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Has anyone here used Japanese Knot Weed to build shelters?
I was wondering cos it's like Bamboo in texture (although a lot skinnier) it's a pest and and not on the botanists favourites list, and there is tons of it about.
I reckon its tough enough to make a sustantial frame at least
Any takers on this much maligned plant.
bushwacker bob
30-08-2004, 21:50
The stems are very weak.Although it looks similar to bamboo it is a perenial (sp) plant and as it grows rapidly to 2-3 metres I presume it only has a short time to lignify.the stems wouldnt support much weight but would maybe be good for thatching.Also I have only ever seen it flourish is full sunlight so you may have a long walk to find some if your in the woods.
Keith_Beef
01-09-2004, 14:07
Not much good. As a kid, we used to call it bamboo, because of the hollow stems.
The young shoots are apparently edible, and you might get water out of it, or use it as a pipe (for water, or for blowing into the embers of last night's fire to make it flare up). Maybe as a fishing float, if you can't find elder pith.
Keith.
Recipes at the bottom of this page - http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Knotweed.html
mammy_nun
16-08-2005, 21:01
Has anyone here used Japanese Knot Weed to build shelters?
I was wondering cos it's like Bamboo in texture (although a lot skinnier) it's a pest and and not on the botanists favourites list, and there is tons of it about.
I reckon its tough enough to make a sustantial frame at least
Any takers on this much maligned plant.
Problem with Japanese Knotweed is it's so invasive. Introduced by the victorians in Britain there is only female plants no males (or the other way round). All the Japanese Knotweed you see comes from that original plant reproducing vegatively. A small piece of knotweed 1/4inch long has a 70% chance of re-growing. If you pull it and move it you will be spreading it. Best not.
Problem with Japanese Knotweed is it's so invasive. Introduced by the victorians in Britain there is only female plants no males (or the other way round). All the Japanese Knotweed you see comes from that original plant reproducing vegatively. A small piece of knotweed 1/4inch long has a 70% chance of re-growing. If you pull it and move it you will be spreading it. Best not.
I agree. Unless you're deliberately removing it for destruction or for eating, best leave it alone. It tastes like cheugh rhubarb, is okay cooked, and it helps to mordant wool for dyeing.
Cheers,
Toddy
The stuff is so invasive that it is illegal to move it, if removed it has to be destroyed/burnt on site. If a developer finds it on a site he wishes to build on he has to remove the topsoil completely!
It does grow in woodland edges and has started take over a field we use it seems to be growing out instead of up as we have chopped it back :(
I beleive there are plans to introduce a bug, an insect or fungi, that eats the plant as it has no natural enemies in europe although it is grazed it grows back after grazing stops. I think the fact that this is being considered shows how serious this plant is!
As you can probably tell we are having a small batlle with it at the moment, but the scale of the problems in other places surprised me when I googled it.
http://www.cabi-bioscience.org/html/japanese_knotweed_alliance.htm #prob