Nevada's Harmful Foreign Flora and Alternative Native Plants to Promote
In the diverse landscape of Nevada, a variety of plants thrive, some native and some business. Let's explore some of the prominent species that can be found in this region.
The Musk Thistle, with its distinctive bracts and deep rose to purple flowers, is an invasive biennial that averages 30 to 42 inches tall. Its leaves have a pale green central vein, deep lobes, and spiny margins, characteristic of thistles. The bottom row or two of its bracts recurve, or bend down.
Another invasive species is the Knapweed, which comes in several varieties such as Russian knapweed, diffuse knapweed, and squarrose knapweed. These perennials are highly branched and can grow from one to three feet tall. They are known for their thistlelike flowers that bloom in shades of white, pink, or lavender.
Perennial Pepperweed, on the other hand, is a rapidly spreading plant via creeping roots. It grows an average of two to three feet tall and sometimes reaches heights of seven feet. This invasive species blooms dense, snowy clusters of small white flowers from early summer through fall.
In contrast, Indian Ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides) is a native grass that grows well among wildflowers. It is not invasive and poses no threat to the local ecosystem.
Saltcedar, a deciduous shrub or small tree, is also native to Nevada. It grows anywhere from five to 20 feet tall and has small, scale-like leaves with a blue-green hue. In spring through late summer, it blooms tiny, five-petaled, white to pink flowers in slender, finger-like clusters.
Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis) is another native grass that grows well among wildflowers and has seeds popular among small birds.
Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae) is an aggressive winter annual grass that grows six to 24 inches tall. It forms a spike almost as wide as it is tall in May and June, with characteristic long awns.
Lastly, Hoary Cress (Cardaria draba) is a perennial with deep roots and waxy, blue-green, lance-shaped leaves about one inch long, topped with flat clusters of tiny white flowers in spring.
While the author of the article "Invasive Plants in Nevada" is not specified, it provides valuable information about these invasive and native plants in Nevada, helping readers to identify and manage them effectively. It is crucial to maintain a balance between native and invasive species to preserve the diverse and beautiful Nevada landscape.
