New from the Aquatic Prescription Specialists Renovate Aquatic Herbicide Introducing the newest aquatic herbicide development in over \S years, Renovate aquatic herbicide, Renovate was designed Co be effective on submersed, emerged and floating aquatic plants — u feature that allows Renovate to Restore wetlands, marshes and shorelines as well as lakes, ponds and canals. With its highly effective systemic mode of action, Renovate provides selective control to help restore? aquatic habitats knotted with nuisance and exotic plants including Eurasian Wnrermilfiiil, Purple Ijnoseslrife, Water Hyacinth, mid Alligator Weed among others. Renovate. We couldn’t think of a better name for wetland and lake restoration. Renovate is a systemic herbicide which controls the enure plant. Renovate rapidly enters plants through leaf and stem uptake, moving throughout plant tissues and downward into the roots disrupting the plant's growth metabolism. Renovate stimulates uncontrolled growth that iwmlis in herding and twisting of stems and leaves- "epimislY 1 ’ — and uh in lately results in the collapse cuf the Renovate wa^ developed to cvntroi submersed? emerged and floating aquatic piantx suck ax; Kuraxian Wttit'nniffuil ihtjjfh' t jHt.umrifi* Water Uyurhuh SePRO Corporation 1 1550 North Meridian Street. Suite 600, Carmel IN 46032 Untreated t wtek afier treatment 4 neeks after treatment F.jiftpiUirt WibiiiTinilftuI tended nilfi RriOnjite f I jTjtritf, \ fm Wi the rvridtwl COOftpSt of the plant strut lute bain* the \arface of the tealcK Anti because Renovate is very effective on hmcitilenf plants, while leaving beneficial native grasses untouched. it accelerates habitm "renovation.” RiinqvatC’s selective, systemic eheinislry is an oiiKtandintT partner ill rotation with biological control agents arid is ail exec lie lit choice for use hi Integrated Pest Management (1PM) programs. And Keraivaie’s formulation is compatible with other aquatic herbicides, adjuvants, and surfactants providing greater application ncxihiliLy“OL]tperldrming comparable application programs, For more Lilbrniraioii about Renovate, contact yottrSePKO Aquatic Specialist or call ns at 1-KIH1-4I 9-7779 Visit oar web site at w\v w-St-PRO-cum. Available in 2.5 gulturt Curtluiitt'fS caaa fiePflQr I| iimi i’- Imhii Co-AgECQcnen. ini SgflilflapMai. Ma^i mad nre fe*M dteasni beta* Miyng a - iwiq to paso. FLORIDA EXOTIC PEST PLANT COUNCIL Officers Jim Burney, Chair Aquatic Vegetation Control, Inc. 561/845-5525 LlJ2@aol.com Cressida Silvers, Secretary USDA/ARS 954/475-0541 ext. 144 csilvers@Saa.ars.usda.gov Kristina Kay Serbesoff-King, Treasurer South Florida Water Management District 561/682-2864 kserbes@sfwmd.gov Karen Brown, Editor University of Florida Center for Aquatic & Invasive Plants 352/392-1799 kpb@mail.ifas.ufl.edu Mike Bodle, Immediate Past Chair South Florida Water Management District 561/682-6132 mbodle@Sfwmd.gov Directors Roger Clark (1st year) Lee County Parks & Recreation 239/461-7453 Roger @ ecgov.com Drew Leslie ( 1st year) Florida DEP Bureau of Invasive Plant Management 850/245-2822 Drew.Leslie@dep. state, fl. us Cressida Silvers (1st year) Jim Duquesnel (1st year) Florida Park Service 305/451-1226 james.g.duquesnel@dep.state.fl.us Robert Egan (2nd year) Habitat Restoration Resources 239/574-8173 HabitatRR@yah oo.com Amy Ferriter (2nd year) South Florida Water Management District 561/687-6097 aferrite@Sbvmd.gov Matthew King (2nd year) Palm Beach County 561/233-2400 mking@co.palm-beach.fl.us Chris Lockhart (2nd year) Habitat Specialists, Inc. 561/738-1179 chris@iabitatspecialists.com Committee Chairs By-laws Dennis Giardina 941/657-7637 Dennis_Giardina@fws.gov CAST Representative Dennis Giardina Ken Langeland (alternate) Editorial Karen Brown Education Leesa Souto Midwest Research Institute 321/723-4547 Ext. 200 lsouto@nriresearch.org FNGA/FLEPPC Liaison Doria Gordon University of Florida The Nature Conservancy 352/392-5949 dgordon@botany.ufl.edu -and- JB Miller Florida Park Service 904/794-5959 millerjb @ug.com Legislative Matthew King Local Arrangements Mike Bodle Membership Katy Roberts 727/726-1455 kroberts@j.net Merchandise Bill Snyder National Park Service 941/695-1231 Bill_Snyder@ips.gov Nominations Mike Bodle Outreach Tom Fucigna R.L. Weigt Environmental Consultants, Inc. 561/545-9672 tomlucignajr@hotmail.com Plant List Kathy Craddock Burks Florida Natural Areas Inventory 850/224-8207 Ext. 210 kburks@hai.org Program Tony Pemas Research John Volin Florida Atlantic University 954/236-1115 jvolin@au.edu Training Jim Duquesnel Vendors Scott Ditmarsen Dow AgroSciences 813/866-7090 scditmarsen@dow.com Webmaster Tony Pernas Florida Caribbean Exotic Plant Management Team South Florida Ecosystem Office 305/224-4246 Tony_Pernas@ps.gov Work Groups Australian Pine Robert Egan Brazilian Pepper Jim Cuda University of Florida Entomology Department 352/392-1901 Ext. 126 Jcuda@fas.ufl.edu Carrotwood Chris Lockhart Dioscorea Mik e Bodle Grasses Greg MacDonald University of Florida Agronomy Department 352/392-1811 Ext. 228 gemac@mail.ifas.ufl.edu lygodium Amy Ferriter/Tom Fucigna Skunkvine Brian Nelson SWFWMD 2379 Broad Street Brooksville, FL 34609-6899 352/796-7211 Brian. Nclson@kwfwmd.state.fi. us Chinese Tallow Cheryl McCormick Cheryl@ga.edu Melaleuca Francois Laroche South Florida Water Management District 561/682-6193 flaroche@fwmd.gov SOUTHEAST EXOTIC PEST PLANT COUNCIL President Brian Bowen Tennessee Dept Environment and Conservation Division of Natural Heritage 615/532-0436 Brian. Bowen @tate.tn. us Vice President Joyce Bender Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission 502/573-2886 Joyce.Bender@y.us Secretary Kristen Gounaris Allen Richmond National Battlefield Park 804/795-5019 Kristen_Allen@ps.gov Treasurer Tony Pernas, Florida EPPC SE-EPPC Chapters and Regional Organizations: Alabama Florida Georgia Kentucky Mid-Atlantic Mississippi New England North Carolina Tennessee The Fhrida Exotic Pest Plant Council has not tested any of the products advertised or referred to in this publication, nor has it verified any of the statements made in any of the advertisements or articles. The Council does not warrant, expressly or implied, the fitness of any product advertised or the suitability of any advice or statements contained herein. Wildland Weeds Summer 2004, Volume 7, Number 3 Table of Contents 4 Lygodium Infestations in the Lake Wales Ridge by Tabitha Biehl 5 Important Progress on the Lygodium microphyllum Biological Control Program by Robert W. Pemberton 6 Japanese Climbing Fern Control Trials In Planted Pine by Mark Zeller and Drew Leslie 10 “Something wicked this way comes. . A Shakespearean perspective on exotic pest plants by Don H. Les 12 Exotic Species Threaten Rare Ferns in Miami-Dade County by Jennifer Possley 17 Invasive Exotics Affect Park Utilization by Karen Brown 19 Hawaiian Plant Threatens South Carolina Dunes by Robin Roecker and Tommy Socha 22 Legislative Update by Matthew King 25 FLEPPC & SE-EPPC in 2004 by Thaddeus Hunt 26 Internodes 27 Notes from the Disturbed Edge Visit these websites: Florida EPPC: www.fleppc.org Southeast EPPC: www.se-eppc.org Wildland Weeds (ISSN 1524-9786) is a quarterly publication of the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC) and the Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council (SE-EPPC). Wildland Weeds is published to provide a focus for the issues and concerns regarding exotic pest plant biology, distribution and control. To become a member of FLEPPC or SE-EPPC and receive the Council newsletter and Wildland Weeds magazine, contact the respective Treasurer or website. Direct all editorial and advertising inquiries to: Karen Brown, Editor Wildland Weeds 7922 NW 71st Street Gainesville, FL 32653 352/392-1799; FAX 352/392-3462 kpb@nail.ifas.ufl.edu Direct address changes to: Jackie Smith DEP - Invasive Plant Management 9737 Gumbo Limbo Lane Jensen Beach, FL 34957 561/722-2479 j ackie. c . smith (adep . state, fl. u s Editorial Committee: Mike Bodle Kathy Craddock Burks Jim Cuda Tom Fucigna Ken Langeland On the Cover: An aerial survey of Highlands County, Florida revealed this Lygodium