invasive weeds

Japanese media are reporting on Nagae Tsuruno Geito (alligator weed), described as one of the worst invasive plants on Earth. It has been confirmed in Oita, and new research from Fukui and Ibaraki shows the plant has exceptionally high photosynthetic capacity that drives rapid stem growth. Scientists say identifying this weakness could lead to more effective control methods as the weed spreads along rivers.

A gardening column reports that beggar-ticks, a sticky-seeded weed, are rapidly taking over the writer's garden. The piece describes the plant's tendency to latch onto clothing and fur, spreading quickly through beds and borders, and offers a reflection on dealing with this persistent garden nuisance this season.