Invasive plant life is growing

As an Adopt-a-Stream coordinator in Columbia County, I am frequently traveling through the woods and wetlands to get to our streams. As an entomologist as well, I look for "close encounters of the forest kind."

The writer of a recent newspaper article on cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica) noted that it is a very invasive weed, now in some southern counties of Georgia. The intent of the article was to make us keep on the lookout for it, report it and stamp it out. Both cogon grass and kudzu - also mentioned in the article - have been considered good forage, but obviously our cattle are not eating enough of either.

While I have not yet seen cogon grass locally, a Central American plant, leafflower (genus Phyllanthus, with more than 600 species assigned to it), has encroached on lawn grasses, violets and even some lantanas locally. In the past three years or so, I have observed it as far north as Livonia, in upstate Georgia.

Although there may be three or four in the area, there are two species most evident to me. They are likely P. urinaria and P. tenellus. P. urinaria is by far the more aggressive. Possibly, just as global warming has encouraged the establishment of fire ants at more northern latitudes, so may it be making our states more habitable for the leafflower.

Only recently have I noticed the growth of milk-vetch (Astragalus) in the Evans wetland area adjacent to Reed Creek and Furys Ferry Road. I am not sure of the specific species. Its growth was so rapid and so pervasive that I found it impenetrable after only a month. I am worried about is invasiveness.

We need to be alert for all of these plants. Descriptions can be found on internet Web sites. You may wish to report your findings to me atjopagr@comcast.net, or to your county extension agent - Sid Mullis in Richmond County, Charles Phillips in Columbia County.

John Graham, Evans