Hi. This aquatic was planted in a pond on a Whistler golf course. Is it Butomus umbellatus (flowering rush) or something else? And does anyone have comments about how invasive it is? Thanks, Bob Brett.
I've had a look in Mabberley's The Plant Book - Butomus is monotypic, so this is the only species in the genus (and indeed, the only species in the family Butomaceae). So, I'll confirm the identity.
Hi Daniel. Terry Taylor was up a couple of days ago for a survey with me but first I asked him to look through some of my past conundrums. I was very impressed he came up with Botumus. I'd checked all sorts of Alliums and other monocots but never came across Botumus -- never even heard of it. That ID would fit though with some of the other wetland plantings on the site which have an eastern flavour. If it does turn out to Botumus, the next question is how to remove it. The link from Tipularia suggests it'll be as difficult to remove as knotweed or loosestrife or all the other nasty invasives. Thanks, Bob.
It sounds like the answer to that question is not as simple as it might first appear. See: Causes and consequences of extreme variation in reproductive strategy and vegetative growth among invasive populations of a clonal aquatic plant, Butomus umbellatus L. (Butomaceae) by Keiko Lui, Faye L. Thompson and Christopher G. Eckert in Biological Invasions Volume 7, Number 3 / May, 2005 (note that the authors are from Queen's Univ in Canada - might be able to get a reprint from them if you don't have access to the full article). Here's the salient parts of the abstract, though (that'd be most of it...): So the question then becomes - is the population of plants diploid or triploid? Because that will affect the best strategy for control...
As of 1993, there were no suggested control measures: Invasive Plants of Natural Habitats of Canada - will need to find something a bit more modern...
Hi Daniel. The information about horticultural versions being triploid and therefore possibly easier to control is promising. When I finally report to the golf course, I hope to have a removal plan that will actually work. I assume this has been planted elsewhere in BC. A quick google search suggests it isn't yet reported as a problem out west. I wonder if that's because: (a) it's not planted much; (b) the planted versions don't spread; or (c) just a lack of reporting. Bob.
It is native here, but rare and declining, extinct in some areas. Just one more plant that can't cope with modern industrial agriculture regimes. Maybe you could repatriate them all? It's a nice plant, and it would be good to have more of it back here!
Hi Michael. One man's meat is another's poison? The whole moving around of species is all very strange. What kind of world will we leave for our kids, and will there be such a thing as a native plant? In the meantime, I'll be happy to send you any remnants of Butomus we remove. May it return in strength to its native land! Bob.
