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Photos / Sounds

What

Virginia Dayflower (Commelina virginica)

Observer

adamfrancis

Date

July 28, 2015 08:26 AM EDT

Description

Commelina communis

Photos / Sounds

What

Chinese Bushclover (Lespedeza cuneata)

Observer

adamfrancis

Date

July 1, 2015 12:08 PM EDT

Description

espedeza cuneata (Dum.-Cours.) G. Don.
Pea family (Fabaceae)
Origin: Eastern Asia
Background
Chinese or Sericea lespedeza was introduced in the late 1800s by federal and state agencies for use in bank stabilization, erosion control, soil improvement, mine reclamation, forage, hay and other purposes. It has been escaping from plantings for many years and is a well established invasive plant.
Distribution and Habitat
Chinese lespedeza occurs throughout much of the eastern U.S. from Minnesota to Texas east to New York and Florida. It is found in a variety of habitats including fields, prairies, floodplains, pond borders, stream banks, swamps, meadows, open woodlands, roadsides and other disturbed grounds, prefers full sun and is not tolerant of much shade.
Ecological Threat
Chinese lespedeza poses the greatest threat to open areas such as meadows, prairies, open woodlands, wetland borders and fields. Once established, it out-competes and displaces native plants, forms extensive monocultures and develops an extensive seed bank in the soil, ensuring its long residence at a site. Its high tannin content makes it unpalatable to livestock and most native wildlife.

Bill Johnson
Description and Biology
Plant: warm season, perennial herbaceous plant with an erect growth form, 3-5½ feet in height; mature stems are somewhat woody and fibrous with sharp, stiff, flattened bristles.
Leaves: each leaf is divided into three smaller leaflets which are narrowly oblong and pointed, with awl-shaped spines and wedge-shaped bases; leaflets are covered with densely flattened hairs, giving a grayish-green or silvery appearance.
Flowers, fruits and seeds: flowers small (about ¼ in.) creamy white to pale yellow with central purple spots, single or in clusters of 2-4 in axils of upper and median leaves, summer; fruits form in fall; seeds tiny, bean-shaped, yellow to light brown.
Spreads: by seed that is consumed by animals such as bobwhite quail and passed through digestive tract and deposited in new locations.
Look-alikes: other species of Lespedeza including native and non-native species.
Prevention and Control
Do not plant Chinese lespedeza. Hand pulling is impractical due to lespedeza’s extensive perennial root system. Mowing plants in the flowering stage for two or three consecutive years may help control it. Plants should be cut as low as possible. Systemic herbicides can be effective when applied in early to mid summer (see Control Options).
Native Alternatives
Blue indigo (Baptisia australis) or yellow wild indigo (Baptisia tinctoria), partridge pea (Cassia fasciculata), Virginia wild rye (Elymus virginicus), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), wild senna (Senna hebecarpa or marilandica).

Photos / Sounds

What

Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense)

Observer

adamfrancis

Date

July 1, 2015 12:03 PM EDT

Description

Chinese privet
Management Plan

Introduction
Description
Impacts
Management
Preventative
Cultural
Mechanical
Physical
Biological
Chemical
Notes on Herbicides
References
View Management Plan as PDF (216 KB)
View Presentation on this Species:
Powerpoint format (PPT 17.1 MB)
Adobe PDF format (PDF 1.0 MB)
Introduction
Chinese privet is frequently found growing in disturbed sites from the northern counties south to Hillsborough county and Miami-Dade county. It is native to China but escaped cultivation.

There are about 50 species of Ligustrum, all native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia. Ligustrum has been developed into an assortment of ornamental varieties in the U.S. and other parts of the world. In 1852, privet was introduced to the United States for use as an ornamental shrub and is still commonly used as a hedge. Because of Ligustrum’s ability to tolerate air pollution and other poor environmental conditions, it was regarded as a great landscape plant and planted extensively. Unfortunately, this was before its invasive characteristics were discovered. Establishment of privet in many natural areas of Florida has occurred through its escape from cultivation. Glossy privet (L. lucidum) is listed as a Category II species with the potential to disrupt native plant communities in Florida by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. Chinese privet (L. sinense) is a Category I species that is currently disrupting native plant communities in Florida.

