The Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona, is asking members of the public to keep an eye out for a new creeping threat in the Sonoran Desert: invasive stinknet. This strongly scented herb is currently blooming across southern Arizona, and park officials want it removed before it sets seed.
Stinknet (Oncosiphon pilulifer) is an invasive species that is native to southern Africa. It is characterized by a vibrant yellow flower that dunes and scrubland. It spreads via seeds that can be transported long distances by human activity. Although it is pretty to look at, biologists believe it may be the most dangerous invasive plant since – another plant native to Africa, as well as Asia and the Middle East – was introduced in the 1930s.
Stinknet is not only starting to take over native wildflowers, but it also poses several risks to health and overall safety within its ecosystem. It tends to grow in thick, dense strands which become significant fire risks when they dry out. The plant also has oily foliage that can irritate the skin, and the smoke it produces when burnt has been linked to respiratory problems, as it is caustic.
This is why the National Park is calling on visitors and residents of the wider Tucson area: they need people to help track down the flowers so they can monitor its spread and then remove it.
“We have a unique opportunity right now to work together and protect this desert landscape that we love,” Frankie Foley, a biologist at Saguaro National Park, said in a . “We’re asking the public to notify us when they find stinknet plants by going to and submitting a report. We are monitoring those reports daily and contacting landowners to prevent further spread.”
If you are feeling particularly invested, you can also join one of the that are being organized by the National Park in collaboration with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Pima County, Tucson Audubon Society, and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
Most importantly, if you do come across the stinknet in the wild, you should avoid touching or stepping on it. In fact, avoid getting close to it at all. This is because you may unwittingly carry some of its seeds to new places, inadvertently contributing to the spread of this yellow scourge.