Illegal Hygro Polysperma
- Thread starter spunjin
- Start date
Personally, I have no problem complying with the Federal ban on these plants. There are so many other hygros that look just as good (or better) and they grow just as fast. These are all plentiful, available, and inexpensive. There's also a big variety of other fluffy, leafy, stem plants we can grow in clumps to add lots of color to a predominantly green aquascape. If we're not supposed to have this particular plant, okay.. no big deal. It's real easy for me to avoid this one by simply scratching it off my list. We already have such a huge variety of plants available to pick from no matter what tank conditions we're working with. It's not even possible to grow them all in one tank - the selections we have today are incredible.
I don't see any point trying to sneak certain plants here and there. Anyone looking at my tank who isn't knowledgeable about aquatic plants won't be impressed that I've chosen one species over another. They'll just admire, appreciate, or disregard the overall appearance based on how much they like it (or don't). But... Anyone who is knowledgeable about plants is going to take one look at my tank or photos I post of my tank and notice I've got an (illegal) polysperma in there. Fellow plant enthusiasts are going to think I'm either too stupid to know I'm growing a restricted plant... too careless to pay attention to serious environmental problems which prompt these bans in the first place... or too obstinant to follow very simple regulations on growing and transporting plants in this hobby.
I really enjoy having aquatic plants in my home and I value the natural environments around us. IMO, there's nothing to be gained by deliberately circumventing a Federal ban just to keep a single plant specimen.
I don't see any point trying to sneak certain plants here and there. Anyone looking at my tank who isn't knowledgeable about aquatic plants won't be impressed that I've chosen one species over another. They'll just admire, appreciate, or disregard the overall appearance based on how much they like it (or don't). But... Anyone who is knowledgeable about plants is going to take one look at my tank or photos I post of my tank and notice I've got an (illegal) polysperma in there. Fellow plant enthusiasts are going to think I'm either too stupid to know I'm growing a restricted plant... too careless to pay attention to serious environmental problems which prompt these bans in the first place... or too obstinant to follow very simple regulations on growing and transporting plants in this hobby.
I really enjoy having aquatic plants in my home and I value the natural environments around us. IMO, there's nothing to be gained by deliberately circumventing a Federal ban just to keep a single plant specimen.
I fed my h. polysperma and asian ambulia to my turtle as soon as discovered it was illegal to sell or trade. Don't want chance forgetting about something like that later on, especially if they suddenly start cracking down on it at some point.
Well I guess I learned something I thought it could be moved inside a state just not from state to state.
Thanks 247plants for the quote and thanks to all for the posts to help clear this up. I keep seeing posts for Hygro. Poly. for sale and I was getting confused because I thought it was illegal to sell/trade anywhere in the U.S.
I know this question isn't about hygro. poly., but what about frogbit? I saw it was on the noxious weed list but I see people moving in intrastate for sale/trade as well. legal or illegal?
No problem. There are many plants on the federal ban list that are traded and sold quite regularly. The USDA/APHIS cant track every single shipment. The reason you hear about hygro polysperma and frogbit so much is that they are extremely invasive.
For those reading this thread and think that you are untouchable, Im sure the USDA has been/does monitor this site. Members here have been visited by the USDA for what they are selling.
The only way Hygro Polysperma can be had now is from another hobbiest. You will be hard pressed to find it from a legit vendor.
Next time you are looking at your tank, think outside the box. Dont think, "Well gee, this plant looks great in my aquarium." Think about any plants you sell or dispose of improperly and the possible impact they could have in our native habitats. I dont think people often think about a seemingly harmless plant being able to destroy an ecosystem or choke out native species to extinction.
Tom Barr can cite way more than I can about invasives and their impact on our local waterways. Maybe he will chime in on this.
For those reading this thread and think that you are untouchable, Im sure the USDA has been/does monitor this site. Members here have been visited by the USDA for what they are selling.
The only way Hygro Polysperma can be had now is from another hobbiest. You will be hard pressed to find it from a legit vendor.
Next time you are looking at your tank, think outside the box. Dont think, "Well gee, this plant looks great in my aquarium." Think about any plants you sell or dispose of improperly and the possible impact they could have in our native habitats. I dont think people often think about a seemingly harmless plant being able to destroy an ecosystem or choke out native species to extinction.
Tom Barr can cite way more than I can about invasives and their impact on our local waterways. Maybe he will chime in on this.
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Frogbit has transport restrictions in a few places and whether you can have it or not depends on where you live.
California (noxious)
Maine (invasive)
Vermont (noxious)
Washington (european frobit must be quarantined)
Right. The H. poly because of the Federal Ban List and the frogbit because it's on that state's noxious weed ban.
