RogerPeffer wrote:

> I thought (sometimes I get in trouble for doing that) I read somewhere that
> PL also reproduces via shoots along its roots. Could someone report on
> this??? If that is the case then pulling seems almost fruitless if you
> can't get all the roots. Are there any natural diseases or parasites to
> this obnoxious stuff?

The plants form a gnarly rhyzome form which the shoots sprout. Lots of roots
spread out form this forming a mop-shaped mat which stabilises the plant in
the soil. Sometime runners extend from the root mass from which I assume help
colonise and area, particularly if it is very wet and seeds would have trouble
setttling. If the ground is soft, (slow) pulling will rip up the entire
plant except for the smallest roots. Sometimes the stem will break off and the
root nodule has to be dug up. The roots are just below the surface so there's
no problem in getting at them.

I don't know of any natural diseases/predators. Perhaps one will emerge from
the local fauna but it may take time. For instance slugs seems to be starting
to take an interest in Scot's Broom (pers. comm.) so perhaps they might start
grazing on broom seedlings - who knows.


Stuart