Specimen of the Month: Garlic Mustard

Last spring, I was delighted to announce that our collections staff added the first garlic mustard plant to our herbarium. Why is this an exciting occasion?

Any plant submission contributes towards ongoing documentation and increased educational opportunities related to our local floral biodiversity. Garlic mustard in particular is also considered an invasive species for the whole state of Wisconsin, and it poses serious ecological threats. So, the (proper) removal of a plant not only adds to our herbarium efforts, but it also diminishes potential harm to our local ecological communities. 

You can read more about last year's garlic removal efforts in Cable here. Also, check out our summer calendar in a few weeks for an opportunity to participate in a garlic mustard pulling party, where you'll learn about effective removal strategies while helping out our community!