microphyllum infestation, covering more than 100 acres near Lake Placid. Photo by Thbitha Ann Biehl. WILDLAND WEEDS 3 Lygodium Infestations in the Lake Wales Ridge by Tabitha Biehl, The Nature Conservancy lygodium invades lake front property and backyards in Highlands County, FL. During the aerial survey Lygodium was frequently identified along lake edges and in ditches, but even more infestations were mapped in remote swamps and iso- lated habitats. Photo by Tabitha Ann Biehl. INTRODUCTION On a recent aerial survey over the Lake Wales Ridge in Highlands and Polk counties, biologists marveled at the beauty and biodiversity of the Ridge’s unique scrub habitat, dotted with wetlands and sparkling lakes, only to be shocked moments later by what looked like a green carpet smothering the landscape. The mission during these flights was to map locations of invasive species. Biologists expected to find Lygodium,-, however, they did not expect infestations larger than 10-20 acres. The “green carpet” Lygodium infestation encountered in Highlands County encom- passed 100-200 acres of lake front property. This green carpet, better known in the invasives world as Lygodium microphyllum (Old World climbing fern), is spreading north and, together with Lygodium japonicum (Japanese climbing fern) expanding to the south, it is tightening a noose around central Florida. Lygodium microphyllum and L. japonicum are relatively new threats to the Lake Wales Ridge and may be the most threatening of the invasive non-native plant species currently known in Florida. It is Lygodium’s ability to spread, dominate and alter nat- ural regimes that inspired the Lake Wales Ridge Ecosystem Working Group (LWREWG) to try and halt further infestations. The LWREWG works across public and private boundaries to ensure the long-term protection of the native plants, animals and natural communities of the Lake Wales Ridge. Representatives from 12 conservation agencies participate in LWREWG Invasive Species Committee meetings to share information, plans and solutions. The presence of Lygodium on the Lake Wales Ridge prompted the committee to collectively develop objectives and strategies to address this threat. The LWREWG Invasive Species Committee’s objective is to detect and contain by 2006 invasive species on private and public lands that could become larger infestations. By 2013, we hope to have Lygodium under a maintenance control plan whereby infestations are continuously surveyed and treated. A June 2003 brainstorming session resulted in a work plan that guides efforts to manage Lygodium along the Ridge and meet our stated objective. A strategy that emerged as top priority was to conduct surveys of the Lake Wales Ridge in order to map the Lygodium infestations SURVEY METHODS The LWREWG Invasive Species Committee plans to conduct systematic and repeatable ground and aerial surveys for Lygodium. Standardizing methods across the Ridge enables partners to com- pare results and measure the success of management methods across the entire ecosystem. Locations of Lygodium are collected from private and public landowners. TWice a year, participants submit their most recent Lygodium locations to Avon Park Air Force Range (APAFR). Once compiled and spatially referenced, 4 SUMMER 2004 The committee recognizes that continued surveying and mapping of Lygodium are imperative in managing the fragile ecosystems of the Lake Wales Ridge. the information is disseminated back to participants in the form of a map, data, or both. Ground Surveys Ground survey methods were adopted from APAFR and the Florida Division of Forestry (DOF). The protocol recommends using belt transects and multiple observers to survey areas from the ground. Aerial Surveys South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) aerial survey protocols were implemented by the LWREWG. These include establishing east/west transects 1,000 meters apart across the area of concern. With two or three observers and a global positioning system (GPS) unit, we use nested points to continuously log survey transects and record data. The helicopter hovers 50-100 feet over the treetops. When an invasive plant is spotted, the helicopter exits the transect and hovers over the location. Observers then map the location as a point and record information on size, habitat and density of infestation. Once this information is collected, the helicopter returns to the transect and continues surveying. SURVEY RESULTS As of March 2004, there were 213 mapped locations of Lygodium on the Lake Wales Ridge (ground survey information last updated January 2004). By comparing locations from the helicopter survey (111) to the ground surveys (110), only eight of these locations were duplicates, meaning 103 new infestations were mapped during the aerial survey. This information provided great insight into the immediacy of the problem on the Ridge. The helicopter survey covered approximately 400,000 acres of the Ridge and resulted in the mapping of an estimated 400- 800 acres of Lygodium. Observers discovered larger and more frequent infestations of Lygodium towards the southern end of the Ridge. Ninety locations were found in Highlands County and 21 locations in Polk County during the aerial survey. Of the 111 locations of Lygodium found during the helicopter survey, only 27 were on conservation lands. Almost all of these infestations have been located and treated with herbicides. The remainder of the locations (84) are on private lands. The LWREWG Invasive Species Committee continues to develop and implement survey and treatment strategies to assist with control of both species of Lygodium on private and public lands. Acknowledgements The helicopter survey was made possible by the South Florida Water Management District. I would also like to acknowledge Anne Malatesta (DOF), Sandy Greer (DOF), David Blood (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission), Adam Peterson (The Nature Conservancy), Torn Shean (DOF) and Peg Margosian (APAFR) for their participation in surveying and data analysis. For more information, contact Tabitha Biehl, Research and Monitoring Biologist, The Nature Conservancy, Lake Wales Program, 863-635-7506, tbiehl@tnc.org Important progress on the Lygodium microphyllum biological control program by Robert W. Pemberton, US Department of Agriculture- Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Invasive Plants Research Laboratory USDA-Agricultural Research Service scientists are one step closer to releasing the first biological control agent against Old World climbing fern ( Lygodium microphyllum). Our petition requesting release of a defoliating moth, Cataclysta camptonozale, has been approved by the Technical Advisory Group for Biological Control of Weeds, the federal interagency group that evaluates such petitions. This approval is a recommendation for release to USD A- APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service), the responsible regulatory agency. It is the first and most critical step in the permitting process. Approval led to the second step, the preparation of a draft Biological Assessment that judged the risk to federally protected rare species to be insignificant. USDA- APHIS is now finishing the Environmental Assessment that will be published in the Federal Register. If there are no serious challenges to the release during the 30-day public comment period, USDA- APHIS will issue a release permit. If there are legitimate objections to the release (none are expected but they can occur), written responses and more research may be needed. We’ve got our fingers crossed in hopes of receiving a release permit by autumn. A release petition for another candidate for biological control of Lygodium, a gall forming eriophyid mite named Floracarus perrepae, was submitted in February. Other biological control candidates including a second defoliating moth, Neomusotima conspurcatalis, and a stem-boring moth, Ambia sp., are being studied. USDA-ARS scientists are committed to developing biological controls to limit this terrible weed. This research effort is possible thanks to partnerships with the South Florida