WATCH out Himalayan balsam, your days may be numbered.
Introduced into the UK as a garden plant in 1839, Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera ) outcompetes native flora. About one-eighth of all river banks in England and Wales are covered by the plant, and its shallow roots do little to prevent erosion.
But the weed's expansive UK territory could soon shrink, thanks to a fungus taken from its homeland. Scientists from UK-based inter-governmental group CABI last week began releasing a type of rust fungus that they hope will be the plant's downfall.
The rust was tested against 74 plant species to avoid collateral damage, says Robert Tanner of CABI, including some of the UK's native, ornamental and economically important plants.
Fungal biological-control agents have been used globally before, but this is the first time in Europe that a fungus has been brought from an invasive weed's homeland to bring it under control.
This article appeared in print under the headline "Welcome rust"
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