Letter: Buckthorn overlooked in article on naturalist Kennicott
Burt Constable's article on Robert Kennicott left out one damning fact of Kennicott's life! Kennicott was responsible for bring the invasive buckthorn plant from Europe to the United States as food for birds and use as a hedge.
Evidently, Kennicott did not know of buckthorn's damaging characteristics. It threatens the future of forests, wetlands, prairies and other habitats, because it out-competes other natural plants for nutrients, light and moisture. It degrades wildlife habitats and contributes to erosion. There are several groups in Illinois dedicated to its eradication.
C.W. Hays
Lake Forest
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.
If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.