The number of places with Kudzu ? a smothering vine that can grow one foot per day, swamping everything underneath it including telephone poles, walls and homes ? has spread from two to 13 sites in just two years.

Director of Conservation Services Jack Ward sent an e-mail to all members of the Bermuda Botanical Society last Friday in order to get their support to stop the rampant spread of the extremely invasive species any further through the Island.

Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield first warned the public in May, 2004 about the exotic plant at the primary site near the Railway Trail at Grape Bay.

She said two other sites had been discovered in Warwick and that Kudzu threatened all plant life Island-wide.

Since 2004, the infected section of the Paget Railway Trial had most of its vegetation removed in order to kill the roots of the Kudzu plant.

However, the number of identified sites of the Kudzu plant ? which Ms Butterfield revealed in 2004 had been slowly gaining strength on the Island since the 1970s ? has increased six fold in just 24 months.

Mr. Ward said the smothering weed had now reached Trimingham Hill, Paget.

?There are at least two varieties established in isolated pockets locally,? the Conservation Director said in his e-mail. ?One variety has white flowers. It has now been recorded from 13 confirmed sites, up from three known sites two years ago. There probably are more.?

While he said Kudzu had not yet proven itself to be a problem locally, Conservation Services wanted to exterminate it before it became one.

Mr. Ward also asked the members to contact him immediately at 293-4464 ext. 114, if anyone saw any Kudzu plants like the variety found at Trimingham Hill.

? I will have a staff member visit the site, confirm the identification, and if it is indeed Kudzu, assist with control,? the Director of Conservation Services said. ?Reports should include accurate location ? a street address will do ? along with name and contact details of the observer. Ownership of the land would also be very helpful information as it is needed before we can take action.?