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
raindrops

raindrops

June 9 2010, 17:32:20 UTC 11 years ago

Deathmatch: Killer Kudzu vs. Evil Eucalyptus

Two plants enter! Bazillions leave. (hah, punny)
fayanora

fayanora

June 10 2010, 00:23:15 UTC 11 years ago

Kudzu would win; it would vine over the eucalyptus and kill them by blocking their sunlight.
ysabetwordsmith

Well...

ysabetwordsmith

June 10 2010, 00:34:23 UTC 11 years ago

Maybe -- but the eucalyptus oil is bad for many plants, stunting or killing them. Kudzu might be affected by that, might not.
raindrops

raindrops

June 10 2010, 12:01:05 UTC 11 years ago

It would be a tough match. I grew up in the South, I am very familiar with kudzu.

In Georgia, the legend says
That you must close your windows

At night to keep it out of the house.
The glass is tinged with green, even so,

As the tendrils crawl over the fields.
The night the kudzu has
Your pasture, you sleep like the dead.
Silence has grown Oriental
And you cannot step upon ground:
Your leg plunges somewhere
It should not, it never should be,

-- from Kudzu, by James Dickey
ysabetwordsmith

0_o

ysabetwordsmith

June 10 2010, 16:21:17 UTC 11 years ago

It occurs to me that plants have been warring with each other for supremacy, for millions of years. Eucalyptus prefers chemical warfare. Kudzu relies on ninja-like speed.

I do not think I wish to see these two in a duel. Particularly not on my continent.

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