Extreme measures for an extreme weed

CORNWALL — It’s a lovely, flowering perennial that is edible and nutritious. It is often found here along roads, riverbanks and growing in lawns and other open spaces. It won’t stab you or cause you to break out in a rash.

But the plant introduced here in the late1800s as an ornamental has become widely and passionately hated and earned itself the title of most invasive plant in the world.

In southeast Asia, the native Japanese knotweed is welcomed.

Here, the rapidly growing perennial crowds out all else and will push through concrete and asphalt, causing plenty of damage.

It has hollow, jointed, bamboo-like stems that cut easily. But watch out.

The temptation to whack it down will only cause its deep roots to send up lots more shoots, and a tiny piece of root left on a mower or tool can spread it elsewhere.

The Board of Selectmen is moving forward with a plan by Art Gingert to get some identified stands of knotweed in town right-of-ways under control. It involves using an herbicide, because that is what it is going to take.

There are identified stands along Town Street and Flat Rocks Road, and possibly elsewhere. The highway department is being consulted.

Of course, the best approach is to eradicate all knotweed. Anyone who has seen it should contact the selectmen’s office.

First Selectman Gordon Ridgway said the town doesn’t use herbicides as a matter of course, “But if there are some reasons to use them, Japanese knotweed is definitely one of them.”

Adjoining property owners will be advised before any work is done, which will be soon.