Steve wrote:
>
> -----Original Message-----
> I don't think that a plant has to be a member of Leguminaceae to fix
> nitrogen. Kentucky coffeetree, once a member of the Leguminaceae, subfamily
> Caesalpinoideae, now a seperate family Caesalpinaceae, fixes nitrogen. And,
> perhaps more noticible are some of the Alders, members of the Betulaceae,
> that fix nitrogen.
> Perhaps a true plant taxonomist can come to my rescue. What is the most
> recent classification of Robinia psuedoacacia, Gymnocladus dioicus and
> Gleditsia triacanthos?
I wouldn't claim to be a true plant taxonomist, but I'm going to offer
an opinion anyway. As the Chileans say, "it depends". In this case, it
depends on which taxonomist you ask. Our National Herbarium taxonomists
place all legumes in Fabaceae, which runs counter to some others
overseas who divide the legumes into as many as three families.
On the subject of glyphosate, I think the blanket statement that
"non-target" vegetation is always killed by glyphosate under
"operational" conditions is a bit over the top. Any well-informed
forester engaged in weed control knows that glyphosate is a broad
spectrum weedicide, but under certain conditions some plants are not
susceptible to particular doses (especially when they are dormant).
Such a forester would use it under conditions where killing a wide range
of plants is considered desirable. Now we could spend all year debating
under what circumstances killing a wide range of plants is or is not
desirable, but the answer surely depends on the nature of the site, the
vegetation, management objectives, social concerns, and risks, to name
just a few important factors.
Regards,
Euan
--
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Dr Euan G. Mason Silviculture, Modelling and
Senior Lecturer Decision-support systems
School of Forestry
University of Canterbury New Zealand's professional
Christchurch, New Zealand Forestry School
Home page: http://www.fore.canterbury.ac.nz/EUAN.HTM
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