Abstract
L. latifolium is an erect, branching perennial native to southern Europe and western Asia. It was accidentally introduced into countries outside of its native range as a contaminant of seeds such as Beta vulgaris. L. latifolium exhibits a wide ecological adaptation to different environmental factors, tolerating a range of soil moisture and salinity conditions, which has allowed it to spread explosively in recent years in wetlands and riparian areas especially in the western USA. L. latifolium thrives in many lowland ecosystems and is extremely competitive, forming monospecific stands that can crowd out desirable native species and a number of threatened and endangered species. L. latifolium alters the ecosystem in which it grows, acting as a 'salt pump' which takes salt ions from deep in the soil profile and deposits them near the surface, thereby shifting plant composition and altering diversity.
Neolithic Stamps: Cultural Patterns, Processes and Potencies
