Elizabeth Barrette (ysabetwordsmith) wrote,
Elizabeth Barrette
ysabetwordsmith
  • Mood: frustrated

Genetically Engineered Eucalyptus

Apparently people haven't learned the lesson "Do not introduce foreign species" from dandelions, kudzu, killer bees, etc.  Now they're introducing genetically engineered eucalyptus to northern Florida.  The gengineering was done to make the trees frost-resistant.  In other words, they removed the primary safety catch that prevents the trees from spreading.  Not a good idea.
Tags: nature, news
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  • 42 comments
endlessrarities

endlessrarities

June 9 2010, 19:26:36 UTC 11 years ago

What an earth did they want to introduce dandelions for?

Did someone have a penchant for Dandelion & Burdock???
ysabetwordsmith

*laugh*

ysabetwordsmith

June 9 2010, 20:02:18 UTC 11 years ago

>> What an earth did they want to introduce dandelions for?<<

Almost everyone has forgotten this, but dandelions are EDIBLE! The newest spring leaves are good for salad. Somewhat older greens can be cooked and eaten. The root can be boiled and eaten, or roasted and used as a coffee substitute/additive. The flowers can be made into dandelion wine, a popular folk beverage.

The problem is, dandelions are wind-riders. Those little parachute seeds go everywhere, and the plants are extremely opportunistic. Fortunately they can also be eaten by various wildlife, and the flowers are good sources of nectar, so it's not a total disaster. But as a general rule: Do not introduce anything that is pollinated and/or seed-dispersed by the wind. That means it is going to get everywhere. This is why GE corn is also an extremely bad idea, because now those GE genes are trespassing all over the world.
endlessrarities

Re: *laugh*

endlessrarities

June 9 2010, 20:06:59 UTC 11 years ago

I can think of better things to eat. Like fat hen or similar. But dandelion??!

Anyway, we're stuck with the lamentable Japanese Knotweed. Which I believe was once used by some enterprising and misguided individuals for hedging in Alabama, so I guess the good folks of Alabama are stuck with it, too...

And the rhododenron. And the sycamore. But the Japanese Knotweed is particularly bad.
ysabetwordsmith

Well...

ysabetwordsmith

June 9 2010, 20:28:08 UTC 11 years ago

The chicken originated somewhere in Southeast Asia, domesticated from one or more types of wild jungle fowl.
http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2008/02/the_origin_of_the_chicken.php
fayanora

Re: *laugh*

fayanora

June 10 2010, 00:25:45 UTC 11 years ago

Dadelion wine!
endlessrarities

Re: *laugh*

endlessrarities

June 10 2010, 16:54:12 UTC 11 years ago

I've never tried it, though it's been made famous by Ray Bradbury, who's one of my favourite authors.

My grandfather was partial to Dandelion & Burdock, which I loathed as a child...

And isn't it just typical of human beings? They'll make an alcoholic beverage out of just about anything...
fayanora

Re: *laugh*

fayanora

June 10 2010, 22:54:03 UTC 11 years ago

Indeed. At least one kind of rotgut made in Africa actually has real gasoline in it!
eseme

Re: *laugh*

eseme

June 10 2010, 02:42:52 UTC 11 years ago

Japanese Knotweed is edible. My mom makes stuff out of it (though, of course, I can't remember what right this minute). She's hoping to eventually kill off the patch near a corner of her property.
ysabetwordsmith

Re: *laugh*

ysabetwordsmith

June 10 2010, 03:02:18 UTC 11 years ago

We have met the enemy ... and it is delicious.
ysabetwordsmith

Re: *laugh*

ysabetwordsmith

June 10 2010, 03:16:34 UTC 11 years ago

We have met the enemy ... and it is delicious.
endlessrarities

Re: *laugh*

endlessrarities

June 10 2010, 16:56:54 UTC 11 years ago

Hoorah! It's actually good for something!!! Shouldn't our government in the UK be encouraging us all to eat Japanese Knotweed burgers or whatever, since we're now entering the Age of Austerity?
fayanora

Re: *laugh*

fayanora

June 10 2010, 00:28:38 UTC 11 years ago

Apparently kudzu are edible, too. Kudzu is a kind of Japanese pea.

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