[MAIPC] FW: Impatiens balfourii, invasive Himalayan balsam in England, Economist article on invasive species
John Ambler
john.ambler at verizon.net
Fri Dec 11 19:28:45 PST 2015
Hi Tom,
There is a nice 2-page article discussing invasive organisms in The Economist , December 5th-11th 2015 issue pages 59-60. http://www.economist.com/news/international/21679447-nobody-likes-interloper-invasive-species-are-more-benign-generally
The cover advertises it as “In praise of invasive species” but it really is not about praise. It does start out:
“Himalayan balsam is a wonderful plant. It grows fast, shooting up flimsy stems that can rise to ten feet. Its pretty pink flowers are adored by bees. Best are its seeds, which explode dramatically when touched. A clump growing by a stream will keep a young child happy for half an hour.
“Wonderful, too, are the men and women who gather twice a week in Otter Valley, in south-west England, to destroy this plant. Tramping through woods and swamp, they pull it up before its seeds mature. Patrick Hamilton, their leader, declared war on balsam in 2010 and beats it back a little farther every year.”
The article goes on to substantial and interesting discussion of invasive species and some of the work being done to control them in various places.
It sounds like the Himalayan balsam (Impatiens balfourii) which you found should be removed and reported.
John Ambler
Original messages in chronological sequence.
From: Richard Gardner [mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com
]
Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2015 6:19 PM
To: John Ambler
Subject: plume poppy
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com>
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> John,
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com>
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> What is the invasive status of plume poppy? I saw a stand today on Blue Mountain. What is the attached plant? It has a purple/white flower similar to jewel weed in shape..
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com>
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> Tom
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com>
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com>
_____
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> From: John Ambler <john.ambler at verizon.net>
To: 'Richard Gardner' <rtgardner3 at yahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2015 10:12 PM
Subject: Impatiens balfourii
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> Hi Tom,
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com>
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> Thanks for the beautiful photo. Since it looks like jewelweed, I checked Balsaminaceae in Plants of Pennsylvania. Besides
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com>
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> Impatiens capensis (orange flowers, spotted jewelweed or touch-me-not, very wet areas, maybe more acidic sites) and
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> Impatiens pallida (yellow flowers, pale jewelweed or touch-me-not, moist wooded areas and stream banks),
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> Impatiens balsamina is also described.
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com>
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> Impatiens balsamina L. NOT THIS.
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> Pubescent, up to 0.8 m tall.
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> Leaves oblanceolate, serrate.
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> Flowers purple to rose or white, single or paired in the leaf axils.
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> Spur of flower and fruit pubescent.
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> Cultivated and occasionally seeding itself in waste places or fields.
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> Flowers in summer.
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> Native of Asia.
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com>
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> I looked at Google Images and your plant is not Impatiens balsamina.
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com>
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> But there were links to other Impatiens. Yours is Impatiens balfourii. There are lots of photos on Google Images that look just like your flowers and leaves.
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com>
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> Here is a description from Botanica, a book which has just about every ornamental plant.
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com>
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> “A native of the Himalayas, this frost tender annual species reaches 24-36 inches (60-90 cm) in height and has a spread of 12 in. (30 cm). In all but very cold climates, Impatiens balfourii will self-seed, thus becoming a prominent summer and fall (autumn) feature.
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com>
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> “Its flowers are a combination of white and rich mauve. The leaves are alternate, recurved and ovate to elliptic
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com>
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> “Seedlings should be thinned each year to allow space for those left to mature properly. Zones 10-12.”
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com>
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> Where did you see it? Was it growing in the wild?
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com>
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> John
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> From: Richard Gardner [mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2015 7:40 AM
To: John Ambler
Subject: Re: Impatiens balfourii
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> John,
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com>
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> Thank you. I found this plant on the Appalachian Trail between Bear Rocks and the Knife Edge in a small area on top of the narrow ridge. I was walking from Bake Oven Road surveying American Chestnut trees (6200+ so far). There were just a few plants. If it is from the Himalayas I wonder how it ended up in this remote location.
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com>
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> I will send a note to EDDSmaps and imapinvasivesPA about Macleaya cordata. It was a small stand beside the dirt Bake Oven Road on the south side of the mountain.
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com>
<mailto:rtgardner3 at yahoo.com> Tom
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