In the back of my mind, I knew that crape myrtles, genus Lagerstroemia, were blooming. But the crepe myrtle in the woods along the Yellow River surprised me. It made me realize — finally — that while I’d thought I’d seen crepe myrtles everywhere I hadn’t seen many in deep woods.
The many species of crepe myrtles are natives of China, Korea, Japan and the Philippines. A French botanist brought some to North America in 1790.
I don’t think it’s helpful to talk about crape myrtles being invasive at this point. The better question is whether native birds have adapted to these naturalized immigrants.
I was pleased to see that Gary Graves, an ornithologist with the National Museum of Natural History, was studying it. He noticed that goldfinches, juncos and house finches were eating the seeds of the crape myrtle in his yard.
To me, it’s interesting research, and I hope to follow it. Some research requires a lab stocked with expensive gear. This research required only a good question and observant eyes.
• John Barrat, “Crape myrtle trees aren’t native to the U.S., but hungry native birds still find them tasty; Smithsonian, Sept. 26, 2018.
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