“The vine eating in the south” is still an invasive threat in the US today

For a few generations, Invasive species has been a threat to American biodiversityAgricultural practices, and native plants and the ability of animals to survive.

Some are animals, from childhood and aquatic, such as Hazardous and invasive clams that cost billions of billions in damageto land mammals, such as Monkey Macaque, a colony that has attacked a state park in Florida. Don’t underestimate their impact; For example, even something small INTRODUCTION BUG BUDGETS MARMORATED TO THE COUNTRY -BILION COVER.

Invasive growth can be more troublesome, spreading far and needs various management practices to get them in control. Without natural obstacles, they grow in their home country, they have free restraints to reproduce and grow rapidly. The same goes for certain vine in the South which is more than just interruption.

Kudzu: a vineylay

This is the breakdown of one of the most famous invasive species in the southeast and how it became part of the southern history of the 20th century

Known as “South -eating vine,” Kudzu (Pueraria Montana)Or the Japanese arrowroot, is a rapidly growing grape to China, Taiwan, Japan, and India. It is known for the large and three leaf forms and purple flowers that emit a pleasant aroma and like grapes.

Prior to its western introduction, people used their roots and leaves for medicine, cloth, paper, and even flour.

A Kudzu wine is reported to grow up to one foot a day, and up to 60 feet in certain seasons, so its additional reputation is a “minute stone” plant. It can wash forests and crawl trees, destroy native growth with its density and destroy critical biodiversity in the south. It is also a nitrogen sewer, which means it can affect nitrogen cycling in the ecosystem, threatening soil quality, water quality, and even air quality.

How Kudzu ended in the United States

Kudzu, like a particular invasive species, is an intentional introduction In the United States. At the end of the 19th century, it was coveted for its decorative use, imported as seeds to be planted on balcony and meters in the southwest. Then, in response to weak agricultural practices and the era of dust bowls that damage the southern meadows, the congressman formed land conservation services and encouraged the cultivation of Kudzu seeds to fight land erosion, even paying $ 8 acres to do so.

As a result, Kudzu became a cultural staple in the south, expanding beyond only the balcony and farmland into the train and the road. There will be a Kudzu celebration as well as “Kudzu Club of America” ​​with over 20,000 members.

At the end of 1950 -an, however, a combination of uncontrolled habits and abandonment of agricultural land changed Vine’s reputation from becoming a crop of regional disruption. Kudzu has since spread the north as Vermont and as far as the West as Oregon.

Unpacked the myth of the “south -eating wine”

Kudzu gets a bad rap for his quick spread, but is the hatred allowed?

Kudzu is not the first species to be aesthetically decorative aesthetics to ecological nightmares, but it is one of the few to create a deciding heritage for its place. The Vine has been referred to in literature and southern poetry, sometimes as evidence of a permanent passion in the south despite its incredible challenges or as a background where to understand a person’s understanding of their birthplace.

There are also false reports on the propagation of Kudzu which suggests that the number of attacks is higher than the actual study, but is still accepted by scientific forums, placing the factory on the list of dangerous USDA Federation in the late 90s.

Although Kudzu is no longer on the list of dangerous USDA Federation, it is still listed as one of 13 states.

In 2015 Smithsonian magazine articleBill Finch accurately summarizes Kudzu’s complex relationship with South:

“Our obsession with vine is hiding the south.

Although Kudzu is the most famous invasive in the south, other invasive knowledge and management are just as important to maintain ecological integrity anywhere. This is a short list About what the USDA considers the “worst” of South Invasives:

• Cogongrass

• European privet

• Chinese privet

• Chinese tallow

• Eurasia water foil

• Japanese knotwood

Managing Kudzu is a multi -scale approach

Experts and citizens across the south have taken a different approach to managing Kudzu’s defeat.

Farmers, conservation, professors, and volunteers across the south have been dealing with Kudzu for years, only to keep the wines from taking over the entire area. Goat has been shown as an effective bio -control method for large areas. For individuals and volunteers, mechanical approaches such as interesting work and cutting for smaller areas as well.

You can also Eat a vine and cook in a variety of waysfrom tea and wine to fried leaves. In view of that US fish and wildlife services encourage people to eat invasive nutria miceIt won’t be the most unusual way of management.