PTIONS O ACTORS stems with loppers close to the ground. out rootball with a Pulaskior shovel, and F EY Cut Dig Stout thorns necessitate the use of the necessitate thorns Stout leather gloves and protective clothing. seed production. Abundant years. several Seeds viable for Fast-growing stems. Resprouts from the crown and root fragments left in soil. the areas. in moist Thrives REATMENT MPACT T u K u u u u u u I dis- mounds dense established,Once plant’s the place native vegetation by shading out light. Individual canes are relatively short-lived (2–3 years), of so a build-up canes and abun- dead leafdant of risk the increases gradually litter fire. Himalayan blackberry reduces access to wildlife, for water pasture, degrades and is seeking recreationists to sometimes a nuisance access to natural areas. September. Seeds are viable and tend to be dis- be to tend and viable September. are Seeds persed bymammals or birds whose digestive and promote tracts seed coating scarify hard the and spring the in germinate germination. Seeds fall, years. several viable for can remain but An 25 years. can live plant individual ) is Rubus inermis WEED WORKERS’ HANDBOOK WEED WORKERS’ var. Rubus ulmifolius ) has just 3 leaflets and fine prickles 3 leaflets ) has just Himalayan blackberry to up mounds forms Himalayan ESCRIPTION EPRODUCTION another invasive blackberryanother invasive species to look out for. no is thornless and produces species This fruits, flowers. only Himalayan blackberry reproduces in blackberry a varietyHimalayan of reproduces ways. It can spread vegetatively by rooting from nodes the canes,fromthe along cane tips from or fragments, root or rhizomes root the and from crown. and year Canes bear fruit second in their die.then new produces crown the year Every ones.White some- dead the (or replace canes that with and many 5 petals times flowers pinkish) yellow stamens bloom from June toAugust. flowers. the pollinate and honeybees Bumblebees to August berries in Edible turn ripen and black R D vine shrubby is This perennial stems in riparian woodlands, common trailing,thorny or areas,disturbed open streams. and along arching tall,with feet 10 long. feet 40 to up reach and woody become that oftenThese impenetrable. are areas The canes red, deep to green are (stems) turning woody with age. serrated or toothed are leaves The of a mat and have the edges along fine hairs appearance. a whitish give that underneath 5 leaflets.To dis- have stems flowering on Leaves blackberrytinguish the native Himalayan from species, look for hooked or curving thorns, 3–5 leaflets,and the than ripen later fruits that larger blackberries.native blackberry Native ( ursinus than singlerather thorns. Thornless elm leaf blackberry ( Rubus discolor (Rosaceae) Family Rose Also known as Armenian Armenian as known Also blackberry HIMALAYAN BLACKBERRY

VINES 60 remove as much of the root as possible. Inter- DISPOSAL connecting roots reaching over 30 feet long Transfer stems and roots to a site where they can and 2–3 feet deep make pulling up all roots be left to decompose, making sure that all extremely difficult. Realistically, you should berries have been removed. Alternatively, burn aim to remove the main rootball and the large the debris or trim it into pieces small enough for lateral roots. Dense thickets and thorns also bagging and disposal. make working with blackberry labor-inten- sive and uncomfortable, so control may be FOLLOW-UP feasible only in sensitive habitat or small Regardless of the method used, follow-up is infestations working from the outside in. essential. Some land managers recommend u Brushcut the canes; use McLeods to clear the immediate revegetation with quick-growing vegetation.The best time to do this is when shrubs and trees, with periodic visits to the site flowers are in bloom but before the fruit sets. to check for seedlings or regrowth. After you’ve Cutting encourages new growth but may be removed the canes, one option is to hoe the soil VINES effective if repeated over a number of years. or use a rototiller. This will clear out any roots, u Cut and treat.Some practitioners cut stems to but is practical only for small infestations.Goats about 1 foot and treat stumps with 25–50 per- will also graze on younger plants. cent concentration of glyphosate immediately after cutting. Don’t use herbicide on or near INTERESTING FACTS plants from which people may pick and eat Native to Eurasia, Himalayan blackberry was the berries. introduced to the US in the late 1800s as a culti- vated crop. The berries make great pies and jams!

Notes

THE PLANTS: HOW TO REMOVE BAY AREA WEEDS 61