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History and Description
The purple loosestrife
has a European origin. It has spread and
degraded temperate North American
wetlands since the early 19th
century. The plant was first brought to America
in European ship ballast.
It was used as medicinal herb for treatment of the following
things: diarrhea,
dysentery, bleeding, wounds, ulcers, and sores. Purple
loosestrife is a herbaceous
wetland perennial that grows and has a wide habitat
range. These plants can
grow up to 2m with 30-50 stems and a
wide topped crowns. They can dominate the canopy.
Uses
The purple loosestrife
was used for medicine. It was used for treatment of
the following: diarrhea,
dysentery, bleeding, wounds, and ulcers.
Reproduction
Seeds are easily
dispersed by water and mud adhered to aquatic wildlife,
livestock, and people.
High temperatures are required for successful germination.
Ecological
Threat
One of these invasive
plants can produce more than 2 million seeds annually.
Purple loosestrife is
found in all 50 states except Florida and Canadian provinces.
The invasion of
purple loosestrife into a wetland can hinder the resident
plant
community and the eventually alter the wetlands. Large
stands of purple loosestrife
jeopardized native wetland plants by eliminating natural food and cover. Dense
plant establishments in irrigation systems hinder the flow of water. By the
1830’s,
the purple loosestrife was well established along the New England
seaboard. The
construction of many inland canals and waterways into interior New
York and the St.
Louis River Valley.
Control
No effective method has been found to control
purple loosestrife, except where
there is small stands and can be
intensively managed. Uprooting this plant by hand
and making sure it is entirely
removed is the only way to wipe it out.
Some
of the other control techniques include the following: water-level
manipulation, mowing or cutting, burning, and herbicide application. Some of
these control
methods are costly, require continued long term maintenance in
the case of
herbicides, are non-selective and environmentally degrading. One of
these
invasive plants can produce more than 2 million seeds annually. Purple
loosestrife
is found in all 50 states except Florida and Canadian provinces. The
invasion of
purple loosestrife into a wetland can result in the suppression of
resident plant
community and the eventual alteration of the wetland’s and
function.
Large stands of purple loosestrife threaten
various endangered native wetland
plants by eliminating natural food and cover.
Dense plant clusters in irrigation
systems stop or slow down the flow of water.
Control
No
effective method has been found to control purple loosestrife, except where
there is small localized stands and can be intensively managed. In such
isolation,
uprooting this plant by hand and ensuring the removal of all
vegetation can completely
wipe out purple loosestrife. Some of the other control
methods include the following:
water-level manipulation, mowing or cutting,
burning, and herbicide application.
Some of these control methods are costly,
require continued long term maintenance
in the case of herbicides, and can
damage the environment.
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