If the plant you are refering to is also called "pampas grass" in New Zealand, it is a brilliant storm shelter plant, cattle love it and is unequalled as pig shelter. When composted it demonstrates its capacity as a phosphorus accumulator. This could be why it grows so prolifically on phosphorus deficient soils. Negatives: older bushes burn with a fierce heat and is very difficult to extinguish ----- Original Message ----- From: "Roger Pye" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, August 26, 2002 1:15 AM Subject: Re: Weeds
> Rex Tyler wrote: > > >great to hear that, at last someone knows what he's talking about I have > >studied so called wild plants for years and eaten many of them as food > >at last some light! > > > Rex, has your study revealed to you any characteristics of plants, wild > or otherwise, which could be of use in demonstrating that the usefulness > of them goes beyond the accepted or expected? For example, serrated > tussock, a fibrous grass which originated in South America, is > classified as a noxious weed in South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and > the United States. The reason for the classification is that stock > animals will only eat it as a last resort (ie, when there is nothing > else edible at all) and then because of its composition (about 92% fibre > + 4% protein + 4% moisture) they cannot draw enough sustenance from it > to maintain life no matter how much they consume. In some animals, the > fibre blocks the gut preventing anything else from going through. > > But that's the 'downside' - and in this case, the downside is a killer; > ST is the Number One noxious weed in Oz, kill on sight etc. (Makes > little difference, the chemicals used, which include Roundup, only kill > the current plant, have no effect on the seed bed, and each mature plant > can dump 100,000 seeds a season which may remain dormant for up to 40+ > years. BD ST peppers have been shown to do a better job.) > > The 'upside' is that ST is a fantastic erosion-stopper - a ground cover > which will grow in the poorest soils, protect and hold them together. It > also makes great mulch. Incidentally, it's inhibited by common gorse > (ulex europa), another noxious weed; the two will not grow together. > > I have an embryo plants resource reference (currently in Excel) which I > am putting together using information gleaned from all over the place.To > name a few - the Ohio Plant Dictionary, > http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/, > http://www.geocities.com/nutriflip/Naturopathy/, books about herbs & > weeds, Culpeper's original writings and so on. There are currently 500 > plants in there. Some of the info's pretty sketchy. This is the type of > info I'm aiming for : Common Name - Burdock; > Botanical Name - Arctium Lappa; > Other Names; > Planet - Venus; > Treatment For or Uses - Acne,Gout,Arthritis,Eczema,Blood > Purifier,Itch,Uric Acid,Builds Liver Health,skin diseases, flu, tonsilitis; > Description - A rapid blood purifier, a diuretic, and good for ulcers. > Aids the pituitary gland, keeps waste moving out of a weak body, and > expels kidney and bladder stones. Reduces calcium deposits in the joints. > > Banana Peel - Fixes phosphorus, potash. Bury around rose bushes for > stunning blooms.. > > Canada Thistle - growth inhibited by alfalfa, red clover. Assist > inhibition by clipping thistle growth thrice per growing season. > > Sunflower - this plant has been sown thickly in radiation-affected areas > around Chernobyl. Believed to absorb radiation components such as > strontium and break down into harmless substances. > > Tall fescue - grass native to Southern Canada. Absorbs petro-chemical > wastes and converts them as above. > > I welcome any info on plants regardless of whether they are classified > as 'weeds' or not. > > roger >
