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Pop
Platinum Member
 England
3051 Posts |
 Posted - 13 Jul 2013 : 09:19:17 AM
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A couple of years ago I split a field with post and elec tape. One side was grazed regularly, the other not so much, I grew it for winter. The well grazed side is fine, but on the other side a plant has moved in, in abundance. I pulled up loads last year, but its hard work. It seems to have stayed away quite well where I pulled it, but not completely. I tried spraying a patch, nettle strength weedkiller doesn't kill it, stronger does, but I don't want to use weedkiller.
The picture of a row of them shows how they develop, they start light green, then go darker, and then go a purple colour. sometimes they grow straight up and sometimes they bush out. They are on a 2ft x 2ft paving slab, so you can see the size of them.
Anyone know what it is and great ideas on how to deal with it.
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Edited by - Pop on 13 Jul 2013 09:24:28 AM
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Judith S
Platinum Member
Wales
15686 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2013 : 2:37:19 PM
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A Triffid ? Sorry I am being silly, must be the sun :D Off to find my wildflower book! |
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Pop
Platinum Member
England
3051 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2013 : 6:18:11 PM
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Thanks Judith, yes, they are triffid like, perhaps I should pot them and sell triffid plants on eBay....hmmmmm....
You would be amazed how many people I've asked, and not one has the faintest idea what it is.
I've noticed that if they have eaten round it, it seems to go sad looking, but when surrounded with grass its very happy. |
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Edited by - Pop on 13 Jul 2013 6:18:44 PM |
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ali bali
Gold Member
Scotland
641 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2013 : 8:04:24 PM
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| Hi Pop, no idea what it is sorry! But from what you've said if you don't want to use weedkiller I'd suggest grazing that field heavily for a couple of years. Sounds like grazing makes the environment hostile to it. It'll probably reduce naturally over time that way? Just a thought, it'd be a nice easy labour free solution! Best to identify it first and make sure its not poisonous.... |
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Judith S
Platinum Member
Wales
15686 Posts |
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Pop
Platinum Member
England
3051 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2013 : 08:42:43 AM
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Thanks Ali Bali, I do need to know what it is to make sure its not going to harm them; but they really don't like it. In the small section of it I've made as starvation paddock for Wilz, still they won't go near it. And when I pull up am arm full of it and Powneeee sees me coming, she marches over with intent to eat it, but sniffs and looks very disappointed. Even sheep won't eat it.
The Paddock with it in is very well sheltered, so good for winter, and I sectioned it partly because it has a Public footpath going thru it, so not good for summer. For a few years its been grazed a bit in the summer and then left for winter.
Think I will leave them on there until its eaten right down, the weeds are impossible to pull with grass round them anyway.
Its bad enough to convince me to weed killer, but Powneeee is a bit of an 'Inky' and she thinks electric tape is a toy. She believes that anything fixed is only fixed so that she is entertained by working out how to unfix it; so I cannot risk her getting in there.
There are two styles for the footpath, and Pownee sees people climbing over it and if there isn't much grass, she will give it a go, she has climbed over it before. So I cannot leave them till its too bare.
Oh Judith .... maybe someone borrowed it :( |
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Judith S
Platinum Member
Wales
15686 Posts |
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Pop
Platinum Member
England
3051 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2013 : 10:08:34 AM
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Thanks Judith, someone else suggested that, its close but not it. I should have said, it doesn't really flower.
The last picture of the head of it is how it is just before it dries up and dies. And the line of them shows how they progress, after that, they just wither and die.
I guess I'm trying to work out how they spread, so I can limit that. Could it be (and sorry if this sounds daft) that where the flower should be its a little seed pocket? Certainly doesn't look like its spreading via the root.
Will try to get a better picture, it does look like a tiny flower is about to appear, but nothing happens. |
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viola
New Member
France
27 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2013 : 11:25:56 AM
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Hello Pop I am a newby here- I,ve been a lurker for some time (years) and always thoroughly enjoy my 'me time' on arabianlines- often with a glass of rosé wine in my hand of an evening.
I have just looked through my book of flowers to have a go at identifying your mystery plant(I garden for a living here in France). I suspect that what you have in your field is woundwort (not sure which one, sorry). I can,t find anything else that resembles it , you might have to wait to see what colour the flowers are to wait and see.
Hope this helps . Cheers
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viola
New Member
France
27 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2013 : 11:32:15 AM
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| Nope forget that, I was being a numpty! sorry. |
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viola
New Member
France
27 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2013 : 11:51:24 AM
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| What about loosestrife? This is bugging me now |
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ali bali
Gold Member
Scotland
641 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2013 : 1:29:16 PM
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Powneeee is a bit of an 'Inky' and she thinks electric tape is a toy. She believes that anything fixed is only fixed so that she is entertained by working out how to unfix it; so I cannot risk her getting in there.
