| Salad Ingredient or Alien Invader? |
| Location: Along path to
Molyet Village Apartments |
| See the plant growing here with
triangular leaves that have large teeth of several sizes? It is
Garlic Mustard. Crush a few of the leaves in your fingers and see
how it earns the “garlic” name! Its scientific name is Alliaria petiolata and it is a member of the Mustard Family (Brassicaceae). The plants flower in late Spring producing numerous tiny white flowers with four petals in the shape of a cross. Sexual reproduction occurs in the flowers and then a long, thin fruit pod will develop containing many shiny black seeds -- up to 1,000 per plant. This plant is a native of Europe and was brought to the US by early immigrants who wanted to use it in their salads. The first record of it in the US is from Long Island, NY in 1868. Go ahead.. eat a couple of leaves! The garlic flavor and pungent oils typical of all mustard plants add their “punch” to a salad. PROBLEM: The problem is that Garlic Mustard is now “naturalized” in the US. That means it has thrived here and spread just like our native plants. Now it is in our forests and wetlands and threatens to drive out our more attractive and useful native species. We call such aggressive pest plants “invasive plants.” The best means of eradication is to pull up the plants before they bloom. Otherwise, each plant will produce a thousand seeds which can remain viable in the soil for 5 years. Wherever you see this plant on campus, PULL IT OUT! -- David Kramer
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