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Who is this the invader that is attacking Texas wildflowers?
This year, I am certain many of you have seen large displays of a bushy plant with small yellow flowers. In past years, I had seen sporadic small displays of this plant which I thought was India mustard.
This year, I have seen entire fields and roadsides covered with this yellow bushy plant. Through the help of a member of my Master Naturalist chapter, I was able to get in touch with Dr. Damon Waitt, senior botanist at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Dr. Waitt identified this plant as common giant mustard (Rapistrum rugosum) [...the plant has some other not-so-nice names which the forum software will not allow me to use], an invasive species introduced into the USA, possibly via contaminated grass seed.
The large spreading rosettes of the common giant mustard rob other seedlings of needed sunlight thus ensuring elimination of its competition. Research at the Wildflower Center is sheading some hope for controlling common giant mustard with firewheel/indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella).
It seems the common giant mustard gains control of abandoned farm and ranch lands. To me this is another indication why it is important to encourage the use of native plants to help restore neglected land.
For more information about this dangerous invader see:
http://www.wildflower.org/?nd=forecast
http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/raru1.htm
http://www.texasinvasives.org/Invasives_Database/Results/Detail.asp?Symbol=RARU
RichO
Hunting Texas Wildflowers
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