Traffic in plants and plant seeds

[Semjase]

>For what it's worth, I don't think that the analogy of free-will 
>regarding plants, is so hot.  In the last few years ecologists have 
>called attention to the huge problem that exotic plants, particularly 
>invasive species of exotics,  pose to natural vegetation.  Kudzu is just 
>an icon for dozens of invasive species that are changing landscapes 
>around the world.  I recently planted a Lantana, and horrified a visitor 
>from Hawaii where this plant is a devastating weed (indeed I saw a huge 
>monoculture of this plant in Volcanos NP). Fortunately Lantana is not 
>hardy with is (New Jersey), but lots of exotics are. 
>	Florida is a caricature of invasive plants and the irony is that 
>some officially designated pest-species are still being sold by 
>nurseries to home horticulturists.  
>	There are conflicting cults among butterfly-gardeners about 
>whether or not to include or even tolerate non-natives species in a 
>garden (even excluding Buddleia). 
>	The restricting of traffic in many plants is probably a good (if 
>too late) idea. 
>	In this regard, the Agricultural List Server is bursting with 
>controversy over bio-engineered seeds which produce plants that are 
>productive of food but effectively sterile (to keep farmers from 
>harvesting the seed for future plantings).  Likewise some tropical fish 
>farmers are producing only male fish, to prevent hobbyists from breeding 
>their own fish).  Maybe that's a good idea for horticulturists, to keep 
>exotics in check. 
>
Mike Gochfeld
>
What to do, what to do,  Come on guys nature is always changing and we are a
part of nature. We are an instrument of change so maybe nature is using us ass
an additional agent to spread species around.  Nature seems to care only about
those fit for survival.  It seems you guys would opt for a status quo situation
and it would not surprise me if someone would try to stop evolution itself.

S.