Don’t Mess With Ragwort and Japanese Knotweed
Posted on February 17, 2010 - Filed Under Hobbies | Leave a Comment
If you have animals, specially horses or ponies, then you should know about the perils of ragwort. This dangerous plant is especially toxic to horses, and also other animals, and once this nuisance weed has been spread and starts to grow, it can be incredibly hard to get rid of. In truth, just one ragwort plant is capable of producing up to 150 thousand seeds, 75% of which will germinate if the seeds find appropriate soil. Worryingly, you may not know you have this problem weed growing on your land because the seeds can lay dormant for upwards of 20 years.
Another weed that is especially hazardous is japanese knotweed, which can spread surprisingly fast and has a root system that is capable of breaking through masonry. The weird, and ludicrous, thing about this destructive weed, is that it is edible – apparently having a taste not unlike rhubarb. However, it is a dangerous weed that must be handled as an industrial waste, as even the smallest piece of the tuberous root can grow into a completely new plant.
Knotweed also has other uses, for instance, it is a good source of resveratrol, (a popular food supplement, which is supposed to increase lifespan), and an first-class source of emodin (also commonly in use as a food supplement to help modulate bowel activity).
If you are unfortunate enough to have one of these dangerous wild plants on your land, you should act quickly, and should consult weed control specialists before the trouble starts to become dangerous.