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eptember 1 , 1996 PSA ONTACI~: Tim Rhay, Turf and Grounds Supervisor, 687-5220 From Public Information, 687-SS23 I FOR IMM DIATE RELEASE REPO T SIGHTINGS OF NOXIOUS WEED "PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE" To op the spread of the invasive weed.commonly known as Purple Loosestrife, citizens are encoura ed to remove domestic plants and report any sightings to City and County Public 'Works Dep ents. Purple Loosestrife has devastated wetlands in the northeast states and has been sited long Amazon Creek and near local wetlands. TYte plants thrive in marshes, wet areas, streams and ditch banks where they form dense stands that hoke out native plants, eliminate habitat and food sources for wildlife, and may lead to localize flooding. Public recreation is also affected when the plants clog waterways used for canoeing, unting, fishing and swimming. A s ngle 4-5 year old plant can reach 10 feet tall and 15 feet wide, display 30-50 large stems, and produce 2,700,000 seeds each year, 80% of which can germinate within a three year period. "I we can control small occurrences of Purple Loosestrife by hand removal methods now, chemical applications to deal with larger populations may not be necessary down the road," said Tim I ay, the City's Turf and Grounds Supervisor. O ginally imported as an ornamental from Europe, the perennial plant has stems 1 to 6 feet in hei ht with smooth, knife-like leaves mostly opposite and 1 to 4 inches long. Flower spikes in ugust and September tyre long with purplish to purplish red blossoms. In addition to seeds, Pur~le Loosestrife spreads by undergroLind roots which crowd out other native vegetation. ~ T report a plant siting or for more information, call Eugene Public Works at 6$7-5220 within th Eugene city limits or Lane County Public Works at 341-6911 within Lane County, II L lc Y~lorks • Admini~tration • City of Eugene •858 Puri Street • Eugene, OR 97401 • Phone: (541)687-5262 • FAX: (541) 68~-6826 i