This invasive alien weed was once a vicious grass by the rice paddies, now it has become a money tree for farmers

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Our country is vast and rich in resources, especially in the rural wild, where all kinds of wild grasses are even more numerous. Particularly after spring arrives, wild grasses in the rural wild begin to grow one after another. As for these wild grasses, it can be said that most farmer friends love them very much, because they have all kinds of value, such as edible or medicinal value. However, although our country is vast and rich in resources, there are still some wild places with invasive alien species. When these wild grasses first invaded our country's countryside, they could be described as "doing all sorts of evil." Below, the author introduces one such invasive alien wild grass.

When the author went out for a walk in the afternoon, I saw quite a few farmer friends digging grass by the edge of the rice paddies. Taking a closer look, it turned out they were digging a kind of "vicious grass," which is "alligator weed" (Alternanthera philoxeroides). Speaking of alligator weed, I think quite a few farmer friends must both love and hate it. Why is that?

Alligator weed is an invasive alien wild grass, native to Brazil, introduced into our country in 1930, and then escaped into the rural wild. Because alligator weed is an invasive alien wild grass, it has no natural enemies in our country's countryside, so it once became a "malignant weed" in the rice paddies.

How hateful is alligator weed? It is a perennial root-propagating wild grass. Its vitality is tenacious and its reproductive capacity is strong. As long as a few alligator weed plants are thrown by the edge of a rice paddy, it can quickly grow into a large patch. Moreover, alligator weed harms human and livestock health, endangers biodiversity and destroys the ecological environment, blocks water traffic, closes off river and pond surfaces, reduces crop yields, affects farmland irrigation and drainage, and thereby affects the economy.

In the rural wild, it is often found that alligator weed can grow in patches in various habitats such as lawns, farmland, river (water) banks, and wasteland, forming dominant populations. It has already caused great harm to agriculture, horticulture, the breeding industry, and the transportation industry, and has caused damage to ecosystems, the ecological environment, and biodiversity.

Therefore, in the past, alligator weed could be described as a major harmful grass and vicious grass in the countryside, deeply disliked by farmer friends. But now many farmer friends no longer dislike it. They even make use of its tenacious vitality and strong reproductive capacity to specially cultivate it, treating it like a "money tree."

Many people may not believe it, but now there are indeed farmer friends doing this. It is understood that alligator weed is a very good Chinese herbal medicine. The whole plant of alligator weed can be used as medicine, with the effects of clearing heat and promoting diuresis, cooling blood and detoxifying. It can be used to treat various symptoms such as the early stage of epidemic Japanese encephalitis, the initial stage of epidemic hemorrhagic fever, and measles.

In addition, alligator weed has good palatability and is also a high-quality feed. Livestock and poultry such as cattle, rabbits, and pigs all love to eat it. Moreover, alligator weed is also called "water spinach" and "hollow amaranth." It is a superior wild vegetable in today's life. Its taste is good and its nutritional value is also rich, and it is loved by quite a few people. According to farmer friends digging alligator weed by the rice paddies, this wild grass sold as a wild vegetable in the city can sell for about 6 yuan per jin, which is still quite profitable.

Dear friends, have you ever eaten this wild vegetable, alligator weed? You are welcome to leave a message and share!

Text/Hemu Report, Images/Hemu Report

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