INVASIVE BUCKTHORN

Giant Hogweed, Wild Parsnip, Purple Loosestrife, Emerald Ashborer, Round Gobies, Asian Carp : where does it all end? More importantly where and how did it all start? Is this the to be expected result of greater world wide travel of goods and people? Certainly the Emerald Ashborer entered Canada via wooden packing crates from China. Some of these invasive plants have been intentionally introduced from Europe including the Buckthorn. This week's Elmira Independent (Aug.4/11) has a story titled "Fighting invasive Buckthorn". It apparently is degrading diversity of other trees and plants in the Grand River watershed. Guelph seems to be the epicentre. The common Buckthorn or European Buckthorn is listed provincially on the Weed Control Act as a nuisance weed but is thriving nevertheless.