Broom for Days

Being from the United States, I grew up on a ranch in Monterey California and have some personal experience with a specific invasive species of plant commonly known as broom, otherwise known as Genista monspessulana (California Invasive Plant Council 2014).  However, not until after I began this blog and began to think of examples of invasive species have I ever given thought to the fact that this is in fact very much an invasive species. I can testify based on personal experience that this plant is as many often refer to invasive species, a “pest”.

Growing up the only thought I ever gave to this plant was that it was the key to having any fun if I wanted to ride go-carts, go swimming or whatever we wanted to do for the day.  Before we were allowed play, we often had to help with clearing an area of broom.  Clearing the broom was a never ending battle.  Many times it seemed the broom would fill right back in as soon as we finished clearing it.  The rate at which this plant grows and spreads, consuming anything in its path, dominating large areas, is truly amazing.

Below is a picture of an area of land at the ranch before the broom invaded and for comparison a current picture of what that same area looks like at the moment.

Before the presence of broom

Current presence of broom beginning to spread

The time lapse between the time the first picture was taken and the other three pictures taken recently is not long at all.  The broom has only begun to spread in this area and if not taken care of, in no time at all would this area be a field of broom.

The presence of this broom brings with it many problems.  The broom blocks access roads, creating problems not only for our mobility around the ranch but for the cattle and many other animals, including habitat fragmentation in severe cases.  The broom out competes so much native vegetation and significantly increases the risk of fires, a common occurrence in California especially during the dry season and one of our top concerns on the ranch.  In addition, the broom contains a poisonous toxin if ingested by cattle or horses among other animals and changes “microclimate conditions at the soil level” (California Invasive Plant Council 2014).

Broom is believed to have been introduced after being used for gardens (California Invasive Plant Council 2014).  However, I have also been told that the seed was used as a trail marker long ago.  Efforts to manage the broom can be extremely costly and time consuming but necessary.  Management of this plant is a continuous battle especially when according to the California Invasive Plant Council (2014) seeds can last for up to 5 years in the soil.

References:

California Invasive Plant Council, 2014, Invasive plants of California’s wildland, California Invasive Plant Council, viewed 4 April 2014, http://libguides.jcu.edu.au/content.php?pid=82408&sid=774836#2498546

Picture Credit:

Trevor Fay