An urgent ‘do not touch’ warning has been issued about a plant that ‘explodes’ and spreads quickly across the UK, causing harm to our environment.
The Himalayan balsam, a pretty pink plant from the Himalayas, is now found all over Britain and is one of the most ‘dangerous’ species. Known as ‘touch me not balsam’, this plant is causing problems for the environment and businesses in many parts of the UK.
Each plant can produce more than 2,500 seeds which can stay alive for up to two to three years.
When the seed pods are ready, they explode if touched, sending the seeds flying up to seven metres away. Experts from Japanese Knotweed Ltd have warned that this plant is ‘one to watch’.
The rapid growth of Himalayan balsam infestations can cause big problems for landowners and those who manage land, reports the Mirror.
As more environmental trusts struggle to control or get rid of the plant, stricter controls are needed. Effective methods to remove the plant need to be used to stop it spreading even more quickly this year because of the wetter weather, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Himalayan balsam is a plant that’s not allowed to grow in the wild in England, Wales and Scotland. It’s against the law to plant it or let it grow because it can cause lots of problems.
In the spring, all its seeds start to grow. The stems are mostly green but they turn red as the year goes on.
A plant that blooms with many flowers from July to August, sometimes even from June until November, is causing issues. This is because after winter, this Himalayan balsam plant leaves behind a dead mat and is known for its rapid growth which can take over the surrounding plants.
This poses a problem especially on riverbanks, leading to their erosion. Keep in mind that this is no average plant – it’s Britain’s tallest weed.
Reaching more than three metres in height, specialists from Japanese Knotweed Ltd have shared their observation of this plant sprouting up in new places, thanks to the recent floods that swept across the UK. Since this particular plant enjoys wet soil, it’s been predominately spreading along the bank of rivers and extending onto nearby plots of land.
Here’s what these experts had to share: “With the increased flooding the UK has suffered recently, we are seeing balsam cluster in areas not previously associated with the plant. It thrives in moist soil hence it has colonised in more of the UK’s riverbanks, creeping onto surrounding land.”
There’s also another issue with this plant. It lacks a strong root system that would normally help to hold the soil together along riverbanks.
Combined with its habit of overtaking other plants with stronger roots, this leads to even more flooding. The experts warned: “Not having an extensive root system that binds river banks together, and its ability to overtake perennial plants that do have root systems destabilised our river banks, has led to flooding.”
“Seeds can float through flowing water and become attached to vehicles, clothing or footwear. This means that a single plant can have a significant impact on the surrounding habitat, causing an outbreak of Himalayan balsam within a time period of just one year.”
