Invasive Stinknet’s Rapid Spread in Arizona Raises Environmental Concerns
Arizona’s landscape is witnessing a swift invasion by stinknet, a plant characterized by its small, yellow, globe-like flowers and distinctive odor. This invasive species is quickly becoming a significant ecological challenge for the state.
Challie Facemire, associated with the Central Arizona Conservation Alliance at the Desert Botanical Garden, explains the potential harm of stinknet. She notes, “It can look really pretty but it’s not good for the environment and not good for the people. It will fill in all the gaps in the desert where we naturally have fire breaks, and when it dries out, it is very flammable.”
Originating from South Africa, stinknet was introduced to the U.S. a few decades back and is now advancing across Arizona. Facemire highlights the plant’s prolific nature, saying, “Those little tiny round flowers, they don’t look like much, but they hold thousands of seeds. So they will spread quickly, they will get tracked around by people on their shoes, or get picked up by pets or wildlife.”
The plant presents a fire hazard when it desiccates, increasing its flammability. Facemire advises those with stinknet on their property to remove it carefully, recommending gloves and uprooting the plant to prevent further proliferation.
