[APWG] Looking for info: Invasive Medicinal Pulls - Pairing invasive eradications with medicinal applications!

[Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov]

For some time now, I have been mulling over the idea of pairing invasive 
eradications with medicinal applications! 

Everyone from the general public to the government is into invasives 
eradication and there are a variety of ways to "celebrate" these 
eradications  - like eating them.  Take Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum 
cuspidatum), for example.  According to Annette Paluh, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Field Operations-Environemental Cleanup Program 
(Pittsburgh, PA.), a local group has been holding a Japanese Knotweed 
Festival for the past two years.  The festival includes information on 
knotweed  research, cooking demonstrations and hikes to harvest your very 
own samples (1).

Another way to handle invasives, is to process them into medicines!  There 
are many examples of  invasive species with medicinal potential - garlic 
mustard (Alliora   petiolata) and musk thistle (Carduus nutans L.), for 
instance.  A recent posting to the Alien Plant Working Group listserve (2) 
about an invasive seaweed (3) also appears to have health applications 
(4). 

With a focus on non-native invasives, you may think that this project 
would have no relation to our goal of sustainable use and conservation of 
native medicinal plants.  But, it does:  Many of the non-natives are 
invading prime habitat for our native medicinals.  It seems logical, but 
there are issues to be ironed out.  

MY QUESTION IS: Do you have experience with or more information about 
efforts in the U.S. or issues that might be informative for an invasive 
medicinal plant pull?  If yes, please e-mail me directly at: 
<Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov>.    

Thank you! 
-Patricia 

Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.
Botanist - Division of Scientific  Authority
Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working  Group
US Fish & Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite  750
Arlington, VA  22203
703-358-1708 x1753
FAX:  703-358-2276
Working for the conservation and sustainable use of our green  natural 
resources.
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>

____________________________________________________________________________
(1)

Sunday, April 23, 2006 -  Japanese Knot Weed Feast!
That's right, we're cooking heaping helpings of this rhubarb and buckwheat 
relative. In partnership with the Botanical Society of Western PA, we'll 
serve up all sorts of tasty recipes using this overly abundant wild edible 
plant, as well as other locally abundant flora. The day's menu includes 
Veggie-Knot Soup, Steamed Knotweed Sesame, Apple-Knotweed Pie, as well as 
other dishes from our skilled trip leaders and volunteers. As part of the 
presentation, you’ll learn some helpful techniques for harvesting and 
preparing wild edibles. There will also be short hikes to see and harvest 
samples of Japanese knotweed in its wild habitat, while learning about the 
plant and why it has spread so dramatically since coming to this country.
Location: Highland Park 
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM 
Cost: $10.00 member/$12.00 non-member
Organization: Venture Outdoors 

http://www.wpfi.org/activityresults.asp?month=4/1/2006&category=&past=&venonly=checkbox&interest=&week=&curpage=2

_______________________________________________
(2)

For original APWG posting, see: 
http://cpanel.wispme.com/pipermail/apwg_lists.plantconservation.org/2006-March/000584.html

______________________________________________
(3)

Professor  Finishes Maine Bay Seaweed Study ((Tue Feb 28, 8:39 PM ET))

DURHAM,  N.H. - A University of New Hampshire plant biology professor has 
documented an abundance of invasive species of seaweed in Maine's Casco 
Bay that appear to be changing the ecosystem.

See the link for the  rest of the  article: 
http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=9974

______________________________________
______________________________________
(4)

Interesting facts about the green algae, Codium fragile, mentioned in the 
article above: 

>>"These seaweed species would be suitable source of PUFA for inclusion in 
the formulation of highly unsaturated diets. "
Ustun, G., A. Ersoy, S.  Yucel, and Z. Ulger.   2005.  Fatty acid 
compositions of green  seaweeds (Codium fragile and Ulva lactuca ) from 
the  Marmara Sea.  2005 IFT Anual Meeting.  New Orleans, Louisiana. 
<http://ift.confex.com/ift/2005/techprogram/paper_30461.htm>

>>This is an interesting genus because the  cells of Codium are 
‘coenocytic’, meaning that they lack cross-walls in their  cells. As a 
result, a Codium fragile  individual measuring up to 25cm in length can be 
composed of a single  multinucleate cell!  Further, a subspecies called 
Codium fragile ssp.  tomentosoides is a highly successful invasive species 
recently introduced on  the east coast of Canada (Garbary et al. 1997). 
Full article at: 
http://www.geog.ubc.ca/~brian/florae/Seaweeds_in_British_Columbia_by_Colin_Bates.pdf 
 


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