Note the glue. Conservationists from Pala warn against the spread of invasive plants

The PLA administration made a statement this week Website.

In recent years the silkworm has spread only in the warmer parts of Moravia and Bohemia. Originating from North America, this one and a half meter tall plant came to Europe as an ornamental species and was also used as a honey plant.

Thanks to its ability to spread easily by light fluffy seeds – of which a single plant produces approximately 1,500 and will germinate silently after five years – and thanks to vegetative propagation by rhizomes, it quickly dominates areas such as edges. Roads and tracks, meadows, vineyards, orchards or fields.

At the same time, the rhizomes are up to 1.5 meters underground. Shoots emerge from them, which can be up to 30 per square meter. When wounded, the plant oozes white poisonous milk.

“Near Mikulov, it grows on neglected land at the southern foot of the Holy Mountain or in a former military training ground. However, due to its characteristics, we may fear that it will spread further to new places, so it is necessary to intervene against it without delay until its occurrence is limited in area,” said the defenders. reported.

According to them, the timely removal of outbreaks of klejicha should be a common interest of gardeners, winegrowers and conservationists.

Klejicha has been included in the list of invasive non-native species with a significant impact in the EU since 2017, with its complete elimination on Czech territory. However, mechanical removal is not effective except in exceptions where cuttings lead to rapid growth from rhizomes. Application of herbicide is practically the only way to get rid of it. The first before flowering, in June, and the next in August and September. Interventions should be repeated over several years.

Palava PLA covers an area of ​​approximately 83 square kilometers and was notified in 1976. It is especially valued for its habitats of species-rich rock, grassland and meadow grasslands and forest meadows, as well as heat-loving oak forests and screes. Forests grew on the limestone hills of Pavlovské Varchy.