Burning bush makes poor amphibian habitat

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Sylvan Kaufman

A study in Missouri woodlands demonstrated that amphibian species richness (numbers of species) and evenness (relative distribution of species) declined in plots dominated by burning bush, Euonymus alatus.  The decline was attributable to a cooler microclimate under burning bush.  The cooler temperatures did seem to favor the green frog, but the authors noted that the shrubs might also limit the mobility of the frogs making them more vulnerable to predators. 

Watling, J. I., C.R. Hickman, J. L. Orrock. 2011. Invasive shrub alters native forest amphibian communities.  Biological Conservation 144: 2597-2601.

Share
Posted in Euonymus alatus, Research | Comments Off on Burning bush makes poor amphibian habitat

Stop the seeds, stop the spread? Sterile burning bush developed.

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Sylvan Kaufman
Euonymus alatus seeds

A new cultivar will be seedless

Researchers at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station  have painstakingly developed a sterile triploid cultivar of Euonymus alatus, winged burning bush.  This ever-popular landscape plant has created dense thickets when it escapes into forests.  The process for developing the sterile cultivar is being patented by the researchers and the University of Connecticut.  It will take several years before the sterile plants are available at a nursery near you.  Sales of burning bush currently reach $38 million/year in the U.S.

Thammina et al. 2011. In vitro regeration of triploid plants of Euonymus alatus ‘Compactus’ (burning bush) from endosperm tissues. HortScience 46:1141-1147.

http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2011/08/uconn-scientist-develops-sterile-variety-of-invasive-plant-2/

Share
Posted in Euonymus alatus, Research | Tagged , | Comments Off on Stop the seeds, stop the spread? Sterile burning bush developed.