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<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2>"An interesting phenomenon associated
with<SPAN> </SPAN>foreign plant communities is the virtually complete
absence of native hummingbird-pollinated plants in the areas long dominated by
tree tobacco.<SPAN> </SPAN>Such common natives as purple sage Salvia
leucophylla, and pitcher sage S. spathacea, California fuchsia Zauschneria
californica, heartleaved penstemon Keckiella cordifolius, and other penstemons
are <FONT color=#ff0000>virtually absent</FONT> from large areas populated by
tree tobacco in the south <SPAN>coastal valleys and canyons.<SPAN>
</SPAN><FONT color=#ff0000>Evidently</FONT> the ubiquitous tobacco, with its
year round production of yellow flower tubes supplying nectar, <FONT
color=#ff0000>weans away many of the local hummingbirds from the seasonal
flowers of native species</FONT>.<SPAN> </SPAN>Perhaps other plant species
"designed" to attract the hummingbird simply do not receive sufficient
pollination to maintain a local population.<SPAN> </SPAN>Where tree
tobacco is still relatively scarce in side canyons, any or all of the normal
wild hummingbird plant species usually can be found.<SPAN> </SPAN>(No
author listed, "Control of the Aliens, Unnatural Plant Communities in the Santa
Monica Mountains"<SPAN> </SPAN>FREMONTIA, A Journal of the Native Plant
Society<SPAN> </SPAN>July 1989 22-24).<SPAN> <A
href="http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/Plants%20of%20Upper%20Newport%20Bay%20%28Robert%20De%20Ruff%29/Solanaceae/Nicotiana%20glauca.htm">http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/Plants%20of%20Upper%20Newport%20Bay%20%28Robert%20De%20Ruff%29/Solanaceae/Nicotiana%20glauca.htm</A>"</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN><SPAN><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN><SPAN><FONT face=Arial size=2>APWG: The preceding statement is
specific in its assertions. Is it based on evidence or rumor? Where can I find
the evidence? In the absence of evidence, should I conclude that this statement
is solely based upon the opinion of the unnamed author, or what? Is conjecture a
satisfactory foundation for action? Are such unequivocal statements
acceptable in journals which purport to adhere to scientific standards of
publication? Should such "information" be propagated through the scientific
literature if it lacks solid evidence? How does this affect the credibility of
the issue of alien species in general? </FONT></SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN><SPAN><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN><SPAN><FONT face=Arial
size=2>WT</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></DIV></BODY></HTML>