Murderous Plants?

even plants aren't strict vegetarians.

TRIFFIDS! RUN!

William Haskins said:

even plants aren't strict vegetarians.

Click to expand...

Wouldn't that make them cannibals if they were? Brrr... cannibal plants.

The only thing I saw plants kill last year was Mark Walhberg's career.

And, god willing, M. Night Shamalamadingdong's too.

dclary said:

The only thing I saw plants kill last year was Mark Walhberg's career.

And, god willing, M. Night Shamalamadingdong's too.

Click to expand...

What?? Ah Mr. Grinch. . . .

Bird of Prey said:

What?? Ah Mr. Grinch. . . .

Click to expand...

Here's the reference, BoP. Sorry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIQ21m1Ks08

Zoombie said:

TRIFFIDS! RUN!

Click to expand...

Oh, plants are neat. They can actively hurt each other (walnut trees produce juglone, which inhibits other plants), feed on each other (mistletoe is a parasite), make aspirin when stressed, warn each other, eat bugs & more, and so many other crazy things. Thanks for the article. I should blog about it.

Actually when you compare the way plants compete against each other, they make animals look like a bunch of pacifists. I remember watching a National Geographic special one time on the plant life in the Amazon, and it was ridiculous how competitive the plants were when it came to their being a hole in the canopy.

Worse are the invasive plants. Here in ther upper Midwest we've battled Honeysuckle and Buckthorn for decades - they invade native forests and take over.
Worse, in my opinion, is Garlic Mustard - it'll take over an entire forest and may even prevent new trees from growing. It's difficult to control because the seeds can remain viable in the soil for 5 years or more.
I had it in my backyard 10 years ago and I'm still fighting it. I've got the upper hand, but can't relax.

kudzu.


That used to be a building, a house, I think.

The trees used to have branches. Kudzu grows so heavy and thick that it snaps the branches off.

And it's almost freakin' everywhere.
Here's one from Australia.

Bindweed is from the Devil himself. Twines itself around everything and starts choking it. Very difficult to ever get rid of - roots go down 6'+, hundreds of thousands of seeds in a small area, pieces broken off can create new roots, seeds last a long time...

Morning glory is also horrid, at least here in CA. Sends underground roots all over and creates new vines. I've ripped it out several times and yet, still is here.

Williebee said:

kudzu.

That used to be a building, a house, I think.

The trees used to have branches. Kudzu grows so heavy and thick that it snaps the branches off.

And it's almost freakin' everywhere.
Here's one from Australia.

Click to expand...

princessvessna said:

Bindweed is from the Devil himself. Twines itself around everything and starts choking it. Very difficult to ever get rid of - roots go down 6'+, hundreds of thousands of seeds in a small area, pieces broken off can create new roots, seeds last a long time...

Morning glory is also horrid, at least here in CA. Sends underground roots all over and creates new vines. I've ripped it out several times and yet, still is here.

Click to expand...

Can either one of you guys name the vine with the bright orange roots? It only just took hold here in Southern New England about 10 years ago. It's a real bitch to get rid of. When you yank the vines up out of the lawn, the roots are the brightest neon orange you ever saw. It's the same shade of orange that highway construction signs use.

I live out in the West, so haven't seen it (I dont think?). But is it Asian bittersweet vine (Celastrus orbiculatus)? Depends on if it's thorny or not.

http://landscaping.about.com/cs/groundcovervines1/a/bittersweet.htm
http://www.boston.com/yourlife/home/articles/2007/10/18/hunting_a_colorful_enemy_in_the_yard/