TUCSON, Ariz. — You may have heard of scorpion weed, but what about stinknet?
The invasive species native to southern Africa is a bright yellow ball-shaped flower that may look pretty but can quickly overtake native plants and become a major fire risk. The oils from the wildflower can also irritate your skin and if the leaves are burned, the smoke can lead to respiratory problems.
Stinknet has taken over spaces in Maricopa County but is relatively new to Pima County, and poses a threat to Saguaro National Park and the greater Tucson community. Biologists are concerned about the rapid rate of spread and consider it to be the most dangerous invasive plant since buffelgrass was introduced in the 1930s, according to a news release from SNP.
“We have a unique opportunity right now to work together and protect this desert landscape that we love,” Frankie Foley, a biologist at Saguaro National Park, said in a news release. “We’re asking the public to notify us when they find stinknet plants by going to www.stinknet.org and submitting a report. We are monitoring those reports daily and contacting landowners to prevent further spread.”
SNP has partnered with US Fish and Wildlife Service, Pima County, the Tucson Audubon Society and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum to host volunteer plant pulls. Tools are provided to volunteers who will help get rid of the pesky plant before it spreads further. For more information and to get involved, click here.
While both scorpion weed and stinkweed are present at Saguaro National Park, they are two different plants, Interpretation, Education, and Outreach Manager at Saguaro National Park Beth Hudick told 12News.
For one thing, scorpion weed has purple flowers and stinkweed has yellow flowers. Scorpion weed is also a native annual wildflower, whereas stinkweed is highly invasive. Both plants can cause similar reactions to your skin, so its best to steer clear of both when you're out hiking.
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