Scientists find new Phytophthora in Great Britain
A new Phytophthora species has been identified in Great Britain, and officials fear it could be more of a threat than P. ramorum. The new pathogen, unofficially being called P. kernovii, has been isolated on rhododendrons, English oak and beech trees.
Laboratory and field tests indicate the new disease is more aggressive and faster spreading than P. ramorum. Rhododendron succumbs to P. kernovii in just a few weeks rather than months, according to Great Britain Forestry Commission
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/phytophthora
Scientists find new Phytophthora in Great Britain
One of the great joys of my sisters life are the hills around her covered in rhododendrums, as in masses, their bloom is spectacular [ makes me envious]...
There are so many wonderful display gardens in the UK featuring them, and a lot collected by botanists from around the world over many years...hope they are able to eradicate soon...cannot imagine what could happen! too awful to think about !
What an utter tragedy it would be if the UK loses its native oak and beech trees!!!!
The elms have already disappeared
What a tragedy if Wales shoud lose his Rhodo's
Baa
Feb 14, 2005
Oh I'm not so sure Ableroy. R. pontica is terribly invasive and is costing Wales and England millions of £s in eradication attempts, they are destroying habitats all over Great Britain but especially Snowdon and the New Forest.
Hurrah Baa, Rhodos belong in Asia!
They aren't native to Wales or anywhere else in the UK
No offence intended by the above - just how I see it.
Now if Wales were to lose its ash trees, or rowans.......
Philomel,
Did you ever see the rhodo's and the hydragenas in Wales??? No, I think so they are superbe!!! The Wales landscape without those wonderfull flowers would be a shame!!
greetings,
Albert
Got pictures?
Baa
Feb 23, 2005
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/37926/index.html Not the greatest photos, the first one is of one shrub that was massive.
Ableroy
Yes I have seen them in Wales and here in our own New Forest.
Here's a link for those interested http://www.offwell.free-online.co.uk/rhododen.htm
Interesting, thanks Baa.
Dear Baa,
Verry interesting your links, but the problem is only with the big one, all the others are quit nice and inoffencif!!
Greetings,
Albert
Uh-oh. :-|
Thanks very much for the offwell link Baa.
I didn't realise that the introductions of R ponticum were from the Iberian peninsular, I'm ashamed to say!
Albleroy, I've worked with the endangered dormice (and bats) and seen the devastation caused to their habitats by R ponticum. This has made my eye somewhat jaundiced when looking at any other Rhodos. Some cultivars have been planted on the land where I now live in SW France - and they are all going to go, however attractive they are in the flowering period!
I even feel uneasy seeing the delightful little natives in the Pyrenees
http://www.botanical-online.com/fotosrhododendroferrugineum.htm, but these belong to the area and will be in balance with the other wildlife there.
LOL imway2dumb, WW3 is not about to commence ;) I'm sure we all respect each others' opinions, while still putting our own points of view.
Hi, philomel, how are you? ;-)
hi there, I'm fine thanks imway2dumb. Hope you're OK too?
That I am, except I have spring fever!
LOL, I have chicken fever ;o)