There are two styles for the footpath, and Pownee sees people climbing over it and if there isn't much grass, she will give it a go, she has climbed over it before.
yup know right where you're coming from, gotta love 'em tho! |
Edited by - ali bali on 14 Jul 2013 1:44:03 PM |
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Judith S
Platinum Member
Wales
15686 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2013 : 3:03:08 PM
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| Well I found my book (Marjorie Blamey's Wild Flowers by Colour - most excellent little book) & have spent a very pleasant hour perusing its pages.... but I am abso none the wiser as to your Trifids Maybe take a sample to your local garden center & see if they have any ideas? |
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Pasch
Platinum Member
2277 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2013 : 5:20:17 PM
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There you go Pop you discovered a new plant specimen,how will you call it?  |
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Kharidian
Platinum Member
England
4297 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2013 : 5:53:07 PM
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Well, if the aptly named Viola can't identify it.........
Caryn |
Kharidian (Prince Sadik x Khiri)........ Alkara Cassino (H Tobago x Rose Aboud)
aka "Roger".................................... aka "Chips"
     
The first image is from an original painting by Pat Shorto.
South-East Essex |
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Pop
Platinum Member
England
3051 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2013 : 7:31:55 PM
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Thanks everyone;
And thanks Viola, welcome to AL. No more lurking eh?
At first my objective was to discover what it was, any dangers, and how to best deal with it. However, I have asked so many people, and nobody knows; its become an irritating mystery.
Everyone has said wait for it to flower and then we will know, but I'm sure it doesn't.
I think we should call it Juriffid for now.
Here are some in situ pictures, with a Small wired Haired Jack Russell as a size reference.
They are later stages ones, on their way out, I think its the dry weather sending them crispy.
P.S. On the picture where you can see trees/wood in the background, the trees look as thou they are almost touching the ground but its the land which drops away down a slope, they don't grow under those trees, including about another 10 feet out from the tree canopy, That area is completely clear of them as you go down the slope to the wood.
P.P.S, sorry Dog groomers who post on here, yes, I did exactly what you are thinking, pinned her down and snipped at her with scissors. So now she is a 'Lesser Wired Haired Jack Russell'. |
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Edited by - Pop on 14 Jul 2013 7:42:54 PM |
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Vik1
Platinum Member
1711 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2013 : 7:42:19 PM
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| Ive seen some of them in our fields too. Not anywhere near as many as that. cant help with what it is though. Asked at the yard and no one knew either. |
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Pop
Platinum Member
England
3051 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2013 : 7:53:59 PM
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Aaaaaarrrrhhhhhhh, nobody knows
"yup know right where you're coming from, gotta love 'em tho!"
Apparently, she climbed over the style, found a nice patch of grass and stopped for lunch, a tractor came by and she followed it all interested and puzzled, a couple of neighbours went to rescue her, but she wouldn't let them catch her (very strange, I cannot get rid of the nosy parker), then herded her onto their lawn; where she destructively awaited my arrival. And then I spent a good couple of hours divot pressing and apologising. |
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Judith S
Platinum Member
Wales
15686 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2013 : 9:21:16 PM
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OMG I see what you mean now .... wow lots of it !!!!
Mmm agree Juriffid would be a cool name
I think you need to get your local tame botanist onto this one!!!! |
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Pop
Platinum Member
England
3051 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2013 : 9:28:42 PM
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How to I find a local tame botanist (or a local botanist who I can tame)
P.S. I've got about an acre and a half of that !!!!! |
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Edited by - Pop on 14 Jul 2013 9:33:07 PM |
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Judith S
Platinum Member
Wales
15686 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2013 : 9:32:24 PM
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| Umm...... waggle your weeds about & I am sure one will come a running |
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Judith S
Platinum Member
Wales
15686 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2013 : 9:33:19 PM
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| Do you have any nature trusts in your area?? |
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Pop
Platinum Member
England
3051 Posts |
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Judith S
Platinum Member
Wales
15686 Posts |
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Pop
Platinum Member
England
3051 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2013 : 10:16:53 PM
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I've found a Botany Forum, that might be the place to go, bit scary thou. What if the Juriffid is endangered? Before the Juriffids moved into that paddock, some white daisy things which smelt horrid moved in, so I pulled them up and some walker stopped and started ranting at me about habitats for endangered insects or something. He got quite excitable.
So hes going off on one about smelly white daisy's. Can be dangerous work this paddock maintenance. |
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Goldenmane
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4964 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jul 2013 : 07:18:34 AM
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| Any allottments nearby, the holders can be a fount of knowledge, as local. |
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Anyone know what this is and how to deal with it?
