Friday, August 10, 2007

Irish Cross

The Donegal News is reporting that the aquatic invasive plant known as African curly weed (Lagarosiphon major) has been found in yet another county in Ireland. African curly weed has been known in that country since the 1960s, but until recently there were no records for County Donegal (on the northern tip). While the discovery was made in a garden pond, it is thought that the weed is widespread and likely to enter natural habitats. Surprisingly, though this species is already known to have infested water bodies across Ireland, and in one lake has spread over more than two dozen acres, it is still available for sale as a pond plant in that country.

Bonus points to the Donegal News for using the plant's scientific name.

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