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February 07, 2006

Giant Garlic Mustard Tap Roots

Check out these monster tap roots on this garlic mustard that I pulled from the creek bank! Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is an invasive weed that invades forested communities and edge habitats. It was first thought to have been introduced to North America as a cooking herb. As a biennial, it produces basal rosette leaves during its first growing season and then bolts during its second growing season to produce copious amounts of seeds. In fact, garlic mustard spreads exclusively by its seeds, mostly via floodwaters and also on humans, animals, and vehicles. The seeds can remain viable in the soil for at least seven years, but if control measures are taken to prevent the plants from setting seeds its spread can be prevented. We have quite a few infestations of this invasive species at LREC. Staff, volunteers, and even students will continue to pull garlic mustard during the months of October through March before it starts setting seed in April. Staff is also exploring other ways in which we can actively control this species, one of which is spraying select infestations in the early spring. Ultimately, enlisting other watershed neighbors in managing this species and other invasives is the only way to slow the source of seed influxes on our property. A challenge for all of us to work together!

Posted by Jennifer Brown on February 7, 2006 10:58 AM

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