California had 2.34 million acres covered by a toxic yellow weed until tiny Australian beetles fought back and reduced it by 99% within a decade |
For years, St. John’s wort was treated as a useful medicinal plant in parts of Europe. In northern California, its reputation became very different. The yellow-flowered weed spread across pasture and open land, reducing the value of grazing areas and creating another problem for livestock because animals that consumed enough of it could become dangerously…
