what is the plant called? it was good for kindling
- Thread starter Brocktor
- Start date
Looks like the dreaded Japanese Knotweed to me .... There are a few variations of this plant in the UK. Are any of the dead leaves around on the floor you could use for a correct id?
Ed
Ed
You say that your grandpa used to call it bambo. Does that mean it was hollow?
If that's the case then I would say that it's a large umbelifer, possibly hemlock.
Mr Mears used dead dry hemlock to get a fire started in his latest TV series.
If that's the case then I would say that it's a large umbelifer, possibly hemlock.
Mr Mears used dead dry hemlock to get a fire started in his latest TV series.
I agree, Japanese Knotweed.
Horrible invasive stuff because it regenerates so easily from only tiny amounts of suitable tissue (thankfully, the seeds are sterile) - although it's edible and good (harvest young shoots) it's an offense to cause its spread so you'll need to be very careful handling any live parts of it:
http://www.netregs.gov.uk/netregs/processes/367836/?version=1&lang=_e
I have to say I'd only touch Hemlock for tinder if I were truly desperate and couldn't find anything else. I'm sure someone will accuse me of being over cautious, or reel off a list or resons why it's perfectly safe when dead and dry but I'm not willing to make a liar out of my Grandmother or knock the lessons I learned at her knee.
There's plenty of other stuff to play with if I want to make a fire.
Horrible invasive stuff because it regenerates so easily from only tiny amounts of suitable tissue (thankfully, the seeds are sterile) - although it's edible and good (harvest young shoots) it's an offense to cause its spread so you'll need to be very careful handling any live parts of it:
http://www.netregs.gov.uk/netregs/processes/367836/?version=1&lang=_e
I have to say I'd only touch Hemlock for tinder if I were truly desperate and couldn't find anything else. I'm sure someone will accuse me of being over cautious, or reel off a list or resons why it's perfectly safe when dead and dry but I'm not willing to make a liar out of my Grandmother or knock the lessons I learned at her knee.
There's plenty of other stuff to play with if I want to make a fire.
My money would still be on an umbelifer such as cow parsley or hemlock.
Umbelifer flower heads, even dead dried ones, are pretty distinctive. If you can find one of them still on the stems then that will clinch it.
Umbelifer flower heads, even dead dried ones, are pretty distinctive. If you can find one of them still on the stems then that will clinch it.
I fear you'll lose your bet then Joker
Cow Parsely has a furrowed and slightly hairy main stem, plus the flower heads remain on the plant throughout winter. (It seems unlikely to me that none whatever would remain to be found unless they'd been actively removed by a herd of zealous florists passing by ) .
Japanese Knotweed has a stem that is smooth, hollow and similar to bamboo.
Cow Parsely has a furrowed and slightly hairy main stem, plus the flower heads remain on the plant throughout winter. (It seems unlikely to me that none whatever would remain to be found unless they'd been actively removed by a herd of zealous florists passing by
) .
Japanese Knotweed has a stem that is smooth, hollow and similar to bamboo.
Japanese Knot weed :borgsmile
KILL KILL BURN DESTROY
:AR15firin 
ggot a bit carried away there.
Looks like Japanese knotweed, not a nice plant to have growing anywhere as it will take over the world (well the uk anyway)
KILL KILL BURN DESTROY
:AR15firin ggot a bit carried away there.Looks like Japanese knotweed, not a nice plant to have growing anywhere as it will take over the world (well the uk anyway)
AAAAAAAAHHHHH run away....... had one plant four years ago now have nearly half an acre, hopefully successfully treated and burned
