John
Benham, weed inspector for Wellington County, is advising farmers to look for
Dog Strangling Vine weed in roadsides and ditches near their farms.
It’s a
new and aggressive weed that can poison cattle and wildlife.
It’s a
member of the milkweed family, grows into a ground-covering carpet that frosts
kill, but comes back strong.”
“It
appears as a dark green plant with opposite, oval to oblong leaves with a
pointed tip growing erect before leaning over and entwining with another plant
to start the carpet effect.
“The
flower is dark maroon with five petals forming a small star that matures into a
long slender smooth pod containing a large number of seeds that are similar in appearance
to the Milkweed seed that will be dispersed by the wind.
“The
roots are fibrous, fine and spreading, bearing buds that can produce several
shoots. Pulling to eliminate the plant
and digging must remove all the roots or it will regrow,” advises Benham.
Another
negative to this plant is that it attracts Monarch Butterflies to lay their
eggs on it, but the emerging worms are unable to feed on this plant and so
perish.
“Do not
let this plant establish on your property,” says Benham.
