Imagine standing in the Superstition Mountains, surrounded by a sea of yellow flowers. You might think you are in a fairy tale, but these are actually stinknet plants, an invasive species that is spreading rapidly across Arizona. They have a pungent odor and can cause allergic reactions in humans and animals. This is a serious ecological problem that needs urgent attention.
Stinknet is a tricky weed to control with herbicides. It pops up in different places and times every year, and it can sprout more than once in a season. These photos were taken in mid June, and show how different the plants mature and release their seeds. The two locations are only 20 miles apart, but the difference is striking.
Look at these photos taken along the lower salt river on the same day and location. They show how diverse and unpredictable stinknet can be.
These photos were taken 2 days earlier in the Superstition Mountains. Here the stinknet is fully matured and plants are dropping their seeds. The 2 sites are separated by less than 20 miles.
