Weeds
HOW WEEDS BECOME DISPERSED
One of the special characteristics of weeds is their talent for wide dispersal. In fact the same weed species have tended to follow humans as they migrated around the world, some unintentionally but many deliberately introduced for example Blackberry.
Castor oil plant
Weeds then are excellent at colonising new regions or whole continents, with or without help from humans and their domestic animals.
Factors Influencing the Spread of Weeds
Weeds are influenced by many factors that will determine their success. Weeds like other plants require a specific set of requirements in order to grow successfully.
The incidence of weeds is largely determined by the environmental conditions and the availability of space for a weed species to establish and grow competitively with existing vegetation.
Dispersal mechanisms are extremely important in the spread of weeds and it is this characteristic that largely determines the success of weeds in invading areas.
Weeds have evolved with some ingenious methods for dispersal, and adapted to various practices that influence their spread.
For example; seed attachments, rapid colonisation of disturbed areas, contaminate crop seeds / match crop life cycles, wind or water, attractive fleshy fruits, contaminated soil, human activity, garden / farming, waste materials, garden escapes, amenity plantings and ornamentals
Australia has exported plenty of weeds as well. Acacia spp. Eucalyptus spp. and Melaleuca spp. are just few that have become troublesome in many areas of the United States and South Africa.
Thistle
Gardenet takes no responsibility for the action and remedies provided. Whilst all information given is known to be true and correct, the decision of the recipient to use the information is at their own discretion.
Gardenet takes no responsibility for the action and remedies provided. Whilst all information given is known to be true and correct, the decision of the recipient to use the information is at their own discretion.
