permaculture

["Lawrence F. London, Jr." <lfl@intrex.net>]

Water Hyacinth (Eichhorinia crassipies)
<http://www.columbia.edu/itc/cerc/danoff-burg/invasion_bio/inv_spp_summ/water%252520hyacinth.html>

Ecological Role: In their native habitat of the Amazon, Water Hyacinths provide food for their natural predators which voraciously keep the 
plant in check. The annual flooding of the Amazon also flush out huge quantities to sea each year.

Benefit(s): In Singapore, as elsewhere, it was cultivated as pig food, but have become a serious nuisance in reservoirs. There are studies 
on using the plant to detoxify sewage and sludge. The council of Scientific and Industrial Research has made varieties of high quality paper 
out of the stalk of the weed. The Agricultural University at Trivandrum, India, makes cattle feed out of the leaves and Ryan Foundation has 
taught villagers to crush the roots and make briquettes for their cook stoves. This weed must be commercialized and supplied to paper and 
board factories to save logging, deforestation and pollution.

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Kudzu (Pueraria montana)
http://www.columbia.edu/itc/cerc/danoff-burg/invasion_bio/inv_spp_summ/Pueraria_montana.html

Ecological Role:
 Kudzu controls erosion, fixes nitrogen, and can be used as a starch or vegetable for humans. In addition, its chemical composition and 
digestibility make it suitable as a fed forage for animals such as cattle and sheep. For example, the percentage of crude protein in its 
leaf and stem is comparable to that in lucerne and bermudagrass hays. Neutral and acid detergent fibre levels in the leaf, stem, and tube 
parts are also comparable to the values in hays.

Benefit(s): Growing fast and with a strong root system, kudzu is excellent for erosion control. The plant also has agricultural uses. The 
plant  fixes nitrogen and can be used as a feed for pasture animals. Kudzu contains several medical chemicals such as daidzen, used to fight 
inflammation and microbial infections, dilute coronary arteries, relax muscles, and promote estrous cycles. It also contains daidzin, which 
is used to prevent cancer, and genistein, an anti-leukemic. Several people throughout the south have found that kudzu's rubber-like vines 
are excellent for making basket weaving and artistic paper. Others incorporate it in their diet, cooking such things as kudzu quiche and 
deep-fried kudzu leaves.

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Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.)
http://www.columbia.edu/itc/cerc/danoff-burg/invasion_bio/inv_spp_summ/Elaeagnus_angustifolia.htmRussian
 Olive,

Ecological Role: The fruit of the Russian olive tree is a great source of food and nutrients for birds, so while this suggests the plant 
plays an important ecological role in birds’ habitat, ecologists have found that bird species richness is actually greater in areas with a 
higher concentration of native vegetation.  Over 50 different species of mammals and birds do eat the fruit, 12 of them being game birds. 
Deer and other livestock feast on the leaves of the Russian olive and beavers use the branches for constructing dams.  The canopy of the 
Russian olive provides good thermal cover for some wildlife species.  Doves, mocking birds, roadrunners and other birds use the thick growth 
of branches as nesting sites.

Benefit(s): The Russian olive is principally an ornamental.  Including the ecological benefits listed above, the Russian olive and its 
tremendous adaptability has allowed it to be planted for erosion control and highway and landscape enhancement.  The branches from the 
Russian olive not only provide shade and shelter, but some fuel wood, gum and resin.  The fruit of the Russian olive can be used as a base 
in some fruit beverages and the plant has also been know to be a source of honey.  As previously mentioned, the Russian olives’ 
nitrogen-fixing ability makes it a good companion tree by increasing surrounding crops’ yield and growth.