Water Management District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection that provide essential funding, and our overseas cooperators, particularly Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO). For more information, contact Robert Pemberton at bobpem@ saa.ars.usda.gov, 954-475-0541 ext. 106. Adult moth, Cataclysta camptonozale, on Old World climbing fern, Lygodium microphyllum. Photo by Christine Bennett, University of Florida, Entomology and Nematology Dept. WILDLAND WEEDS 5 Japanese Climbing Fern Control Trials In Planted Pine by Mark Zeller and Drew Leslie, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Invasive Plant Management Introduction Japanese climbing fern ( Lygodium japonicurrv, Figure 1), native to Eastern Asia, is naturalized across the Southeastern US. It is a Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC) Category I invasive plant that occurs in some 29 counties in Florida, particularly in the north central, north and west regions. Japanese climbing fern forms dense mats over ground cover and climbs into tree canopies. This species has not been observed to form the dense arboreal blankets in tree canopies seen with Old World climbing fern ( Lygodium microphyllum ) , possibly due in part to freeze damage in populations above the Florida frost line. Both species of Lygodium were added to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) noxious weed list, Rule 5B- 57.007, FAC, in 1999. This rule prohibits introduction, cultiva- tion and transport without a permit issued by FDACS. In northern Florida, entrepreneurs lease rights on pine plan- tations to rake pine straw to bale and sell as landscape mulch. Many of these tree farms are infested with Japanese climbing fern (Figure 4). Pine straw bales have been a suspected vector for the disbursement of viable Japanese climbing fern plant parts and spores for several years. Numerous observations of fertile leaflet fragments in baled pine straw have been made in the Panhandle (personal observation). The end use of these bales is in residential, commercial, and right of way landscape beds. These sites would offer suitable conditions for Lygodium growth (Figure 2). Recent official complaints concerning transport of Japanese climbing fern in baled pine straw initiated action by FDACS as a violation of Rule 5B-57, for possession and transport of a prohib- ited agricultural weed. FDACS arranged a meeting with members of the pine straw industry to discuss standardization of practices and to offer the pine straw industry the opportunity to address this problem and find an industry-initiated solution. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Upland Invasive Plant section was invited to this meeting and agreed to design climbing fern control trials in planted pines. Controlled field trials with cal- ibrated agricultural equipment might yield information useful to control of this species on conservation lands, as well. Materials and Methods TVials were conducted at one site in Hamilton County and one in Calhoun County. The trials were designed to emulate typ- ical forestry applications used by pine straw producers. Tractor broadcast spray equipment was calibrated by measuring spray volume per minute delivered and width of the spray pattern. Time to traverse the plots was adjusted to assure application rates were as close to design as practical. Plot sizes were 300 feet long by 21 feet wide at the Calhoun site and 25 feet wide at the Hamilton site. One row was left untreated between each treatment row as a buffer. Table 1 lists herbicides and rates used in the trial plots. One plot outside of the test area was sprayed by the pine straw farmer’s foreman, Tick, using an unspecified “Tick’s Roundup- Garlon 4 Brew.” This plot was an actual operational control that we observed. Treatments were evaluated at 0, 15, 30, 60, 90, 180, 270 (300 days for Hamilton County), and 400 (Calhoun County only) days after treatment (DAT). Evaluations were made by two or more people walking the plots and independently ranking percent cover of live Lygodium. Within each plot, percent cover of living continued on page 8 BROADCAST APPLICATION RATE AMOUNT OF PRODUCT IN THE MIX Herbicide Low Rate High Rate Hamilton Calhoun Accord 2 Qts/a 6 Qts/a 1.8% -5.6% 1.4% -4.2% Garlon 4 1 Qt/a 4 Qts/a 0.9% -3.7% 0.7% -2.8% Veteran 720 4 Qts/a 8 Qts/a 3.7% -7.4% 2.8% -5.6% Escort 1 Oz/a 2 Oz/a — 0.8-1. 6 g/gal Velpar L 2 Qts/a 4 Qts/a 1.4% -2.8% Table 1. Herbicide broadcast application rates and amounts of herbicide in total mix for the low and high rates are provided. Accord (41.5% glyphosate), Garlon 4 (61.6% triclopyr ester), and \feteran 720 (24.58% 2,4-D and 12.82% dicamba ) were used at both the Calhoun and Hamilton county sites. Escort (60% metsulfuron methyl) and \felpar L(25% hexazinone) were applied only at the Calhoun County site. Anonionic surfactant (Kinetic) was used at 0.5% with each herbicide mix. 6 SUMMER 2004 Take it up with Management DuPont \fegetation Management Portfolio It takes muscle to handle tough weeds and brush. You need professional grade solutions from DuPont. For years, DuPont has been the industry leader in vegetation management with a portfolio of time-proven products and new formulations providing you the power to tackle tough weeds. DuPont herbicides and brush control agents are convenient, cost-effective and backed by a team ofprofessionals. If unwanted vegetation is getting to be a problem, take it up with Management. See your local DuPont Service Center for more information. vegetationmanagement.dupont.com Always read and follow all label directions and precautions for use. The DuPont Oval, DuPont™, and The miracles of science™ are registered trademarks or trademarks of DuPont or its affiliates. Copyright © 2004 El. du Pont de Nemours and Company. All Rights Reserved. Marestail image courtesy of Dr. Fred Rshel, University of Missouri 03VEGM067P126AVA — • • . _ • The miracles of science™ Japanese Climbing Fern continued Lygodium was scored from 0 to 10 for each 10-yard interval and summed to yield percent cover for the plot. Data from each eval- uator were averaged for each plot and then scaled by transform- ing to percent change from day zero (Figure 3). Initial percent cover ranged from 21% to 47% in the Calhoun County plots and 22% to 45% in the Hamilton County plots. Results and Discussion Hamilton County trials were begun on September 26, 2001. All treatments resulted in suppression of Lygodium compared with the control plots (Figure 3). However some materials performed much better over the long term. At 15 DAT the Veteran 720 resulted in the most herbicide damage followed by Garlon 4 (Figure 3). The effects of winter burn are evident in data for the control plots; at 180 DAT percent cover was 26% lower than Day 0. By 300 DAT, all trials still showed suppression versus Day 0 and the patterns in the control plots, but only plots treated with Accord exhibited acceptable levels of long-term control. “Tick’s Roundup -Garlon 4 Brew” plot was sprayed by the con- tractor. Based on our measure of the width of the tractor spray pattern, this would have nearly doubled his application rate per row because of overlap. This plot also was mowed about two months after treatment, which is a standard industry practice. Calhoun County trials were begun October 19, 2001. The Escort and Velpar L applications were made 30 days later. The Veteran 720 and Garlon 4 applications worked quickly compared with Accord, Escort and Velpar L (Figures 3 and 4). By 270-400 DAT the Veteran 720 and Garlon 4 plots exhibited much Lygodium regrowth and were near or greater than initial population levels. Escort plots (240 DAT) exhibited good overall control with greater than 80% suppression of Lygodium and extensive green healthy natives present. By 370 DAT Lygodium in the Escort plots was beginning to recover. Accord at 270 and 400 DAT resulted in more than 80% suppression but there was much more damage to native understory plants relative to Escort plots. The winter burn in controls was approximately 29% at 180 DAT. Calhoun County Lew kjm tinuikif l Application % aura* in