Invasive Plants of the US

Burdock has crazy velcro like burs ... that stick all over you and your animals. It is a medicinal plant too. But don't start thinking this is a good plant. Its invasive and can take over.

Yellow Toadflax is also known as butter and eggs. I looked at the this plant in the Rocky Mountains, near Breckonridge, CO.

Willows are weedy species. See us find them from an airboat. Host this time is our sexy Leah!

Kudzu has been called King of the South. I stop briefly along the side of the road in east Texas to marvel at this VERY problematic invader.

Eurasian watermilfoil is causing huge problems around the world. Watch me go Underwater with this plant.

This week I come to you from the Science and Natural History filmmaking department at Montana State University, where I'm processing video that a friend sent to me from the island of Hawaii.

Jaime Jelenchick and Rob Nelson present the Melaleuca trees as shot from the forests behind the University of Hawaii on Oahu, Hawaii.

Miconia is a very distructive weed on tropical islands. Its easy to recognize by the purple on the undersides of the leaf

This snapdragon has been called 'wild snapdragon' or 'butter and eggs'. It is a stout plant up to 1.2 meters tall. There are large yellow flowers on the ends of the stems. These flowers have a prominent spur projecting from the back of the petals.

Related species: Yellow toadflax looks very similar but is generaly smaller and has leaves that are narrow an lance-shapped that do not clasp the stem (like in dalmation toadflax).

Interesting facts

Dalmation toadflax is an invader native to the mediteranean region. Today it is mainly a problem in the northern and western states of the US. Toadflax had been used for centuries as a folk remedy and a dye.

Biological Control

A few different types of biocontrol have been used on both dalmation toadflax and yellow toadflax including a defoliating moth (Calophasia lunula), an ovary-feeding beetle, and two seed capsule-feeding weevils (Gymnaetron antirrhini and Gymnaetron netum).

Do you know much about Hydrilla, one of the United states worst weeds? Rob gives a quick introduction to what this plant looks in its underwater environment.