News item:

Linden Apiaries sets a new 24-hour hive weight gain record!
 In 24 hours, a 2-queen colony at Paul Harlow Farm on Route 5 in North
Westminster, VT, gathered 23.75 lbs. (10.77 kg.) of nectar, primarily from
Japanese Knotweed, or bamboo (Polygonum cuspidatum (Sieb. & Zucc.)). There
may be other hives that made more honey, as there are 12 colonies in the
beeyard. Previous record was 19.75 lbs. set September 6, 1998.
 Other hives on platform scales made 11 lbs. in Westminster, VT, and 16.75
and 11 lbs. at a location in Walpole, NH. 16.5 lbs. was measured in the home
apiary in Alstead, NH, the site of last year's record.  The flow started
August 31, with modest gains in the 1-4 lb. range. September 1 saw gains of
7 to 12.5 lbs. Some scale hives more than doubled their gain in one day's
time.
 This hard to eradicate plant has taken over many stream banks where it
prevents erosion. Fortunately, it has no thorns, and is not toxic, and in
fact is edible in spring (personal communication).  Like purple loosestrife,
it crowds out native species. Both are significant honey plants where
common. Sometimes introduced plants make the best honeyplants, as they have
a competitive advantage, forming monocultures, which bees can efficiently
utilize.
 It appears that bamboo is drought resistant, the flow depending only upon
the weather (sun and warmth, low wind) to produce, and the number of field
bees available to collect the nectar. Last year there was a similar stretch
of good weather, with the record coming on the last day, the hottest, at
80°. Yesterday the temperature was closer to 90° in the Connecticut River
Valley.  The best flow ever measured by this correspondent was 81 lbs, in 9
days in Bellows Falls, VT, at my sister’s home.
 While short-lived, the bamboo has become very important for many
beekeepers, filling the hives with winter stores, invaluable in this drought
year.  It performs better than goldenrod-aster in the Walpole-Westminster
area.
In awe of nature,
Charles F. Andros
Linden Apiaries since 1973
Beekeeping Supplies
Former NH/VT Apiary Inspector '78-’89
1 McLean Road
POB 165
Walpole, NH
03608-0165 USA/EUA
603-756-9056
Residence: Latitude: 43° 05’ North, Longitude: 72° 21’ 15" West, Elevation
1200’

Keeper of 43 two-queen colonies for honey, pollen, propolis, pollination,
nuclei, beeswax, apitherapy, and education

Learn, experiment, innovate, educate!
Charles Frederic Andros
July 13, 1999

http://www.webriver.com/tn-eppc/manual/polygo.htm

Japanese Knotweed
Polygonum cuspidatum (Sieb. & Zucc.)

Japanese knotweed, commonly known as crimson beauty, Mexican bamboo,
Japanese fleece flower, or Reynoutria, was probably introduced to the US as
an ornamental. Initially useful for erosion control, as an ornamental, and
for landscape screening, Japanese knotweed spreads quickly to form dense
thickets that can alter natural ecosystems or interfere with landscaping. It
is a semi-woody, bushy perennial and a member of the Polygonaceae (Knotweed)
family.
Height: Japanese knotweed can grow 1-3 m (3-10 ft) tall.
Stem: The stout stems are glaucous, and erect, swelling at leaf axils.
Leaves: The broadly ovate leaves are petiolate, truncate to somewhat
triangular, and pointed at the tip. Length is generally 5-15 cm (2-6 in)
long, and 5-12 cm (2-5 in) wide, with a prominent basal angle.
Flowers: Minute greenish-white flowers appear in axillary panicles with
three styles and minute stigmas. Outer sepals are narrowly winged along the
midrib. Blooms August- September.
Fruit: The fruiting calyxes are wing-angled, 8-9 mm long (0.3 in). Achene is
triangular, shiny, 3-4 mm (0.1-0.15 in) long.

