PHOENIX — Spring has sprung and so has stinknet, a yellow flower you may have seen on the trails or in your backyard. But don't be fooled by the pretty yellow petals: this invasive species can cause rashes and is taking over backyards, empty lots and trails across State 48.
The invasive species native to southern Africa is a bright yellow ball-shaped flower that may look pretty but can quickly overtake native plants and become a major fire risk. The oils from the wildflower can also irritate your skin and if the leaves are burned, the smoke can lead to respiratory problems.
If you find the yellow flowers in your backyard, the first step is to make sure the plant is truly stinknet: Central Arizona Conservation Alliance Program Director Challie Facemire said there are a few plants that look very similar to stinknet.
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The Mexican or California gold poppy, alpine false springparsley, American wild carrot, purplenerve springparsley, queen anne's lace and scorpion weed all have similar-looking leaves to stinknet when they are young, but are different and in some cases, native to Arizona and necessary for the ecosystem.
One of the best ways to recognize stinknet is to know what the leaves look like rather than the flowers, as the leaves are distinct. You can see that they have "finely dissected, carrot-like leaves," according to the University of Arizona. If you're wearing gloves, crushing the leaves will release a turpentine-like odor.
Each stinknet flower has over 2,000 seeds in it, Facemire said. And the flowers can continue to produce seeds as long as it has the energy to do so — which is why Facemire said she recommends bagging the stinknet before throwing it away.
The Sonoran Desert Cooperative Weed Management Area recommends using repeated applications of herbicides like glyphosate and methylated seed oil to ensure the death of the weed after manually removing them. You can click here to find herbicide recommendations from the Southwest Vegetation Management Association.
If you are bagging stinknet, Facemire said wearing gloves and even using a face covering or mask is best practice. Some people are allergic to stinknet and even using gear does not prevent an allergic reaction.
"I actually pulled some that I've pressed for a ... laminated card to take to events and even taking it and putting it in the press I was sneezing for hours, just the single plant," Facemire said.
Haven't seen any stinknet in your backyard? Consider volunteering to help clear out vacant lots or natural areas. Facemire said there are opportunities to participate in "pulls" where you can help stop the spread of stinknet in your community or on your favorite trails.
"I would just encourage people to be on the lookout and you know, do what you can," Facemire said. "I will say, you know, don't go off trail trying to pull stuff like that on their own if they're in the parks because that can be unsafe and it can also you know damage other things that we want to keep around. But if you're like on a sidewalk and you see it and you happen to have a bag or something, you can pull it."
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