‘Alien’ Species, ‘Pertinacious Weeds’ and the ‘Ideal Weed’ – Revisited

Nimal R. Chandrasena

Keywords:

ideal weed pertinacity in weeds alien species rachel carson history of weed science herbert george baker asa gray

Abstract:

A sound knowledge of the history of Weed Science – is essential for us weed scientists to adapt to emerging challenges and paradigm shifts in our dealings with weeds. It is helpful to know how we got to where we are in Weed Science. This knowledge of history should include a good grasp of reflections and ideas of our founders, which defined the pathway for the discipline to evolve as an indispensable scientific endeavour it has now become. As in any discipline, there were seminal events, pivotal moments and key individuals whose efforts laid our foundations and pioneered a shared interest. In this Editorial, I wish to revisit a few of these, including two important symposia and the contributions of the American botanist - Asa Gray and the British-American evolutionary biologist - Herbert George Baker of ‘The Ideal weed’ fame.