Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: destructive

So beautiful, yet so devastating! This is one of our main invasive weeds, also called Canada Thistle, and it has taken over so many parts of our lovely natural areas. This species is native throughout Europe and northern Asia, and widely introduced elsewhere (including here, unfortunately). The name "Canada Thistle, is misleading, as the plant is not native to this country. Creeping Thistle is the preferred name - and WE don't want to be blamed for something so destructive, when we didn't start the whole thing, lol!! Each spring, it forms extensive clonal colonies from an underground root system that sends up numerous erect stems. Photographed (macro) this particular plant at Clearwater Park, on the west side of the city, off Highway 8, September 4th last year. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirsium_arvense

Couldn't resist photographing this spectacular seedhead of a Goat's-beard plant that was growing at Confluence Park a week ago. This is one of our most invasive, destructive plants and it has taken over a lot of our parks and natural areas. Introduced from Eurasia. The bright yellow flower is beautiful, as is the dandelion-like seedhead, but what a huge problem it is.

This Yellow Clematis is one of the worst invasive plants here in Alberta and it has done tremendous damage to the natural areas and parks in the city. An introduced plant from Japan, this semi-woody vine grows May-September. It has a wonderfully bright, attractive flower and gorgeous, silvery-haired seedheads, but it prevents native plants from growing and even strangles and kills huge trees. PLEASE don't plant this in your garden!