Development of Best Strategies for the Control of Butomus umbellatus L. (Flowering Rush) In Alberta
Date
2018-01-25
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Abstract
The emergent aquatic perennial, Butomus umbellatus L. is a prohibited noxious weed in Alberta. In this thesis I provide (1) the first comprehensive review on its phenology and cytotype in Alberta; (2) an examination of the effect of cytotype on propagation means and (3) an experimental test of different control methods in two infested Alberta lakes. One of the findings of this study is that a full understanding of the propagation of this species is complicated because there are two cytotypes: fertile diploids and sterile triploids. I describe in this thesis how most populations of B. umbellatus in Alberta appear to be the diploid cytotype, except for a triploid population in Innisfail.
My studies found that in diploid plants, sexual reproduction is not the primary means of spread. My results also indicate that all control methods currently in use are equally unsuccessful, largely because B. umbellatus invests so heavily in vegetative reproduction that removing the entire rhizome is difficult. Because of this life history feature, B. umbellatus will likely be most effectively controlled by quickly recognizing new populations and removing all plant material. While revegetation of a reclaimed area with indigenous plants could prove beneficial, my results indicated that B. umbellatus quickly reclaims sites that have been replanted with native species.
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Invasive species
Citation
Cahoon, L. M. (2018) Development of Best Strategies for the Control of Butomus umbellatus L. (Flowering Rush) In Alberta (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/5441