Just to clarify the effects of Rubber Vine. Here in North Qld. an introduced
rust is proving to be an important control agent. It does not seem to attack
the younger plants but impacts heavily on the larger plants.
I believe the Yanks brought the Rubber Vine into Australia during WWII to
provide rubber for the war effort eg. tyres (tires). An area near Charters
Towers was actually planted out as a plantation and then left to spread
naturally throughout our ecosystem after the War.
Have a look at the destruction of riparian forests in north Queensland by
rubber vine, which was brought here as an ornamental.
Jon Wren
_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.
Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at
http://profiles.msn.com.
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/birding/index.html
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message
"unsubscribe birding-aus" (no quotes, no Subject line)
to
| 