Eliminate the "ecological killer", this time it is the MeeMee team that made a great contribution!

Recently, Canada goldenrod

It has appeared again in some parts of our country

Attract everyone's attention

Don't be fooled by its ordinary appearance

In fact, it is an "ecological killer"!

Image source: CCTV News

Canada goldenrod has no natural enemies in the country

Its root secretions can inhibit the growth of other plants

Listed in 2010

“The Second Batch of China’s Invasive Alien Species List”

Image source: Jimu News

But recently in Huzhou, Zhejiang

It finally met its "match"!

Is “Canada goldenrod” a flower or a grass?

Canada goldenrod

It is a member of the genus Solidago in the Asteraceae family.

Perennial herb

There are four species of Solidago in China.

In addition to Canada goldenrod

The other three are native species.

Although the name has "one flower" in it

Canada goldenrod compared with the other three varieties

But there is a fundamental difference

That is, it is not only an alien species

And it is a "domineering" invasive species

Image source: China Science Expo

There are three main reasons why it is called "ecological killer" and "overlord flower":

First, the seeds are huge in number, small in size, light in weight, and have pappus, which can drift with the wind or migrate by sticking to moving objects, making it easy to spread over a large area. In the warm and suitable southern region, more than 20,000 seeds can be produced in one growing season, sprouting nearly 10,000 seedlings.

Second, it has a strong reproductive capacity. In addition to sexual reproduction through seeds, it can also reproduce asexually, but it uses rhizomes, just like the roots of bamboo, which spread everywhere underground and quickly form a forest after two or three years.

The third is to secrete allelopathic substances that inhibit the growth of other organisms. As a plant of the Asteraceae family, Canada solidago can release allelopathic substances that inhibit the growth of other plants.

There is always a way out! Goldenrod becomes a delicacy for Zhejiang Huyang

According to Qianjiang Evening News, Xiang Jizhong, head of Wuxing Qingjing Sheep Garden Family Farm, has been engaged in Hu sheep breeding for many years. As early as seven or eight years ago, he paid attention to Goldenrod. In 2021, he contacted the expert team of Jiang Yongqing from the Animal Husbandry Institute of Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences and began to experiment with using Goldenrod as Hu sheep feed. According to research, Goldenrod is a very good Hu sheep feed, which has a cooling and detoxifying effect.

Image source: Jimu News

Xiang Jizhong introduced that goldenrod harvested at the right time has high nutritional value. Its crude protein content in the early stage of growth is close to that of legumes. Feeding it to sheep as feed is equivalent to letting them eat "braised pork".

Using goldenrod instead of feed is not only nutritious, but also economical, and the farm cost can be reduced by 40-50%. Moreover, goldenrod is eaten by Hu sheep, and then decomposed by the digestive system, so the excrement no longer contains its seeds.

This year, his sheep farm purchased large quantities of goldenrod at the price of 0.5 cents per pound, purchasing about 5 tons of goldenrod every day. At most, he could consume 7 tons a day!

How to identify Canada goldenrod?

Autumn is the flowering period of Canada goldenrod, and it is also the best time to identify it.

The way to distinguish Canada solidago from the other three native species of solidago is that the flowers of Canada solidago only grow on one side of the inflorescence, while the inflorescences of the other three species of solidago grow all around.

Left: Canada goldenrod Image source: Wiki commons

Right: Native goldenrod Image source: Chinese Plant Image Database

Left: Solidago serrata Right: Solidago obtuse

Image source: China Plant Image Database

What should we pay attention to when eradicating Canada goldenrod?

autumn

Canada goldenrod has deep roots

It is difficult for ordinary people to pull it up

It must be removed by the roots with a shovel

After shoveling, find a place to pile it up

For example, pile it on the cement road

Or put a tarpaulin underneath.

In short, avoid contact between flower spikes, roots and seeds with the soil.

Wait until it is completely dry.

Discard

This basically completes the harmless treatment.

Image source: People's Daily Online

Source: China Science Expo, People's Daily Online Science, Jimu News, CCTV.com

Compiled by: Dong Xiaoxian

END

Editor: Muzi