Uninvited: The Spread of Invasive Species

Not Geology, but within my Environmental Science sphere of interest.

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African Rue, an Invasive Species

As I go through photo files of 2015 & 2016 travels, some plants resist identification.

African Rue (Peganum harmala) is one of these. It is an Invasive Species, apparently brought to the Deming, New Mexico area about 1930, for possible use as "Iranian red" dye.

The plant decided it liked the area so much, it started to spread, primarily through southern New Mexico, West Texas, Arizona, and parts of California and Oregon. 

It is toxic to humans and livestock, but livestock usually avoid it because of its bad taste, unless they are sick or starving. Apparently, studies of the toxic seeds by pharmaceutical companies suggest a possible use as an antidepressant.

Because of its characteristic deep taproots, it is difficult to uproot. And it is a prodigious producer of seeds.

Now that I have learned about this plant, the soft "frilly" leaves seem to be a good identifier, though Tumbleweed (aka Russian Thistle) - also invasive - sort of have "frilly" narrow leaves, too.

(This particular photo was taken in 2015 at the I-10 Allamore - Hot Wells exit, east of Sierra Blanca.  This exit is the one for the Eagle Mts.)

Resources:

Plants of Texas Rangelands

Texas Invasive Species Institute

Texas Cooperative Extension Service

White Sands National Monument