where we find seed pods and seeds  
regularly. So far, no demonstrated spread to other estuaries, but  
it's a matter of time. Thankfully, it does not establish on the ocean  
beaches; it needs a fresher (brackish) situation to grow.

Kathleen


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