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Species
Information
- Paterson's curse (salvation jane)
- Echium plantagineum L.
- USDA
Symbol: ECPL
- Oregon
Noxious Weed Designation: A, T
- Pictures
ALERT: PLEASE CALL 1-866-INVADER IF YOU SUSPECT YOU HAVE FOUND THIS SPECIES
Identification: Annual or short-lived perennial; flowers spring to fall. Grows 1 to 3 feet tall. Basal and rosette leaves broad, hairy with distinct veins and wavy margins. Leaves on flowering stems smaller and more linear. Plants often multi-branched, an abundance of stout hairs arising from the base. Flower head is curled, unrolls as flowers open. Flowers 5-petaled, blue-purple, may be pink or white and 2 of 5 stamen protrude from flower. Seeds gray to black nutlets.
It is limited to two known locations in Oregon: Linn County and Douglas County.
Impacts: Paterson's curse is an aggressive drought tolerant member of the borage family able to reproduce and establish healthy populations under a wide range of environmental conditions. It is considered one of the top ten weeds in Australia. It can be found invading dryland cereal production, pastures and is potentially a significant invader of natural areas such as oak woodlands. Adapted to drought conditions, the species is able take advantage of limited moisture and summer rains; the plant is able to generate rapid growth and produce a new crop of seeds within a few weeks of germination. The reproductive potential is high with flowering plant observed through most of the year. Paterson’s curse contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids similar to those found in tansy ragwort which cause chronic liver damage to livestock which feed on it for prolonged periods of time. Horses are the most sensitive.
Biological
Controls: Biological control agents are not used on "A" listed weeds in Oregon. This weed is being managed for eradication or containment.
Oregon
Maps of Paterson's Curse Distribution
Links:
USDA
Plants Database information on Paterson's curse
GRIN
Database information on Paterson's curse
Oregon Department
of Agriculture information on Paterson's curse
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