Kikuyu - General observations

Re Kikuyu, from http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=183 Global Invasive Species Database:

....... "Also produces allelopathic chemicals that kill other plant species in its vicinity (Sanchez & Davis, 1969 in PIER, 2003)

......"This species is tetraploid and spreads by underground runners (rhizomes) and stolons at the periphery of the main clonal patch (Haubensak & Smyth, 1999)."

We believe we have in the past observed vertical underground rhizomes up to c8mm in clay, some metres from stolons or foliage. Kikuyu has been reported to travel under concrete driveway to proliferate on the other side.

It would be useful to know how rhizomes can be, and how far they can spread from stolons. Where such rhizomes emerge singly in an area from which superficial rhizomes and stolons have been eradicated by pullback with rotting, it may be advisable to let new growth from a single rhizome proceed, while preventing the stolons remain flat and horizontal - ie to turn them back and keep the emerging foliage piled on top of the rhizome top rot it.

We do not yet have such a rhizome to try it on.

Posted on July 30, 2018 12:14 AM by kaipatiki_naturewatch