Native Habitat
On the left, a topographic map of the northern hemisphere and shows the habitats of Garlic Mustard. Red dots indicate areas where it is commonly found.
On the right, garlic mustard is a typical undergrowth in parts of Europe and Asia.
On the right, garlic mustard is a typical undergrowth in parts of Europe and Asia.
How it Lives
Garlic mustard is indigenous to Europe, northwestern Africa and, southern and central Asia. In its natural habitat garlic mustard is eaten by insects and fungi. It can grow in very shaded areas, which enables it to live in many different ecosystems. It typically lives in moist areas where there is not much sunlight such as a heavily forested river bank or delta.
During the first year of development, the plants leaves are wrinkled and do not take on any particular shape, but as the plant matures, the leaves take on a more triangular or heart-shaped appearance. During the second year spring the plant grows small white flowers that eventually turn into seed pods. Those pods are green until the fully mature, in which they are brown. The seed pod opens casting seeds onto the ground, and then new plants start to grow.
In its natural habitat, it is eaten by weevils, flea beetles and many other insects that are not present in North America where it invaded. The insects keep the population in check and make sure it does not over-populate the area. Herbivorous mammals will rarely graze on garlic mustard.
The plant releases a special chemical that kills most fungi which most forest plants need to grow. In it's natural habitat the chemical does not harm the fungi, and thus does not hurt the trees but in America where it invaded, the mosses are affected by the chemicals which in turn prevents the trees from growing. It also produces compounds that get into the soil after the plant dies and is decomposed that provide more favorable conditions for the new plant's growth. Those chemicals also prevent most herbivores from eating it.
During the first year of development, the plants leaves are wrinkled and do not take on any particular shape, but as the plant matures, the leaves take on a more triangular or heart-shaped appearance. During the second year spring the plant grows small white flowers that eventually turn into seed pods. Those pods are green until the fully mature, in which they are brown. The seed pod opens casting seeds onto the ground, and then new plants start to grow.
In its natural habitat, it is eaten by weevils, flea beetles and many other insects that are not present in North America where it invaded. The insects keep the population in check and make sure it does not over-populate the area. Herbivorous mammals will rarely graze on garlic mustard.
The plant releases a special chemical that kills most fungi which most forest plants need to grow. In it's natural habitat the chemical does not harm the fungi, and thus does not hurt the trees but in America where it invaded, the mosses are affected by the chemicals which in turn prevents the trees from growing. It also produces compounds that get into the soil after the plant dies and is decomposed that provide more favorable conditions for the new plant's growth. Those chemicals also prevent most herbivores from eating it.
Sources
Information: Wikipedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/allliaria_petiolata, Brickfields park; http://www.brickfieldspark.org/data/garlicmustard.htm
Pictures: Garlicmustard.org; Http://www.garlicmustard.org, Anacostia Watershed Society; http://www.anacostiaws.org/news/blog/aws-participates-international-garlic-mustard-field-survey
Pictures: Garlicmustard.org; Http://www.garlicmustard.org, Anacostia Watershed Society; http://www.anacostiaws.org/news/blog/aws-participates-international-garlic-mustard-field-survey