New Invasive Species Discovered in Texas
In
May, the observant eyes of landowners led to the discovery of a new
non-native and potentially invasive species in Texas. Dennis and Denise
Johnston came across a wildflower they hadn’t seen before on their ranch
in Burnet County. Curious, the couple enlisted the help of Bill Carr, a
Texas botanist at Acme Botanical Services. Mr. Carr identified the
plant as blue hound’s tongue, Cynoglossum creticum. This plant
has been identified in the U.S. only once before, in southwestern
Missouri. It is native to the Mediterranean area, and has the potential
to be invasive, having caused problems in pastures in some parts of the
world. While a quickly organized pulling party spent three hours
removing enough to fill two pick-up truck beds, there is still much
remaining on not only the Johnston’s property but neighboring ones as
well. Plans are being formulated to attack the plant next Spring. Learn more about blue hound’s tongue.
(Photos courtesy Bill Carr, Acme Botanical Services)
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