Philadelphia scientist believes plant will protect Gulf Coast

In the wake of the BP oil disaster that continues to plague the Gulf Coast, every well-meaning business or busybody seemed to have an idea for how to save the black-soaked shores. From writing country songs to recollecting all the state quarters, these entities clearly meant well but most of their ideas were as clueless as Tony Hayward. In an effort to stop the tide of impracticality from choking out future relief efforts, one Philadelphia scientist is promoting the use of a new kind of plant that he believes can protect the Gulf ecosystem from further harm.

While doing field research in the Mississippi delta in 1968, botanist Ernie Schuyler profiled a mysterious plant he believed to have detoxification properties. Upon further investigation, Schuyler discovered similarities between the plant and a type of plant called the bulrush. He later named the plant the Delta Bulrush. Now, because of the plant’s ability to transmit oxygen to underwater microorganisms capable of decomposing oil, and because it is a native of the Gulf region, the Academy of Natural Sciences emeritus staffer believes the plant can be an asset in decomposing oil currently ravaging the Gulf.

“Since this plant is confined to deltas, it will be the first plant that the oil will encounter,” says Schuyler. “So in that respect, it can be a buffer for the rest of the marsh.”

In addition to acting as an oil-destroying force field for marshlands, the Delta Bulrush is incredibly tolerant of oil, able to grow in water that has been contaminated. The plant is abundant in the deltas of Mississippi and Alabama but, in places where the bulrush is not known to grow, Schuyler says there may be other plants with these same detoxification properties that clean-up crews should be aware of. While he admits that some of his suggestions may get labor-intensive, and may be too little too late, he has submitted reports on the Delta Bulrush to the Delta National Wildlife Refuge as well as researchers in Louisiana. He hopes that his colleagues locally, as well as clean-up crews in the Gulf will continue exploring the possibilities his Delta Bulrush may provide.

“Every Friday night here at the museum, I have a happy hour with some friends where I wheel the mobile bar in my office down the hall,” Schuyler says. “And I showed some people this specimen and they got excited about it and decided to alert the press. I don’t know if any of the Gulf folks will use the plant but we have a new post-doc here at the museum that wants to do something with it so we’ll see what happens.”

Source: Ernie Schuyler, Academy of Natural Sciences
Writer: John Steele