CHEMICAL AND MECHANICAL CONTROL OF FALSE HELLEBORE (VERATRUM-CALIFORNICUM) IN AN ALPINE COMMUNITY

Herbicide and mechanical control treatments for false hellebore (Verat rum californicum Durand) were applied in the early 1980's at an alpine site in central Utah. Periodic data collection through 1991 indicated the treatments' relative effectiveness. The 1991 data also evaluated natural recovery of the understory plant community. Mechanical treatme nts were most effective when the rhizome was disrupted; however, the e nsuing plant communities had a high density of weeds. Several herbicid es also effectively controlled false hellebore, with fewer weeds in th e understory afterward.