Cm( — w — — * — — o - Aewri 2 Qt/j | Gw** i qt/i = p O EHJWl 1 QEf* % L* £ v*ip*n. 2 qt'i L 3 Gertie* fj 5 L I'll 120 L&0 240 an r Calhoun County H-£fi drortcnt Accrittilron % in Cmi Hamilton County Site in Hamilton County Hleh R-pb? Brpndcis? ippJhu'i'Tn % Cliinp In Dw PAT DAT Figure 3. Percent change in cover from Day 0 data for Japanese climbing fern in planted pine in Calhoun and Hamilton counties, Florida. SUMMER 2004 Figure 4. Photopoints from the Calhoun County Japanese climbing fern control plots. Garlon 4 and Veteran 720 produced a quick knockdown of lygodium but control was of short duration relative to Accord and Escort. Accord gave good long term control of lygodium but induced severe non- target impacts to understory plants. Escort also produced excellent long term lygodium control but with less impact to native under story plants. Accord and Escort both were very effective at long-term control of Japanese climbing fern. Escort performance at 1-2 oz/a was desirable from a natural resource perspective because of the reduced non-target damage of understory plants relative to Accord. However, Escort would be inade- quate for the needs of the pine straw farmers because the industry desires long term bare ground knockdown of all understory plants without impact to pine trees. Based on our results we would recommend 6 quarts of Accord (Roundup) per acre to the pine straw farmers. The results in the Hamilton County “Tick’s Roundup -Garlon 4 Brew” plot indi- cate that a higher rate of a Roundup -Garlon 4 mix also may be sufficient for the pine straw farmer’s needs. Acknowledgements Sincere thanks to Richard Clark FDACS Division of Plant Industry, Andi Van Loan FDACS Division of Forestry, Jerry and Dan Wyrick of Wyrick & Sons Pine Straw (Calhoun County), and Calvin Stubbs and “Tick,” pine straw farmers in Ellaville (Hamilton County), for making this project possible. For more information, contact Mark Zeller at 850/245-2809, Mark. Zeller@ dep. state. fl.us, or Drew Leslie at 850/245-2822, Drew.Leslie@ dep. state, fl.us, 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard MS 705, Tallahassee, FL 32399. Economic Uses of Ferns From the chapter, Economic Uses of Ferns, from Ferns of The Tfopics by Wee Yeow Chin, Timber Press, Inc., Portland, OR (1998): “In New Guinea, the extremely long and tough frond stalks of the Climbing Fern {Lygodium) are used as a binding and lashing twine or woven into basketware, known as “Buka baskets.” In the Philippines, the leaf stalks of Lygodium salicifolium are similarly made into bas- kets, hats and fancy cases. The Thais split the leaf stalks lengthwise and weave them into elegant ladies’ handbags... For many centuries the Chinese used... Lygodium microphyllum to arrest bleeding.” WILDLAND WEEDS 9 Editor s Note: Professor Don Les regularly gives a humorous presentation on exotic pest plants at various organizations including the Whter Garden Society of Greater Kansas City, one of the largest in the United States with over 1,000 members. While usually geared toward his specialty, aquatic plants, the presentation works equally well with any exotic invasive species. Following is an abbreviated look at Don s presentation - he doesn t want to give away all of his secrets! Something wicke cl this way comes . . . A Shakespearean perspective on exotic pest plants by Don H. Les, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut SHAKES PEAR ES comedies, H US TOR I KS, * tftAGfcLDtES, JPuiilj 8 iRf la rifer Tiub OtfqpomU C.-ppi* j A |r il —Jr Jr A r - Jr t 0 Jt E Shakespeare s message: Human nature is incompetent in the eternal quest for romance. My observation: This incompetence extends to relationships with exotic pest plants. Act I: Infatuation (Person meets plant and falls in love, in spite of warnings.) "My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late Prodigious birth of love it is to me. That I must love a loathed enemy." — Juliet (Romeo U* Juliet) Act II: Lo ve is bli nd (Dazzled by beauty, invasive traits are overlooked.) But love is blind and lovers cannot see The pretty follies that themselves commit — Jessica (Merchant of \emce) Act III: Domination (Our attempt to control: we confine the plants to gardens.) I'll tame you; I'll bring you in subjection — Simonides (Pericles, Prince of Tyre) Act IV: Infidelity (Free spirits are horn to wander and the plants escape our confinement.) What a brood of traitors we have here — King Henry VI Act V : Revenge (Former admiration changes abruptly to animosity - when their evil side is exposed, we try to poison, mutilate or otherwise eradicate exotic plants.) "He's a rank weed. Sir Thomas, And we must root him out. — Gardiner (King Henry VIII) Act VI: Despair (It is no use - our former suitors stalk us worldwide! W will pay ecological alimony forever.) O thou weed. Who art so lovely fair and smelTst so sweet That the sense aches at thee, would thou hadst ne'er been horn! - Othello (Othello) Act VII: Hope (W find fidelity m native species - not as exotic perhaps, hut loyal and with natural beauty.) Upon a homely object Love can wink — Vdentine (The Two Gentlemen of \erona) Conclusion: Love affairs with invasive species inevitably will lead to irreconcilable differences. For more information, contact Dr. Les at donald.les@uconn.edu or 860/ 486-5703. Don currently studies the population and reproductive biology of rare and invasive plants, the origin of angiosperms, and the molecular systematics, evolution and ecology of aquatic angiosperms. He was inducted into The International Witerlily and Witer Gardening Society Hall of Fame in 2002. 10 SUMMER 2004 FLEPPC Pops Up At Spring Garden Festival Kanapaha Botanical Gardens was the site of the 14th Annual Spring Garden Festival in Gainesville and the FLEPPC education and membership booth was on display. Approximately 10,000 people attended this immensely popular two-day festival that featured more than 200 vendors offering plants, landscape displays, gardening supplies, non-profit educational materials, plant seminars, music, food, artwork, and a stroll through the beautiful 62-acre botanical gardens. The FLEPPC display featured one of our local “most not wanted” invasive plants, air potato ( Dioscorea bulbifera). A large glass vase was filled with air potato tubers, with a challenge to festivalgoers to guess how many potatoes were in the jar. With 83 people participating, there was a wide range of guesses ranging from a low of 28 potatoes to a high of 1,304. Three people came within one potato of the correct number: 236. A drawing was held to determine the winner and 12-year-old Alex Roundtree won the grand prize: a native fringe tree ( Chionanthus virginicus ) donated by Tropic Traditions, Inc., a wholesale nursery from Newberry, Florida and one of the many vendors at the festival. Another popular event was the air potato toss where participants could toss a potato into a garbage can to win a piece of candy. The FLEPPC message was delivered to many interested folks and a good time was had by all. For more information about Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, go to www.kanapaha.org We’d like to thank you for managing our resources by giving you more of them. . Now you can earn valuable Green Partners™ points when you use Reward ® or Touchdown ® PRO aquatic herbicides. As stewards of the environment, you and your agency are always looking for ways to help restore and preserve beautiful habitats. And by enrolling in the GreenPartners program, you can do just that. Green Partners points can be used to fund industry scholarships, provide valuable dollars for environmental research, or purchase business-building products such as computers, sprayers, etc. To find if 8 ' out more about GreenPartners, visit our website at www.greenpartnersonline.com or call 877-375-0824. Green* Partners Important: Always read and follow label instructions before buying or using these products @ 4 Syngenta. Syngenta Professional ftoducts, Greensboro, NC 27419. Green Fhrtners", Reward*, Touchdown*, and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. WILDLAND WEEDS 11 Exotic Species Threaten Rare Ferns