SEMCOG Spotlight on Invasive Species: Phragmites

[@JasbirSingh-kp2zm]

where from I can buy some dry cane for my music instruments reeds,

[@1949LA-ARCH]

Excellent video, thank you from Delaware ! Very informative ! We are fighting this nasty species also. The idiots from DENREC and our Sussex County council members do not have a f.... clue. They use to help out private land owners, but you need at least 5 acres to qualify for any financial aid. We live in The Villages at Herring Creek community in Lewes, Delaware. We have banded together to tackle this invasive species plant.

[@gnarmarmilla]

Excuse me but don’t these plants remove pollutants from water?

[@1chabod]

They might, but that's no benefit when they do so at the cost of native plants and animals. Plus, we have a native variety of phragmites that can do the same thing. The problem is that the invasive phragmites are out performing the native variety for space and resources (you know, the variety that actually plays well with the other native life that evolved along side it).

[@patman8631]

Very helpful information, I work in landscaping and a few clients want phragmites out of the salt mash on their property. Another video I saw suggested the use of heavy black plastic over an area to cook the roots rarher than using chemicals to kill them.

[@tadblackington1676]

Phragmites australis is a native species. To say that it is not is to split hairs. We portray it as an invading horde, not mentioning that we have created the perfect conditions for its growth. It quickly finds disturbed sites. It is quite salt tolerant. It explodes in growth when fertilized. So it's vigour might just be linked to our land distubance, the way we apply salt to our roads and fertilizers to our lawns and fields. Beyond that not much eats it because we have killed off all the big herbivores that might have fit the bill. Clovis points took out mastodons, mammoths, ground sloths, camels tapirs, horses and casteroides beavers. Then the elk and bison were driven out in the last couple centuries. Maybe we should get our heads around the ecology of the situation (including the benefits of phragmites) before we fill up sprayers with carcinogens and start blasting away.

[@svengalt9546]

You have the honor of being the first pro-monoculture plant person I've ever seen anywhere. And you are a liar. This particular subspecies is 100% invasive and 100% harmful to NATIVE habitats. You make some interesting points(chemical usage and native fauna you are correct about), but it's all for naught since you still end up lying and propagandizing FOR destructive invasive species. It IS an invading horde that should never have come here. Amazing that it has allies in the human race. Phragmites must be as persuasive as our dear elitist leaders who have convinced us of very similar things!

[@1chabod]

Where do you get the idea that phragmites australis is a native species to South Eastern Michigan, much less to North America? Then you follow it up with ecological changes originating from the end of the ice age. Did you bump your head on your way to the comment section? What you're thinking of is phragmites americanus, which is native to North America. Phragmites australis is classified as an invasive species because it originated elsewhere and was most likely brought into North America on ships. Before trying to preach your nonsensical advice you might want to actually get your info straight. And claiming that we have created a perfect environment for a species that is directly related to the destruction of native flora and animals is about as asinine as you can get. I don't know if you think of yourself as an environmentalist or whatever stance your claims are making, but you're the type of person that would lead others devastation and ruin, promising is the road of good intentions. Just remember: You can't see where you're going if your head is so far up your butt that you left the path at the start.

[@tadblackington1676]

@@1chabod By phragmites americanus do you mean phragmites australis ssp americanus? And does it really make much of a difference if we are talking about subspecies within a single species or two closely relsted species within the same genus? Phylogeny is a slippery field and are we fighting about a distinction that doesn't make a differece? As far as advice I don't believe I offered much beyond thinking carefully before acting. By that I stand. I am fully convinced that glyphosate and its fellow poisons are far worse for the environment than phragmites or any other "bad" plant. I also note that you are far better at heaping ridicule than you are at presenting facts my friend. The facts that I presented are facts and I stand by them. You apparently don't have any problem with them either as you didn't offer any refutations beyond some vague triggered rantings.