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Description
Ligustrum spp. are perennial shrubs that can grow up to 16 feet in height. Ligustrum bark is tan to gray in color with a smooth texture. Leaves are elliptic to ovate in shape, oppositely arranged on twigs. Flowers have both male and female parts. Each flower has petals fused into a tube with four separate lobes. Flowers are borne on small panicles on short lateral branches on the end of the twig. The oblong, blue/black fruit is a drupe containing 1 to 4 seeds. Fruit clusters persist through the winter. Mature trees can produce hundreds of fruit.

L. lucidum (glossy privet) is a large shrub or tree that grows to 30 feet in height, with spreading branches. Leaves are ovate to somewhat lanceolate and 3 to 5 inches long. L. sinense (Chinese privet) is smaller than glossy privet, growing to only 20 feet in height. Leaves are elliptic to somewhat oblong, 1 to 3 inches long, and pubescent on the midrib below.

Ligustrum spp. grows readily from seed or from root and stump sprouts. Wildlife can aid in the dispersal of the seed, often relocating the plant over long distances.

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Impacts
Ligustrum spp. is capable of invading natural areas such as floodplain forests and woodlands. The aggressive nature of privets allows for the formation of dense thickets that out compete desirable plants. The amount of seed produced by privet is another mechanism for its prolonged survival. Even though privet is still used in the landscape and available for purchase at garden centers and online distributors, it is an invasive weed and should be treated as such.

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Management
Ligustrum spp. control methods include mechanical controls such as mowing and cutting, physical control such as seedling removal and burning, and chemical control such as herbicide application. Herbicide control measures include foliar spraying in late autumn or early spring with glyphosate, triclopyr, or metsulfuron; cut stump applications using glyphosate or triclopyr; and basal bark applications of triclopyr.

Preventative
The first step in preventative control of privet is to limit planting and removal of existing plants within the landscape. If possible, removal should occur before seeds are produced. Since seeds remain on the plant for several months, care must be exercised to prevent seed spread and dispersal during the removal process.

Cultural
Plant native or non-invasive alternatives. Avoid large disturbances that allow for invasive species to colonize.

Mechanical
For smaller infestations or areas where herbicide applications are not feasible mowing and cutting are appropriate. Stems should be cut as close to the ground as possible at least once per growing season. Mowing and cutting will not eradicate Ligustrum spp., but it will provide some level of management. Continuous mowing will work, but frequency is key.

Physical
Hand pull young seedlings and small plants. Larger plants may need to be dug out. Plants should be pulled as soon as possible, before they produce seeds. The entire root must be removed to prevent resprouting.

Biological
Ligustrum spp. has no known biological control agents.

Chemical
Foliar applications of glyphosate or cut-stump applications of triclopyr or glyphosate are effective. Stems <0.5 inch diameter are susceptible to basal bark applications of 20% triclopyr-ester (Remedy) in oil. Larger stems must be notched or frilled.

Foliar sprays are effective for dense thickets of Ligustrum. Care must be taken to avoid non-target plants.The ideal time to treat is while plants are in leaf in late autumn or early spring but when many native species are dormant. Triclopyr at 1-2 quarts broadcast rate per acre or 2% solution are recommended.

The cut stump method should be considered when treating individual shrubs. Immediately after cutting stems at or near ground level, apply a 25% solution of glyphosate and water or triclopyr and water to the cut stump, being careful to cover the entire surface. Effectiveness of the herbicide is increased if holes are cut in the top of the freshly felled stump.

The basal bark method consists of a mixture of 25% triclopyr and 75% horticultural oil applied to the basal parts of the shrub to a height of 12 to 15 inches from the ground. Thorough wetting is necessary for good control; spray until run-off is noticeable at the ground line.

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References and Useful Links
Invasive and Exotic Species of North America

University of Florida Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants

University of Florida’s Cooperative Extension Electronic Data Information Source

Langeland, K.A. and K. Craddock Burks. 1998. Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas. IFAS Publication SP 257. University of Florida, Gainesville. 165 pp.

The Plant Conservation Alliance's Alien Plant Working Group. Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas

Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER). Plant Threats to Pacific Ecosystems

Invasive Plants of the Eastern United States

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Plants Database: http://plants.usda.gov
Batcher, M.S. 2000. ELEMENT STEWARDSHIP ABSTRACT for Ligustrum spp. Privet. The Nature Conservancy. Consulting Ecologist and Environmental Planner, 1907 Buskirk-West Hoosick Road, Buskirk, NY.

Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council

Excerpted from
University of Florida, IFAS Extension, Circular 1529, Invasive Species Management Plans for Florida, 2008 by
Greg MacDonald, Associate Professor Jay Ferrell, Assistant Professor and Extension Weed Specialist
Brent Sellers, Assistant Professor and Extension Weed Specialist
Ken Langeland, Professor and Extension Weed Specialist Agronomy Department, Gainesville and Range Cattle REC, Ona
Tina Duperron-Bond, DPM – Osceola County
Eileen Ketterer-Guest, former Graduate Research Assistant

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More Resources
See more information and pictures about Chinese privet, as contained in the Langeland/Burks book, Identification & Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas (1998).

EDIS publication: Biology and Management of Chinese Privet
by Rick Williams and Patrick Minogue.

EDIS publication: Ligustrum Weevil (suggested common name), Ochyromera ligustri Warner (Insecta: Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Tychiinae: Tychiini: Endaeina)
by J. P. Cuda, M. C. Zellar, and M. C. Thomas.

View the herbarium specimen image from the University of Florida Herbarium Digital Imaging Projects.

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Citations

  1. Identification and Biology of Nonnative Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas – Second Edition, by K.A. Langeland, H.M. Cherry, et al. University of Florida-IFAS Publication # SP 257. 2008.
  2. Invasive and Non-native Plants You Should Know - Recognition Cards, by A. Richard and V. Ramey. University of Florida-IFAS Publication # SP 431. 2007.
  3. Integrated Management of Nonnative Plants in Natural Areas of Florida, by K. A. Langeland, J. A. Ferrell, B. Sellers, G. E. MacDonald, and R. K. Stocker. University of Florida-IFAS Publication # SP 242. 2011.

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Photos / Sounds

What

Thistles and Burdocks (Subtribe Carduinae)

Observer

adamfrancis

Date

June 10, 2015 11:34 AM EDT

Description

From Wikipedia The seeds are an important food for Goldfinch and Linnet, and to a lesser extent for other finches.[18] Creeping Thistle foliage is used as a food by over 20 species of Lepidoptera, including the Painted Lady butterfly and the Engrailed, a species of moth, and several species of aphids.[19][20][21] Like other Cirsium species, the roots are edible, though rarely used, not least because of their propensity to induce flatulence in some people. The taproot is considered the most nutritious.[citation needed] The leaves are also edible, though the spines make their preparation for food too tedious to be worthwhile. The stalks, however, are also edible and more easily de-spined.[28] Bruichladdich distillery on Isle of Islay list Creeping Thistle as one of the 22 botanical foraged for use in their gin, The Botanist. [29]

The feathery pappus is also used by the Cherokee to fletch blowgun darts. [30]

Photos / Sounds

What

Persian Silk Tree (Albizia julibrissin)

Observer

adamfrancis

Date

June 10, 2015 09:07 AM EDT

Description

From Wikipedia. Mimosa pudica (from Latin: pudica "shy, bashful or shrinking"; also called sensitive plant, sleepy plant and the touch-me-not) is a creeping annual or perennial herb often grown for its curiosity value: the compound leaves fold inward and droop when touched or shaken, to defend themselves from harm, and re-open a few minutes later. The species is native to South America and Central America, but is now a pantropical weed. It grows mostly in shady areas, under trees or shrubs.

Photos / Sounds

What

Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata)

Observer

adamfrancis

Date

June 9, 2015 07:32 PM EDT

Description

Confused with arrow arrum or tuckahoe. This has a blue stalk and not white flower. Observed in wetlands and marshes (many home ponds) this has a heart shaped leaf as opposed to tuckahoe or arrow arrum which has a arrow shape

Photos / Sounds

What

Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum)

Observer

adamfrancis

Date

June 9, 2015 07:32 PM EDT

Description

Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum L.) has been cultivated for thousands of years and was introduced to North America in the seventeenth century. Rhubarb is an easy to grow, nutritious vegetable that can live in the garden for 10 to 15 years, and deserves more attention.

Photos / Sounds

What

Green Arrow Arum (Peltandra virginica)

Observer

adamfrancis

Date

June 9, 2015 07:12 PM EDT

Description

Peltandra virginica is a plant of the Araceae family known by the common names green arrow arum and tuckahoe. It is widely distributed in wetlands in the eastern United States. -wiki

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