Where do Noxious Weeds come from and why do they spread?
Noxious weeds normally are introduced through human activity to a location(s) outside its native or natural range. In many cases these plants have been moved into North America from another continent. They have been accidentally introduced through contaminated grain or hay, sometimes intentionally introduced for erosion control or as an ornamental. In addition, seed may be carried by birds or livestock, spread by vehicles, or brought in with contaminated fill dirt. Regardless of how they were introduced, they possess the ability to survive, propagate and aggressively invade native plant communities. For example, Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis), a native to Eurasia, was introduced to California around 1850 via South America in contaminated alfalfa seed. It is now common in open areas on roadsides, rangelands, wildlands, hay fields, pastures, and waste areas. Recent reports indicate that Yellow Starthistle infests between 10 and 15 million acres in California. Yellow Starthis
Related Questions
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- WHERE DO NOXIOUS AND INVASIVE WEEDS COME FROM AND WHY DO THEY SPREAD?
- Where do Noxious Weeds come from and why do they spread?