Life History
Knotweed spreads rapidly from stout long rhizomes. Seeds are distributed by
water in floodplains, transported with fill dirt, and to a lesser extent are
wind-blown. Populations escaped from neglected gardens, and discarded
cuttings are common urban paths of distribution. Once established,
populations are quite persistent and can out-compete existing vegetation.
Origin and Distribution
Japanese knotweed, native to Japan, was introduced into the United States
prior to 1890. By the turn of the century, it was established in the eastern
United States and was reported naturalized around Philadelphia, PA,
Schenectady, NY, and Atlantic Highlands, NJ. Knotweed was collected in the
Tennessee region in the 1940s and is now found throughout the state. In
1966, it was considered "one of the most persistent and aggressive of all
perennial weeds." Current distribution is from Newfoundland to Ontario, in
many parts of the north and southeastern US, and west to Minnesota and Iowa.
Similar Species
There are several native species of Polygonum that resemble Japanese
knotweed in the seedling stage. Japanese knotweed is distinguished by
greater overall height, and vigorous growth of stout rhizomes. This plant is
a popular ornamental, and many cultivated varieties are produced by the
nursery industry. Varieties may be difficult to distinguish, but most share
the same invasive characteristics and will respond to the same treatment as
the parent plant.
Habitat
Japanese knotweed can tolerate a variety of adverse conditions including
full shade, high temperatures, high salinity, and drought. It is found near
water sources, in low-lying areas, waste places, utility rights of way, and
around old homesites. It can quickly become an invasive pest in natural
areas after escaping from cultivated gardens. It poses a significant threat
to riparian areas, where it can survive severe floods. It is rapidly
colonizing scoured shores and islands.
Management Recommendations
Mechanical Control
Grubbing: This method is appropriate for small initial populations or
environmentally sensitive areas where herbicides cannot be used. Using a
pulaski or similar digging tool, remove the entire plant including all roots
and runners. Juvenile plants can be hand-pulled depending on soil conditions
and root development. Any portions of the root system not removed will
potentially resprout. All plant parts, including mature fruit, should be
bagged and disposed of in a trash dumpster to prevent re-establishment.
Herbicidal Control
Cut Stump Treatment: Use this method in areas where vines are established
within or around non-target plants or where vines have grown into the
canopy. This treatment remains effective at low temperatures as long as the
ground is not frozen.
Glyphosate: Cut the stem 5 cm (2 in) above ground level. Immediately apply a
25% solution of glyphosate and water to the cross-section of the stem. A
subsequent foliar application of glyphosate may be required to control new
seedlings and resprouts.
Triclopyr: Cut the stem 5 cm (2 in) above ground level. Immediately apply a
25% solution of triclopyr and water to the cross-section of the stem. A
subsequent foliar application may be necessary to control new seedlings.
Foliar Spray Method: Use this method to control large populations. It may be
necessary to precede foliar applications with stump treatments to reduce the
risk of damaging non-target species.
Glyphosate: Apply a 2% solution of glyphosate and water to thoroughly wet
all foliage. Do not apply so heavily that herbicide will drip off leaves.
The ideal time to spray is after surrounding vegetation has become dormant
(October-November) to avoid affecting non-target species. A 0.5% non-ionic
surfactant is recommended in order to penetrate the leaf cuticle, and
ambient air temperature should be above 65°F.
Triclopyr: Apply a 2% solution of triclopyr and water to thoroughly wet all
foliage. Do not apply so heavily that herbicide will drip off leaves. The
ideal time to spray is after surrounding vegetation has become dormant
(October-November) to avoid affecting non-target species. A 0.5% non-ionic
surfactant is recommended in order to penetrate the leaf cuticle, and
ambient air temperature should be above 65°F.

Bibliography
Ahrens, J. F. Preliminary results with glyphosate for control of Polygonum
cuspidatum. Proceedings of the Northeast Weed Control Conference 29:326;
1975.
Child, L. E.; De Wall, L. C.; Wade, P. M.; Palmer, J. P. Control and
management of Reynoutria species (knotweed). Aspects of Applied Biology
29:295-307; 1992.
Figueroa, P. F. Japanese knotweed herbicide screening trial applied as a
roadside spray. Proceedings of the Western Society of Weed Science
42:288-298; 1989.
Garcia de Arevalo, R. C.; Lusarreta, C. A.; Neyra, C. B.; Sanchez, M A.;
Algarra, P. J. H. Chemical control of annual weeds in field beans (Vicia
faba) in central Spain. Weed Science 40(1):96-100; 1992.
Gleason, H. A.; Cronquist, A. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern
United States and adjacent Canada. 2nd ed. The New York Botanical Garden;
1991.
Hirose, T.; Kitajima, K. Nitrogen uptake and plant growth. I. Effect of
nitrogen removal on growth of Polygonum cuspidatum Annals of Botany
58(4):479-486; 1986.
Jennings, V. M.; Fawcett, R. S. Weed control: Japanese polygonum (Polygonum
cuspidatum Sieb. and Zuce.). PM Iowa State Univ. Science Technol. Ames.
Coop. Ext. Serv. 762, 2; 1977.
Muenscher, W. C. Weeds. 2nd ed. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 167;
1992.
Patterson, D. T. The history and distribution of five exotic weeds in North
Carolina. Castanea 41:177-180; 1976.
Pridham, A. M. S.; Bing, A. Japanese bamboo (Polygonum cuspidatum, Polygonum
sachalinens). Plants Garden 31(2):56-57; 1975.
Radford, A. E.; Ahles, H. E.; Bell, C. R. Manual of vascular flora of the
Carolinas. Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press; 1968.
Scott, R.; Marrs, R. H. Impact of Japanese knotweed and methods of control.
Aspects of Applied Biology 291-296; 1984.
Steffey, J. The buckwheat family. American Horticultural Society
59(7):10-11; 1980.
Young, R. G.; Balogh, R. A.; Sitler, T. R.; Aharrah, E. C. An investigation
of Japanese fleeceflower (Polygonum cuspidatum) planted on strip mines in
Clarion and Venango counties, Pennsylvania. Proceedings 1982 Symposium on
Surface Mining, Hydrology, Sedimentology, and Reclamation. Office of
Engineering Services, University of Kentucky, 143-152; 1982.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----