in Miami-Dade County by Jennifer Possley, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden W hen envisioning Miami, most people are likely to conjure up images of traffic jams, South Beach, salsa music, and exotic flora... and they would not be wrong! But it may surprise you to know that Miami-Dade County is home to a unique assemblage of native flora, often found on postage-stamp sized parcels of county-owned natural areas. The rockland hammock preserves are a special place for fern enthusiasts. Here, sinkholes, solution holes and cliffs provide substrate for rare ferns, some of which are found nowhere else in the United States. But alas! Those ferns that have managed to escape the titanic threat of south Florida urbanization have to contend with a tough gang of invasive species with their sights set on the ferns’ turf. Controlling these offenders is not easy for county crews. Recent funding cutbacks have reduced invasive species management efforts. But even with adequate funds in place, near-constant attention is needed to eliminate the threat of invasive plants that can replace a native canopy and/or grow much taller and faster than natives. In monitoring some of our rarest ferns, we’ve become acutely aware of the threats posed by some of the FLEPPC-listed species. These threats are documented through photographs and herbarium specimens. The following photos are selected from the past year of monitoring. Jennifer Possley is the GIS Lab Coordinator and a Field Biologist at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Her work at Fairchild is funded by a 5-year contract from Miami-Dade County to develop a biological monitoring program for rare plants on Miami-Dade County natural areas. For more information, contact Jennifer at jpossley@fairchildgarden.org or (305) 667-1651 ext. 3433. Schefflera duff (J. Possley ) Schefflera actinophylla (FLEPPC Category i) Large mature Queensland umbrella trees (right) create serious problems in the hammocks of Miami-Dade County and often favor the same habitat as rare ferns. Their copious leaf litter fills the nooks and crannies of the karst limestone formations, mak- ing them unsuitable for fern establishment (above). Furthermore, stands of Schefflera cannot simply be removed because the sudden canopy openings would burn any existing ferns and provide gaps for more aggressive invasive vines like pothos and Syngonium. Schefflera actinophylla stand (J. Possley) 12 SUMMER 2004 Epipremnum pinnatum cv. aureum (FLEPPC Category II) and Syngonium podophyllum (FLEPPC Category I) 1. Asplenium verecundum and pothos (A. Rosenberg) 2. Tectaria fimbriata and pothos (J Possley) Pothos ( Epipremnum pinnatum cv. aureum) and Syngonium are difficult to eradicate once they become established in the hardwood ham- mock understory. These vines pose threats to ferns when they extend runners over the ground. If unchecked, they can completely blanket fern habitat. These photos show the imminent danger that both of these invasive species present for our rare native ferns. (1) Asplenium verecundum (FL- End angered) peeks out from between the leaves of a sprawl- ing pothos runner, while young Schefflera establishes nearby. (2) Tectaria fimbriata (FL- Endangered) clings to the side of a large, bath- tub-sized sinkhole, but it is still not safe from pothos. (3) A juvenile Thelypteris sclerophylla (FL- End angered) grows toward pothos - and it is also a neighbor to several Schefflera seedlings. 3. Juvenile T. sclerophylla and pothos (A. Rosenberg) (4) Another T. sclerophylla keeps company with Syngonium podophyllum. While the fern will not grow much larger, the vine has the potential to gain dozens of meters. Note that Syngonium sometimes sports variegated seedlings, and this seedling is showing the incised, palmate-leaved form that is more typical of the mature vine. (5) Immature Syngonium creeps next to a boulder that is home to TWO Florida endangered ferns: Asplenium verecundum and Tectaria fimbriata. Here, you can see why one of the common names of this morphologically plastic invasive plant is “arrowhead vine.” 4. Juvenile Syngonium and T. sclerophylla (A. Rosenberg) 5. Syngonium, A. verecundum, T. fimbriata (J. Possley) Majority Threatened Just as the rare ferns in Miami hammocks face being over- whelmed by invading exotic plants, so do most of Florida’s other rare native plants. A compilation of case studies in the late 1990s, supported by FDEP’s Bureau of Invasive Plant Management, revealed that over half (60%) of Florida’s 534 native plant species currently listed as endangered or threatened are up against additional threats from invasive exotics. About 30 listed species were docu- mented as having already suffered some degree of population loss from displacement by EPPC Category I invasives. Over 170 other listed rare species faced imminent loss from invasives occurring within their habitats. Another 120+ listed species had invasives “at the door” — occurring in adjacent habitats. Involved in these plant-vs.-plant interactions were 28 Category I and two Category II pest-plant species (the Schefflera and Epipremnum shown here make it 32 species total!) Recognizing the direct adverse effects of exotic pest plants on rare native plants is now a basic ele- ment of setting priorities for control of invasives in Florida. For more information or to add new observa- tions, write kburks@fnai.org. — K. C. Burks, Florida Natural Areas Inventory, FSU WILDLAND WEEDS 13 (J. Possley) Fern-on-fern action (J. Possley) Sad, but true, Florida’s ferns are threatened even by their own kind. This photograph shows a park in Miami-Dade County before (left) and after (right) removal of the FLEPPC Category-I invasive fern Tectaria incisa. The understory of this hammock appeared to be nearly a monoculture of the non-native fern but, after removal, we can see that native Tkelypteris kunthii managed to main- tain its foothold. This photo also provides a great view of the type of substrate that ferns (native and non-native) love. Dow AgroSciences Intelligent Solutions . , Dedicated Service. Garlon* 3A specialty herbicide • Garlon* 4 specialty herbicide Rodeo® herbicide • DMA* 4 IVM herbicide Proven performance Returnable, refillable containers Experienced sales force For more information, contact Scott Ditmarsen (813-866-7090 or scditmarsen@dow.com) or visit www.veaetationmamt.com "Trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC Always read and follow label directions Garlon Specialty Herbicide Rodeo 3A. Garlon Specialty Herbicide IBM! l’4 Solutions for Invasive Weed Control 14 SUMMER 2004 (J. Possley) Say it ain’t so! This past spring, several biologists from Fairchild and Miami-Dade County located Lygodium microphyllum at the Deering Estate - the crown jewel of Miami’s park system. The (thankfully) sterile frond was climbing up the base of Acrostichum danaeifolium, the giant leatherfern. Until then, Lygodium hadn’t been seen in the county south of the northern county line. We quickly removed this individual, vouchered it to Fairchild’s herbarium, and reported its occurrence to Dr. Wunderlin at the USF Herbarium. imberland LLC Complete line of Vegetation Management Herbicides and Adjuvants for Aquatics, Invasives, Forestry, and Roadway/Utility Rights of Way TECHNOLOGY & SOLUTIONS FOR VEGETATION MANAGEMENT REGIONAL OFFICE 410 Central Park Dr. Sanford, FL 32771 Phone (407) 302-3999 Fax (407) 302-3736 SALES SPECIALISTS Paul Mason (407) 718-9154 Joe Collins (352.) 222-0655 Dan McMillan (706) 318-3238 WILDLAND WEEDS 15 Aquatic Weed Control Products From Helena Chemical Company Exclusive Agent for the Sonar Product Line in Florida: CSft k Sonar* A.S.* Sonar SRP • Sonar PR • Sonar “Q” Quick Release* Pellets Complete Line of Herbicides including: Nautique* • Aqua-Kleen® • Aquathol®K • Aquathol® Super K • Hydrothol®191 Reward® • Rodeo® • Weedar® • Renovate® Florida Distributor for SePRO Products: Sonar* A.S. (pints & quarts) • Captain* Algaecide • AquaPro® • Revive* Complete Line of Adjuvants including: Kinetic® HV • Optima® • Quest® • Induce® • Dyne-Amic® (HELEI^ People. . . Products. . . Knowledge ™. Helena Chemical Company • PO Box 1 758 • Dade City, FL 33526 © 2002 Helena Chemical Company. Aqua-Kleen and Weedar are registered trademarks of Rhone-Poulenc Ag Co. Aquathol and Hydrothol are registered trademarks of ELF Atochem. Reward is a registered trademark of Syngenta Professional Products. Rodeo is a registered trademark of the Monsanto Company. AquaPro and Renovate are registered trademarks of Dow AgroSciences. 'Captain, Nautique, Revive, Sonar, Precision Release and Sonar Quick Release are trademarks of SePRO Corporation. Invasive Exotics Affect Park Utilization A recent article in the Washington Post (March 15, 2004) has aroused some local controversy concerning tree removal from Ossian Hall Park in Annandale, Fairfax County, Virginia. It seems the park has become rundown, overgrown and, hence, attractive to neighborhood gangs and others pursu- ing illicit activities. In an attempt to upgrade the park and make it more safe and attractive to residents, the Fairfax County Park Authority has proposed cut- ting down trees, perhaps hundreds of them, as part of a Master Plan Revision. The Washington Post article states, however, that overgrown underbrush is at the root of the problem of poor visibility and danger- ous activity. When a message on the topic was posted to the Native Plants East Listserve, it was picked up by Marc Imlay, board member of the Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council, vice president of the Maryland Native Plant Society, and chair of the Biodiversity and Habitat Stewardship Committee for the Maryland Chapter of the Sierra Club. He stated that, “I have many times been to areas not used by peo- ple simply because of the invasives. This included multiflora rose at Runneymeade Park at Herndon (Virginia) before we cleared them on Earth Day. Several neigh- bors came up to us afterwards to personal- ly thank us for allowing them to use the park again. (A joint VNPS/MNPS/Army National Guard project.) I have seen this with wineberry, tree of heaven and with porcelain berry, kudzu, honeysuckle and English ivy vines, separate or mixed together. It is plausible that identification and removal of the invasive vines and bush honeysuckle at Ossian Hall Park will clear the line of sight enough.” The thread was continued when another member wrote to say, “Good point. Planting prickly natives that provide good cover for wildlife but not for humans (blackberry, raspberry, American holly, etc.) in strategic spots might also be worth considering.” This was followed up by another member, who stat- ed, “If there is a dense understory, it is probably 90%+ exotic invasives that shouldn’t be there anyway. Ironically, cutting the trees may merely tend to wors- en the invasives problem [by allowing more sunlight to penetrate from above].” At present, the Master Plan Revision for Ossian Hall Park is still under review. The topic is an interesting one that bears further discussion. It also is full of prospects for the development of volunteer projects, educational opportunities, com- munity service, and more in parks every- where. And we can add the concern for personal safety for ourselves and our fami- lies to the environmental concerns posed by exotic pest plants. — KB, Ed. A A A A. A ..A A Algae and Aquatic Weed CflMrot and Maintenance Products /i stile KfWfTtratCd ItjUfl "I'lrnl :* mi Im ufi: in CtHltHflHl late'S -3 nrl > rvi reg&te ‘fl ” fjcin^ piml jjinvv i::m!i(J. tOrrlilnE a t!: r c 'A b ydkjw Crm D tiCilt; QLt S'*' A" LijlH ffljK : i i. tU In n-KftKVTtrJBSli \orw5lriiA !■ toy ‘Sinq^rnjjliv 1:1 m r f plrJ3nr| nfiiMxdm. A |i: ‘iiiilis: i::i ne .-s:=d foJUld AlpaiKinr • villi : wsil! '«'£• AiMlSd Us* life CfrnlMfu; Ulria.rd CCasr WNSf Stay* in hiiUimi In iMilinuf t’^l! rfl .r. hr-virl nm:i i:f ;ui;+ tvftl A€r appl G&don uulir Ha ira^rfctkiJB CUTT1IME-PLUX LIQUID FOR PLACEMENT ONLY Applied Biochemists Ad Storter, please insert scan from last issue ■ JU-: *Z8B lih:;.i its pHnESUEf 3 .' wiirr null hi uiiinuii, ana -EpsTiiraxK S nu { i cd inks-ni arvd s vstannic 3 Jt 7 lior. rasurcs p iikiln hi! ft! lb® antir ptsrt A Imiiil i: Killed LdtipEf ilpr.C ZJd"' If t 1 1 1 1 1 L i i'l ;i :i: j H 3 dnliatlaa 'ill tUtl I Itf iIir-simj Meek wales Latfc, "nujpf?:- Q'»; ymrll w il::. iniiKil wfiai SeT d* .sek! imrnir* ,iH : . \r .«.k wtilfiiifip. th»!4jcid o n nii'inn at Lutrrc J i.y iTjiiiil.tij tAeted sjtocffleBlyloruiEii c _ . -_j = =gi Till! RKiil i i n ■ cri at LUtrn: i t|iihi. .u m.kkii ^eaiLaiy ror urf yiKl slirarp ai|mil.lluie fBditflS. Prowfe? ^r i i i :J r i i i ± ii m i ‘. i pPPiS, | tanks .jni.l njuiiTnrj- m-w, A i lull! X:| nil ask r 2 c:. md a - 1 ; ■ kiyiiij ' tamevjl appdratiait" fi-jHi 'mi |i:itjk. sauntalns- anri ap^r-yry rr-vi v ;it \n- GDMrct i~. f droppi?' y : i:i'i ■■ mir nuns ya I OJj prl fi & -snDEd tcr-n?i :ilm i ■ ' w.iImi Haebl&dfl&ln DGItwrncnl vr.nif siiJiilfa jtidir.L UBaiitttfK “M’k* ■' 7 :n nfr-cilnred *sarv.»n a pv?.s nt aiim-iiL* lire. — •' :••• •- , . :■ .' \ .: ... V :• : '■ ' ' - ttoimte Fron? mtffo OiisSpitftri Tiwwi^aflt M mm* 5tahlng Lc , St, ftiUTsburg, Florida EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES! WILDLAND WEEDS 23 FLEPPC Member and Advocate of the Year Awards Kristina Serbesoff-King was selected as FLEPPC Member of the Year - 2004 for her excep- tional work as Treasurer since accepting the position in September 2001. In addition to her year-round work performing various treasury duties, Kris oversees the registration process for the annual FLEPPC sympo- sium. In spite of the workload and harried last-minute details, Kris always has a bright smile and a winning attitude. Thank you, Kris! Mike Page is president of Helicopter Applicators, Inc., a prominent contractor providing aerial application and other services throughout the eastern U.S. However, since 1982 he has provided much more. In that year, he began working with vari- ous public land management agencies in Florida. At that time, no effective aerial treatment was known to control melaleuca. Mike’s expert knowledge, dedication and tireless work were pivotal in the development of successful aerial melaleuca control tech- nology following several years of trials. Today, his extraordinary personal involvement and com- mitment to Florida’s natural resources continue as controls are sought for other invasive species. Mr. Page brings out- standing professionalism to the job and spends many hundreds of flight hours annually in the attack on invasive pest plants. His dedication extends beyond what is called for by simple business commitments and profit motives. For these reasons and more, he has been selected as the FLEPPC Environmental Advocate of the Year - 2004. Thank you, Mike! M. Bodle, Immediate Past Chair, FLEPPC The Recycle Option Ag Container Recycling Council Contact your area ACRC Contractor for details. USAg Recycling Inc. Sam Gibson 800-654-3145 (toll free) samg@ usagrecycling. com The ACRC is a non-profit organization comprised of 31 member companies and 7 affiliates whose purpose is to promote and support the collection and recycling of properly rinsed HD PE crop protection product containers. PSA of Wildland Weeds O ACRC From this... To this... • Acceptable containers triple-rinsed • Caps and labels removed • Stained but residue-free • Field drain pipes • Marine pilings • Fenceposts 24 SUMMER 2004 FLEPPC and SE-EPPC in 2004 by Thaddeus Hunt, University of Florida IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants O n the final three days of April 2004, Pensacola Beach hosted the 19th Florida EPPC and 6th Southeast EPPC Symposia. The event brought together land managers, researchers, students, state and federal agents, fishing equipment and rental cars from throughout the southeastern U.S. When I say south- eastern U.S., I mean Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Michigan, Tennessee, Bermuda, and more. Just under half of the 186 participants were attending their first EPPC symposium. The keynote address by Phyllis Windle illustrated a timeline perspective of the accomplishments of the past decade, obser- vance that our national policy is “A day late and a dollar short” (and several other accurate cliches), and the significance of the “Call to Action on Invasive Species” for remedying this policy shortcoming by creating law. She was followed by Randall Stocker, who gave an energetic, humorous, and statistically playful account of the significance of this symposium and Executive Order 13112 (1999), with a note that the political gains of Exotic Pest Plant Councils are not yet “Front Page News.” A break was taken and coffee consumed. Some looked at presentation posters while others insured placement on a Friday field trip, while even more collected sample bottles of Vinex. The break ended and the rest of the symposium ensued. On this first day we focused on some of the bigger, badder issues of quelling exotic weed anarchy. A notable example of this would be the “Industry Influence on Exotic Pest Plant Policies,” as given by Barbara Lucas, who included some information on the status of our relationship and cooperation with various nursery and grow- ers associations. Another talk was “Federal Noxious Weeds and Other Invasive Species Regulated by USDA APHIS.” We always want to know what is going on at the federal level and Arthur Miller brought that information to us. What a great guy! Another of my favorites was “Tag, Your It!” from A1 Cofrancesco. This was described as bio control for dummies. It wasn’t just for people new to FLEPPC or SE-EPPC either. This day also contained some heartening biocontrol updates and critical herbicide information. The working part of the day wrapped up with the Florida EPPC business meeting, wherein Jim Burney stepped in as the new chair of FLEPPC and Mike Bodle stepped down. Outgoing board mem- bers Jim Burney, Jim Cuda, William Snyder and Andrea Van Loan were replaced by newly elected board members Roger Clark, Drew Leslie, Cressida Silvers and Jim Duquesnel. Kristina Serbesoff-King was awarded FLEPPC Member of the Year 2004 for her hard work as Treasurer, and Tom Page was awarded FLEPPC Advocate of the Year for his many years of service assisting with aer- ial weed control operations. When not in conference, what do weed people on the Florida coast do? They eat good seafood and they eat bad seafood. The qualify of the seafood increased with each step you could take away from the hotel. With a little thought, this may indicate that those who enjoyed their lunches were prone to a late return to the conference. The first day concluded with a delightful yet crowded social on the Clarion Suites patio where intelligent conversation, high roughage shrimp, high carbohydrate beverages, and lowbrow humor could be enjoyed. Many lingered at the social while young fishermen went to compete and old fishermen went to pretend to compete on a windy pier at the first ever EPPC fishing tourney. Day two began with some sort of breakfast, I’m sure. I was much more concerned with where to get a better lunch. The more important thing was the conference. This day was not about the big issues of exotic weed anarchy, rather, the smaller factions of those exotic weed anarchists. Kathy Burks gave a great lesson on practical field taxonomy of legumes and was followed by Colin Hughes’ practical lab taxonomy of air potato as well as its African origins. Lunch was followed by what could simply be called “ Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Lygodium But Were Too Afraid To Ask About The Fern That May Eat the Vine That Ate The South.” Actually, it wasn’t that grim. This series of sessions ended with some great news and applause about biocontrol and man- agement strategies. An extended break was taken to view written and graphical information about some of these plants. This means that we got extra time to view many informative posters, meet the creators, talk a lot, and show up late to the next event. Day two ended with a good meal, a small party, and a big sound. Actually, I hear that other guests of the Clarion enjoyed the music of The Weeds as well. We certainly enjoyed the dinner. Our buffet was set up in a slightly cramped hall, but it all seemed to work out quite well and, by the time I was hearing Stray Cat Strut, I wouldn’t have cared if dinner had been a disaster. The following morning was rainy and probably adventurous for those who signed up for a field trip. I suspect that only the hardest core weed people ventured out on these wet excursions, which provided a chance to see all of the local beauties of the panhandle and lower Alabama being invaded by the exotic uglies. Some of these great locations included Eglin Air Force Base, the Pensacola Naval Air Station, and the Blackwater River State Forest. This year’s conference of F T EP PC and SE-EPPC saw many new attendees and insured that they will return for more. The political, technological, and social advances that our colleagues have made and that we were exposed to at this conference are invaluable and deserving of mainstream attention. You would have to be consumed by lygodium (or Kudzu, if Lygodium is not locally available) not to attend next year. Thanks to Thaddeus for his on site reporting. He’s never a day late. Ed. WILDLAND WEEDS 25 Internodes Mark Your Calendar • Aquatic Plant Management Society 44th Annual Conference, July 11-14, 2004, Tampa Hyatt Regency, Tampa, FL. www.apms.org • 13th International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species, September 19-23, 2004, Ennis, County Clare, Ireland. Elizabeth Muckle Jeffs, profedge@renc.igs.net -or- http://www.aquatic-invasive-species-conference.org/ • 12th Annual NAWMA (North American Weed Management Association) Conference and Trade Show, September 20-23, 2004, Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn, Rapid City, SD, http ://www. nawma.org/ • 3rd International Conference on Biological Invasions NEO- BIOTA - From Ecology to Control. September 30th - October 1st, 2004, University of Bern, Switzerland. Invasive alien species of all taxa (plants, animals, fungi) will be dis- cussed, with a focus on ecology of neobiota, environmental, socio-economic and human health impacts, risk assessment, pathways and prevention, and control. Geographic focus is on Central Europe, www.neobiota.unibe.ch • 14th Annual Cal-IPC Symposium: Invasive Plants and the Wildland-Urban Interface/California. October 7-9, 2004, Ventura Holiday Inn, Ventura, California. Sessions will explore the migration of ornamental plants across the wild- land-urban interface (WUI), fragmentation and edge effects, invasive plants and fire at the WUI, volunteer weed control efforts, current academic research, funding strategies for urban projects, and new treatment methods. Field trips include Santa Monica Mountain restoration sites and Channel Islands National Park, http://www.cal-ipc.org •31st Annual Natural Areas Association Conference: Emerging Issues: Possibilities and Perils, October 13-16, 2004, Holiday Inn Mart Plaza, Chicago, IL. Symposia and plenary sessions will focus on emerging problems and creative strategies to preserve biological resources for the future. Co-hosted by the Natural Areas Association, Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, and Illinois Department of Natural Resources with participation of the University of Illinois and other state and private educational institutions, federal resource agen- cies, the Illinois Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, several conservation, forest preserve and park districts, Chicago’s world class museums, botanical and zoological institutions and the Chicago Wilderness coalition. The NA-EPPC meeting will be held here, as well, www.naturalarea.org • 28th Annual Conference of the Florida Aquatic Plant Management Society, October 17-20, 2004, Hilton Hotel Deerfield Beach. Earn CEUs in Aquatics, Natural Areas, Right of Way and Core. Join other plant managers and share ideas and concerns related to aquatic plant management. Equipment demonstration on site. www.homestead.com/fapms/meeting.html • Third International Conference on Invasive Spartina/ California, November 8-10, 2004, San Francisco, California. Spartina research from around the world, plus an opportuni- ty to hear and discuss the experiences of a wide range of marsh managers and technical experts. Ground and aerial tours to view the Spartina “hybrid swarm” ( S . alterniflora x foliosa ) that threatens the San Francisco Estuary. http://www.spartina.org • 66th Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists (ASB), April 13-15, 2005, Florence, AL. Scott Jewell, 336/421-0034, A2ZConvention@yahoo.com or www.asb.appstate.edu/ Publications • Lantana: Current Management Status and Future Prospects by Michael Day, et al. Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). Contact Michael Day, Queensland Government Natural Resources and Mines, Michael.day@hrm.qld.gov.au • Ecology and Control of Introduced Plants by Judith Myers and Dawn Bazely, Cambridge University Press, 2003. Aimed at advanced students and land managers. 800/872-7423, http://www.cup.org • 1,000 Weeds of North America, CD from the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA). $49.95 plus S/H. A tutorial is required to run this CD containing identification informa- tion on 140 grass-like weeds and 860 broadleaf weeds. Future updates will sell for a reduced price to registered owners. 800/627-0629 X-297, http://www.wssa.net/ • Invasive Plant News - New England is the newsletter of the New England Invasive Plant Group (NIPGro) and the Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE). Future issues will be published on the IPANE web site (http://invasives.eeb.uconn.edu/ipane). To keep up with invasive plant issues in New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine, join their free network and receive email notification of new issues: Cynthia_Boettner@fws.gov, 413/863-0209 X-6. Web Sites • Oh, I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen weeds... The USDA Forest Service, Fire Effects Information Systems web site can be found at http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/index.html. The FEIS database contains literature reviews of almost 900 plant species, about 100 animal species, and 16 Kuchler plant communities found in North Am erica. FEIS provides updated scientific and technical information about interac- tions between fire and invasive, nonnative plant species, including the role of fire in enabling plant invasions; altered fire regimes following plant invasion; the use of fire to control plant invasions; and background information on taxonomy, species distribution, basic biology and ecology, and management. 26 SUMMER 2004 notes from the disturbed edge - chapter 1 2 H e had to ask himself, “Why am I doing this?” He was staring at the computer screen, fingers on the keyboard. He’d always thought that it would be easy to sit down and write this, but it just wasn’t happening. For some time he’d been jotting down notes, thoughts, ideas on scraps of whatever was available to write on, and now he had them all spread out in front of him, shuffling bits of paper into interconnected columns and rows like a confetti jigsaw puzzle that was almost ready but still missing a few key pieces. He knew that anyone witnessing this exercise would probably think he was insane, and he kind of liked that. He’d come to the conclusion quite a while ago that devising a means to convey the breadth and depth of the invasive exotic plant problem to the general populace was the only way to possibly turn the tide. Anyone who already cared already knew. The only real hope lay in reaching the rest of the world. Now he just had to put it into words. It wasn’t that he hadn’t written before - he had penned a box full of journal articles and technical publications throughout his education and career, but those were different. They were sound, well- documented compilations of informa- tion but, he had to admit, reading them was about as exciting as watching paint dry, and although he saw them occasional- ly cited as references in other equally scintillating papers, he wasn’t sure whether anyone besides his mother had actually read them, and even she had been suspi- ciously vague about content in follow-up conversations. He wanted to write some- thing different, something that a person from outside the wonderful worlds of land management and botany might read or, heaven forbid, even enjoy. It didn’t matter whether the stuff was packaged in a dry journal, a pocket-sized pamphlet, or a slick magazine layout. Nobody in their right mind was going to read it unless it was just the least bit fun, or even a little kooky. He knew this could work. The whole invasive exotics thing just lent itself so eagerly to becoming a somewhat twisted metaphor for the human condition, with struggles between old and new, stayed normalcy and self-induced chaos, and parallels or inroads to everything from macroeconomics to theology. It all seemed so clear, so intricately entangled in the stuff of everyday life and transcendent awareness at the same time. He knew that people needed poetry and craziness, imagery and prose, empathy and inspiration. Any text that could pull it all together was almost certainly destined to become a cult classic. He wanted to write something that a reader would never want to end. This almost certainly was a job for some creatively concocted down-to-earth super-heroes who were larger than life, but not too much larger than conceivable reality. They needed to be a bit edgy, bearing nebulous monikers that could promote some eyebrow raising or stir a little interest. Adam and Eve, Yin and Yang, or Sonny and Cher, cutting line in tandem from Eden to who knew where. Maybe he could convince just one person that we can all do something to help the earth by spreading awareness or taking action, eating the elephant one bite at a time. He knew that most people considered the prospect of nuclear war, world hunger, or a scratch in their new car to be of greater concern than the idea of a bunch of plants growing wild, but he knew he had to try. Maybe just one person would take one step towards sanity or sustainability in a world run amok, and that couldn’t be a bad thing. He was ready to dig deep into common human experience and that long list of the things we all realize we could or should have done, to tell a tale as it emerged from his daily stream of consciousness. He didn’t know how it would end, and at this point he didn’t even know how it would start. This wasn’t going to be easy, but he thought it was possible and he knew it was necessary, and so he began, imagining that one day someone might stop him on the street, grasp his forearm, look him in the eye and tell him that their outlook on life had been changed by reading about a character who had sat at a keyboard and asked, “Why am I doing this?” - J.A. An Excerpt from “The Adventures of Hack Garlon and His Buxom Sidekick Squirt” THANK YOU to the following sponsors for supporting this issue of WILDLAND WEEDS: DuPont p.7 Helena Chemical Company p.16 SePRO Corporation p. 2 Syngenta Professional Products ..p. 11 & 28 BASF p. 21 Dow AgroSciences p. 14 Earth Balance p. 23 UAP Timberland p. 15 Applied Biochemists p. 17 Brewer International p. 18 Allstate Resource Management p. 23 All Terrain of Florida p. 23 Applied Aquatic Management p. 18 Aquatic Vegetation Control p. 22 Great Outdoors Publishing Company p. 23 Pandion Systems p. 22 Jbin the Exotic Pest Plant Council nearest you by visiting www.9e-eppc.org Florida residents can join online at www.fleppc.org 'Maud Weeds All members receive the quarterly magazine, Wildland Weeds. Students - $10 General - $20 Gift subscriptions also are available. WILDLAND WEEDS 27 With Reward® aquatic herbicide, it’s easy to restore habitats and preserve species that live near waterways. Reward herbicide controls a broad spectrum of weeds— including submersed, marginal, and floating — starting within hours of application. But it isn’t harmful to fish or wildlife. No wait. No worry. For more information, call your Syngenta rep at 1-800-395-8873. W REWARD' Landscape and Aquatic Herbicide www.syngentaprofessionalproducts.com Important: Always read and follow label instructions before buying or using this product. ©2004 Syngenta. Syngenta Professional Products, Greensboro, NC 2741 9. Reward® and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.