Leafy Spurge
by Gene Gade
THIS
PLANT WITH YELLOW FLOWERS THAT DOMINATES THIS PASTURE IS CALLED LEAFY
SPURGE. IT MAY LOOK BEAUTIFUL, BUT IT IS
AN AGRESSIVE AND TENACIOUS WEED THAT INFESTS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES IN
WYOMING AND COSTS LAND-OWNERS AND TAX PAYERS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EACH YEAR.
LEAFY
SPURGE HAS AMAZING CHARACTERISTICS THAT ALLOW IT TO SURVIVE AND SPREAD - THIS
FLOWER, FOR EXAMPLE, PRODUCES SEEDS IN CAPSULES: WHEN THE CAPSULE MATURE, THEY EXPLODE AND
THROW THE SEED AS FAR AWAY AS 20 FEET.
SPURGE
SEEDS CAN ALSO PASS UNHARMED THROUGH THE DIGESTIVE TRACTS OF MAMMALS AND BIRDS
OR BE SPREAD IN THE MUD ASSOCIATED WITH ANIMAL HOOVES, TIRES, AND MACHINERY.
LEAFY
SPURGE ALSO HAS AN INCREDIBLE SYSTEM OF ROOTS AND UNDERGROUND STEMS THAT ALLOW
IT TO SPREAD FROM EXISTING PLANTS.
IN
JUST A FEW YEARS, A SINGLE PLANT CAN SPREAD TO COVER ACRES IN THIS WAY--TOTALLY
CROWDING OUT THE DESIRABLE PLANTS - RUINING HABITAT FOR BOTH WILD AND DOMESTIC
ANIMALS.
LEAFY
SPURGE IS ALSO FILLED WITH FOUL-TASTING MILKY SAP THAT KEEP CATTLE FROM EATING
IT.
THE
GOOD NEWS IS THAT RESEARCH BY THE UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS
HAVE DEVELOPED TOOLS THAT CAN BE USED TO HALT THE SPREAD AND REDUCE THE AMOUNT
OF LEAFY SPURGE.
RESEEDING
GRASSES THAT COMPETE WITH SPURGE IS ONE TOOL .
BILLIONS
OF TINY BENEFICIAL FLEA BEETLES HAVE BEEN RELEASED AND THAT FEED EXCLUSIVELY ON
LEAFY SPURGE.
THE
BATTLE WITH LEAFY SPURGE WILL NEVER BE OVER, BUT WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS. I'M GENE GADE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE.