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Alien Invader Plants
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CONTROL:
Difficult, regenerates vigorously from roots. DESCRIPTION: Bark white or grey with horizontal dark lines becoming rough and darker on old trunks; 2 kinds of leaves on each tree; all are dark green, shiny and hairless on the top but is shape of leaf on long shoots and suckers (underside whitish and woolly) and is leaf on short shoots (grey to green underneath); flowers found on stalked, flexible spikes fringed with long, whitish hairs, but only male flowers found in RSA, so does not produce seed. A deciduous or semi-evergreen medium to large tree. Flowering time: Spring. ORIGIN: Originates from the British Isles, central and northern France and Western Europe. WHERE FOUND/PROBLEMS CAUSED: In moist areas particularly along river banks on the coast and appears in patches to the foothills of the Drakensberg. It was used to stabilise dongas by trapping silt and hence the patches found in grassland and near railway lines. Threatens indigenous plant communities, invades riverbanks, vleis and dongas, forming dense and uniform stands, obstructing access to water and significantly increasing water loss. DID YOU KNOW: The grey poplar was introduced in the 1920's from Eurasia probably as an anti-erosion agent and for matchwood. Mature trees produce a good quality light pinkish timber but need careful management to produce suitable timber trees. The wood is used for matchboxes, joinery, furniture, crates and fuel.
This page was last edited on 23 April, 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||
