Invasive alien plants represent an increasingly difficult problem. They can harm native species, endanger the habitat and have a detrimental impact on the environment. One plant that can be found among those invasive species is kudzu (Pueraria montana), which is a deciduous perennial and it belongs to the legume family (Fabaceae). Its origins can be traced back to Southeast Asia from where it has spread to other continents. Pueraria montana causes the most problems, especially in north America. It has also appeared in Slovenia. Kudzu is a plant, which is similar to the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The plant forms tuberous roots in the ground, storing carbohydrates which help it survive in dry and other extreme conditions. Its quelling is a long and arduous process. For optimal growth it needs mild winters and hot summers. The plant is useful especially in food production, medicine and farming where it’s used as fodder crop. In my B. Sc. Thesis I will discuss its characteristics, emergence and usability, as well as the effects it has on the environment and other organisms and the possibility of its expansion in Slovenia.
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