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Invasive Species
European Frog-Bit
Hydrocharis morsus-ranae
Identification: Free-floating aquatic plant with small kidney shaped leaves in a rosette and a single white flower with three petals and a yellow center.
Habitat: Calm waters in ponds, lakes , rivers and flooded wetlands.
Concern: European frog-bit can form dense floating mats which has negative impacts on native vegetation, wildlife and water recreation activities.
Spread: Plant material can be transported via boats, kayaks, waders, duck hunting gear as well as connected bodies of water. Please make sure to clean plant material off all outdoor gear, boats, trailer and duck hunting dogs!
Lesser Celandine
Ficaria verna
Identification: Heart-shaped leaves; shiny, dark green in color; formed in a basal rosette, lower leaves opposite. Stems are erect with cream bulblets produced in stem axils. One inch flowers are bright yellow and glossy with 8-12 petals, blooming in April and May.
Habitat: Herbaceous ephemeral perennial growing from tuberous roots; 10-30 cm (4-12 in) tall; may form a continuous carpet. Emerges well before native ephemerals. Native to Europe. Found in floodplain forests, wet meadows, old fields and roadsides.
Concern: Lesser celandine forms dense mats and out competes native spring ephemerals. Hand-pulling or dig up for small infestations; effectively controlled using any of the several readily available general use herbicides such as glyphosate.
Spread: Primarily by bulblets and finger-like tubers, which can be moved by floodwaters, animals. The small BB sized bulblets lay on top of the soil and are easily tracked by hiking boots and deer hooves. Please remember to brush off your footwear!
Black Swallow-wort
Cynanchum louiseae (Vincetoxicum nigrum) and Cynanchum rossicum (Vincetoxicum rossicum)
Identification: Black swallow-wort is also known as dog strangling vine. This herbaceous vine can grow to 7 ft. The leaves are shiny dark-green and oval with a pointed tip. Small star-shaped flowers are dark purple and grow in clusters of 6-10 blooms.
Habitat: Black swallow-wort vines thrive in sun and shade. They are found in disturbed areas of roadsides, pastures , old fields and gardens.
Concern: The seed pods are milkweed-like and full of flat brown seeds with fine white hairs. The plant attracts monarch butterflies but is toxic to the caterpillars. The roots are toxic to mammals. The vines grow rapidly out competing native plants.
Spread: This invasive vine spreads by growing rapidly and producing an over abundance of seeds which are then spread by wildlife. If you see this vine, report it to www.MISIN.MSU.edu. You can manually remove it by carefully pulling up the roots. Do not mow.
Japanese Knotweed
Fallopia japonica (Polygonum cuspidatum)
Identification: Herbaceous shrub growing to 10 ft in height. The plant has hollow stalks, reddish zig-zag stems, large oval leaves with a pointed tip and flat base, and clusters of small white flowers forming spikes. Flowers bloom in August and September.
Habitat: Japanese knotweed can be found along roadsides, wetlands, wet depression, woodland edges, and stream or river banks. Full sun conditions are preferable, although this plant can tolerate some shade and a wide range of soil and moisture conditions.
Concern: Japanese knotweed grows very aggressively in disturbed areas. It excludes native plants by light limitation, nutrient cycling alterations, and allelopathy. This plant is tenacious and takes multiple years of treatment to control.
Spread: It spreads by rhizomatic roots and by seed which it produces abundantly. It also spreads from fragments of the plant so be sure not to mow or cut it as that will increase the population. Always double bag plant parts to dispose of in the landfill.
Common Reed (Invasive Phragmites)
Phragmites Australis
Identification: Tall (6-13ft) perennial grass with a rigid hollow stem. Leaves are flat, smooth and green to grayish-green. Flowers grow as dense, branched clusters on the end of each stem and become feathery when mature.
Habitat: Common reed, sometimes called phragmites, is often found in ditches, swales, wetlands, and on stream and pond banks.
Concern: Phragmites can be difficult to walk through (for humans and wildlife) and grows in tall, dense patches. The exotic strain can reduce native fish and wildlife populations, block out native salt marsh vegetation, and be a fire danger.
Spread: Phragmites australis is native to North America and commonly found around the world. One strain of this species is thought to be exotic or hybrid and is quickly replacing the native strain in many areas. It spreads from seed, rhizome and fragments.
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