Chinese Privet
Place of Origin: China and SE Asia
Place of Harm: Southeast (west to Texas, north to Massachusetts)
First Introduced: 1852
Harms: native understory plants, humans (if consumed or smelled)
Other Names: Chinese ligustrum
Taxonomy: Lamiales, Oleaceae
Chinese Privet is a perennial semi-evergreen shrub of the olive family first introduced for hedging and ornamental purposes. It is found in stream banks, roadsides, near fence rows, abandoned sites, at forest edges, and in understories. It likes moderately humid and sunlit areas, but also tolerates shaded and damp habitats. It can grow up to 12 ft tall. It is sold for ornamentals and landscaping. It spreads by producing huge amounts of berries, which are favored by birds, and creeping rhizomes. Seed stay viable for one year. It is estimated to occupy 2.5 million acres of the Southeast. The problem with Chinese privet is that it forms dense stands, shading and crowding out native species. This alters biodiversity and ecology. The plants are prolific seed producers, making the plant hard to eradicate. The berries cause nausea and vomiting in humans if consumed, and the unpleasant flower scents can cause allergies. The plant is an alternate host for the pest citrus whitefly (Dialeurodes citri). Chinese privet can be controlled with hand pulling or digging if the infestation is small, but all root fragments must be removed to avoid resprouting. Persistent mowing and cutting will control the plant but will not stop it. Glyphosate, 2,4-D, imazapyr, or triclopyr can be used for larger infestations; they should be applied foliarly in late summer or late fall (for glyphosate). Basal bark/cut-stump may work better in other cases. A fungal leaf spot, Pseudocercospora ligustri, and a common root crown bacteria, Agrobacterium tume-faciens, are known to attack privet. Flowering occurs from April to June, followed by fruits. Fruits mature from summer to March, starting green and turning black. Each contains 1-4 seeds, which have a germination rate of 5-25% and have soil viability for about a year. Birds readily consume the fruits, spreading them around. The plant can also spread with creeping rhizomes. Similar native species include inkberry (Ilex glabra). The plant is used for hedges in many lawns. Ligustrum was first named by Carl Linnaeus.
Place of Origin: China and SE Asia
Place of Harm: Southeast (west to Texas, north to Massachusetts)
First Introduced: 1852
Harms: native understory plants, humans (if consumed or smelled)
Other Names: Chinese ligustrum
Taxonomy: Lamiales, Oleaceae
Chinese Privet is a perennial semi-evergreen shrub of the olive family first introduced for hedging and ornamental purposes. It is found in stream banks, roadsides, near fence rows, abandoned sites, at forest edges, and in understories. It likes moderately humid and sunlit areas, but also tolerates shaded and damp habitats. It can grow up to 12 ft tall. It is sold for ornamentals and landscaping. It spreads by producing huge amounts of berries, which are favored by birds, and creeping rhizomes. Seed stay viable for one year. It is estimated to occupy 2.5 million acres of the Southeast. The problem with Chinese privet is that it forms dense stands, shading and crowding out native species. This alters biodiversity and ecology. The plants are prolific seed producers, making the plant hard to eradicate. The berries cause nausea and vomiting in humans if consumed, and the unpleasant flower scents can cause allergies. The plant is an alternate host for the pest citrus whitefly (Dialeurodes citri). Chinese privet can be controlled with hand pulling or digging if the infestation is small, but all root fragments must be removed to avoid resprouting. Persistent mowing and cutting will control the plant but will not stop it. Glyphosate, 2,4-D, imazapyr, or triclopyr can be used for larger infestations; they should be applied foliarly in late summer or late fall (for glyphosate). Basal bark/cut-stump may work better in other cases. A fungal leaf spot, Pseudocercospora ligustri, and a common root crown bacteria, Agrobacterium tume-faciens, are known to attack privet. Flowering occurs from April to June, followed by fruits. Fruits mature from summer to March, starting green and turning black. Each contains 1-4 seeds, which have a germination rate of 5-25% and have soil viability for about a year. Birds readily consume the fruits, spreading them around. The plant can also spread with creeping rhizomes. Similar native species include inkberry (Ilex glabra). The plant is used for hedges in many lawns. Ligustrum was first named by Carl Linnaeus.
Essential Question
"Could a genetically engineered invasive species potentially be used in warfare?"