National Invasive Species Awareness Week: Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica)

This week is National Invasive Species Awareness Week! Each day this week, we will be posting information about invasive species that we have here in Clarion County now, as well as a few that are spreading towards our area that we should all be aware of to help stop the spread.

Today’s post features Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) , the tall, bamboo-like plants that are highly successful invaders of wetlands, stream corridors, forest edges, and drainage ditches across the country.

What is an Invasive Species?

https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/what-are-invasive-species

More Information on Japanese Knotweed

https://extension.psu.edu/japanese-knotweed

https://www.agriculture.nh.gov/publications-forms/documents/japanese-knotweed-bmps.pdf

1. “Japanese Knotweed”. Missouri Department of Conservation, https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/japanese-knotweed Accessed 28 Feb. 2022.

2. Dirkse, Anna. “Japanese knotweed showing characteristic bark and stems”. 2019. Marin Independent Journal, https://www.marinij.com/2019/06/21/invasive-japanese-knotweed-is-not-our-friend/ Accessed 28 Feb. 2022.

3. “Close up of Japanese knotweed seeds”. Mass Audubon, https://www.massaudubon.org/learn/nature-wildlife/invasive-plants/japanese-knotweed/images/close-up-of-japanese-knotweed-seeds Accessed 28 Feb. 2022.

4. Pesaturo, Janet. “Cutting a stalk of Japanese Knotweeds shows its hollow core”. One Acre Farm, https://ouroneacrefarm.com/2014/05/22/japanese-knotweed-identification-juicing/ Accessed 28 Feb. 2022.