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Ahh you found it, The McCartney Rose, isn't it pretty, reminds of you of happiness and summer doesn't it? Well it shouldn't, not when it's growing like fungus and ripping apart peaceful Texan ecosystems. Yes, sir, the McCartney Rose is a murderer. That's what you've found.
The McCartney Rose, also known as the Cherokee Rose, is a beautiful looking flower that is native to Asia. But now is very prevalent in South Texas; it occupies 500,000 acres of Texas range land. This plant is what you would call an invasive species, an organism that is not native to a land and harms the ecosystem its introduced to. The reason invasive species are so harmful is because they mess up the the stability of an ecosystem hurting its biodiversity. Even though the plant was first introduced for fencing purposes, it has now engrossed itself in not only the ranchers ecosystem but also the most important ecosystem (for this website at least), the coastal prairie. It forms dense thickets that, if allowed, grow tall and decrease forage productivity, pushing out native grasses. It's even endangered the white Bladderpod. Its not a friend, its a good looking Foe. NOT SO FUN FACTS:
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BUT WHY DOES THIS EFFECT YOU?
You might have stumbled upon this site intentionally or accidentally, so let me clarify the site's purpose, TO GIVE YOU INFORMATION ON NOT ONLY THE COASTAL PRAIRIE , BUT MORE SPECIFICALLY "THE WOLF PRAIRIE"!!! The Wolf Prairie is part of the coastal prairie that has been preserved in the backyard of Westside High School. This small museum has the workings of the coastal prairie ecosystem, including invasive organisms such as McCartney Rose presented on this page. Our Coastal Prairie has little traces of this plant, making it something that needs to be taken care of, due to the harms already listed, of it destroying the lives of native organisms. WAIT... That DOES NOT mean, you get to tear them out of the ground when you see them (let the professionals do the work, aka Mrs. Klein's APES class). Never disturb an ecosystem without correct supervision and direction. This effects you because the earth is your home too, and one of its most important ecosystem is under attack from not only invasive species but more importantly urbanization. If you're standing in a coastal prairie (or maybe even the Wolf Prairie) then you have already taken the first step in spreading awareness and light to these overlooked lands. Making it known that coastal prairies = good, while McCartney Rose = bad. IF YOU ARE IN OUR PRAIRIE, SOME HELPFUL TIPS-
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If you want to get rid of the McCartney Rose there are many ways do so if you wanna check them out click the button below.
Here is quick a video explaining how invasive species work, and show some general effects that can be applied to the McCartney Rose as well.
Thanks for sitting in guys, it was truly an honor having you, if you wanna learn more on the Coastal and Wolf Prairies, check out the awesome links right here...
If we're talking invasive...
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Stuff You're itching to know
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This stuff is really Howlarious...
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If you want more info on the McCartney Rose Check out these sites...
SOURCES:
- http://www.invasive.org/browse/subinfo.cfm?sub=4606
- http://www.ecosystemgardening.com/the-bloom-is-off-the-rose.html
- http://www.extension.org/pages/62650/rosa-bracteata-macartney-rose#.VWaShvm4TIU
- AP Environmental Science notes
- http://www.texasinvasives.org/plant_database/detail.php?symbol=ROBR
- http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ROBR
- Specials thanks to Mr.Spence and Mrs.Klien
Have fun learning... and remember Protect the Earth because this is your land too.
"We must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy." - J.K Rowling
Photos used under Creative Commons from dougwaylett, cricketsblog, Tambako the Jaguar