CHINESE TALLOW -
An invader in Wolf Prairie!
Scientific Name: Triadica Sebifera
Type of Tree: Deciduous Tree Height: Up to 60 feet Tree Diameter: Up to 3 feet Leaf Characteristics: Heart-shaped leaves, 1-2.5 inches wide Seed Characteristics: Three-lobed fruit, popcorn-looking seeds Locations Found: From Texas to Florida, North Carolina to Arkansas |
Fun Facts!
|
How does the Chinese Tallow affect prairies?Chinese Tallow are an example of an invasive species. They are rapid growing trees that have infested the United States and competes with native species. Fallen branches release toxins that acidify the soil, which kill off different natives species. The tree destroys high biodiversity in prairies, like the gulf coastal prairie, and it diminishes the rapidly decreasing prairie. The tree can produce more trees with just fallen branches in dirt.
Wolf PrairieWolf Prairie is an acre and a half that has many native and invasive species located behind Westside High School. It helps students understand the importance of biodiversity in the gulf coastal prairies because of the diminishing prairie land. Biodiversity, which is threatened by the invasive Chinese Tallow, is important because it improves water quality and helps ecosystems resist the effects and pressure of pollution. Biodiversity should be maintained because biological resources is what runs the human life and the lack of such resources will affect medical discoveries, hunger, economic developments, and even the responses to climate change.
|
Chinese Tallow management in Wolf Prairie
The purpose of the elimination of the Chinese Tallow is not also to improve biodiversity, but to also restore the native prairie habitat itself. Prairies are meant to be flat grasslands not a forest. So the elimination of trees in general, not just the Tallow, are necessary to restore the prairie habitat. The purposes for restoring the prairie habitat was to protect water quality and quantitiy with their ecosystem services. Prairie habitats improve water infiltration, increase water supply due to reduced erosion and sedimentation, and increase water quality from the lack of herbicide, pesticide, and fertilizer.
What does this mean for you?
Plant native!
Before you add trees to your landscaping, check to make sure they belong in our area. Your local nursery can advise you on native species that will work in your landscaping.
Plant native!
Before you add trees to your landscaping, check to make sure they belong in our area. Your local nursery can advise you on native species that will work in your landscaping.
Sources
- http://www.texasinvasives.org/plant_database/detail.php?symbol=TRSE6
- http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/plants/chintallow.shtml
- http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag148
- http://essmextension.tamu.edu/plants/plant/chinese-tallow-tree/