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Hi Andy,
The plant that I'm most familiar with in eastern Canada that often goes by the name of elephant grass is Common Reed aka Phragmites australis. Fred Schueler, who is on this list has studied its distribution extensively and couldl provide more detailed information than I can.
Whether the plan is good or not is another question. Phragmites grows extremely rapidly, spreads extremely rapidly and forms dense stands in suitable habitat which is any damp ground or wet environment. This sounds very suitable for a biomass crop that would be the basis of alternate energy production. However, these same characteristics mean it will form a monoculture wherever it is planted or escapes to.
If Miscanthus giganteus exhibits similar behavior and it is cold tolerant then it wouldn't be long before the plant becomes established in Nova Scotia wetlands. As an aside, I believe it takes repeated burning over the course of several years to see some effective control to occur.
All the best,
Lance
From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] On Behalf Of Andy Moir/Christine Callaghan
Sent: Friday, June 29, 2012 11:01 AM
To: NatureNS@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: EXTERNAL: [NatureNS] elephant grass
There have been a couple of articles in the paper lately about a proposal to grow and burn elephant grass, Miscanthus giganteus, to generate electricity. The proponent says there is lots of abandon agricultural land in Nova Scotia that would be suitable for this crop. They say elephant grass is not an invasive species. However, I read something about it being very invasive in Florida, taking over waterways. Maybe it's another grass called elephant grass.
Does anyone know about this plant as a crop for harvesting in Nova Scotia? I'd be curious to see some reputable sources on whether this is a good plan, or not.
Thanks
Andy in Freeport
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=3DEN-US link=3Dblue vlink=3Dpurple><div class=3DWordSection1><p clas=
s=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","=
sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Hi Andy,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=
=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","s=
ans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoN=
ormal><span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-ser=
if";color:#1F497D'>The plant that I’m most familiar with in eas=
tern Canada that often goes by the name of elephant grass is Common R=
eed aka <i>Phragmites</i> <i>australis</i>. Fred Schueler, who is on =
this list has studied its distribution extensively and couldl provide=
more detailed information than I can. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=
=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","s=
ans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoN=
ormal><span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-ser=
if";color:#1F497D'>Wheth
er the plan is good or not is another question. <i>Phragmites </i>gro=
ws extremely rapidly, spreads extremely rapidly and forms dense stand=
s in suitable habitat which is any damp ground or wet environment. Th=
is sounds very suitable for a biomass crop that would be the basis of=
alternate energy production. However, these same characteristics mea=
n it will form a monoculture wherever it is planted or escapes to. <o=
:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:11.=
0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:=
p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;fon=
t-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>If <i>Miscanthus gigan=
teus</i> exhibits similar behavior and it is cold tolerant then it wo=
uldn’t be long before the plant becomes established in Nova Sco=
tia wetlands. As an aside, I believe it takes repeated burning over t=
he course of several years to see some effective control to occur. <o=
:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:11.
0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:=
p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;fon=
t-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>All the best,<o:p></o:=
p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;fon=
t-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></spa=
n></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-famil=
y:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Lance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p=