Above: Garlic mustard flowers. Photo by Sannse at the English language Wikipedia
By Ryan Trapani
In the natural resources field we often hear about the negative attributes of invasive species. In order to achieve invasive status, a plant is usually perceived as having no beneficial value, non-native, prolific and the ability to encroach upon native plant species. Although some invasive species can be a problem, often these negative attributes are perceived and the result of local and global circumstances. In example, autumn olive was brought to the US in the early 1800s. In the 1940s it was planted commercially by many government conservation organizations as a “quick-fix” for reclaiming denuded landscapes, food & cover for wildlife, soil stabilization, wind-breaks, screens and soil fertilization. However, only recently has it been considered invasive in some locales due to its ability to resist deer-browse pressure. It is the relationship between habitat quality, deer and autumn olive owing to its invasive nature. In comparison, apple trees are non-native, but revered highly by American culture and have not been given the scarlet letter of invasive. But, apple trees are not prolific since deer do browse them heavily. To make matters more confusing, some native plants can be invasive such as American beech, striped maple and New York and hay-scented fern. Again, it is the result from a deer, habitat and plant relationship. These species are not preferred by deer, while others such as sugar maple and red oak are preferred and are easily out-competed by the former.
The point is that each plant must be considered locally as well as the landowner’s goals and objectives. Autumn olive produces an abundance of highly nutritious and cancer-fighting fruit without the aid of expensive fertilizers, herbicides and deer protection measures (fencing or tubes). However, another landowner may want to grow grass or some other shrub and autumn olive may then be considered an interfering species. Invasive species that would no doubt interfere with many landowners’ goals and objectives are some of the non-native insects that have few local predators and could thereby cause great impact. Examples include the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), which is now in Ulster & Greene counties and the Asian Long-Horned Beetle (ALB) in New York City and Worcester, MA. EAB may have the ability to kill just about every ash tree, while ALB may kill all maple, willow, horse-chestnut, mulberry, elm, and black locust. This would definitely be considered an interfering species by most!
Some of these invasive species are highly edible and should be taken advantage of since, as their name implies, are prolific. In early to mid spring there is one tasty invasive that should be taken advantage of before flowering – garlic mustard. Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) grows where the sun is able to penetrate into the under-story (road-sides, forest-edges etc). Garlic mustard as its name implies tastes similar to garlic. The leaves of this abundant plant can be eaten as salad greens. If you cannot bear to see the sight of invasive plants, then here is a recipe for making Garlic Mustard Pesto. Hey, if you can’t beat ‘em, then eat ‘em!
¾ cup Olive Oil
1 garlic clove
1 cup walnuts or pine nuts
½ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
4 cups garlic mustard leaves (pick young leaves before they have flowered)
Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Then add the garlic mustard leaves one handful at a time. That’s it. If freezing, omit cheese and add before consuming. Good luck! www.catskillforest.org
