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Invasive plants are a form of pollution that reproduces itself. They are projected to "grow" into a problem larger than simple habitat destruction, because they multiply on their own, without our influence once unleashed. This was an introductory presentation for the average person featuring Angelica sylvestris, purple loosestrife, Japanese barberry, Tansy ragwort and Japanese knotweed. The presentation was given at the Baddeck Library in Cape Breton Nova Scotia.
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Introduction to invasive plants of Cape Breton
Focus on Angelica: an emerging threat
When Good Plants Go Bad
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invasiveplantscapebreton
CharacteristicsDeceptively beautifulFew or no natural predatorsShort generation time (allows them to adapt)Huge number of easily spread seedsLive in many kinds of light, soil, moistureOften have more than one way to reproduceTaller than/shade out native plantsRevealing names
Hogweed
Angelica
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Direct threat to human health and Property value.
invasiveplantscapebreton
invasiveplantscapebreton
Angelica : Direct threat to quality of land and landscape
Spreads extremely quickly.
Angelica Damage
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Without angelicaAfter removing angelica Early infection
invasiveplantscapebreton
Early invasion of angelica: high priority to save, still many natives present
Established colony
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Hard to killEdible
Japanese Knotweed (Elephant Ears)
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7
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Purple Loosestrife
Wetlands killer
Tansy Ragwort
Livestock killer
invasiveplantscapebreton
invasiveplantscapebreton
Japanese Barberry
Forest killerSuppresses re-growthThorny ThicketsHarbour Lyme Disease TicksErosion
invasiveplantscapebreton
invasiveplantscapebreton
Priorities
Avoid politics/blameEducate each otherWork with your neighborPrevent new infection
research plants before buyinginspect fill dirt before acceptingavoid contaminating new areas
Get moving (great exercise)
Unspoiled areas with high numbers of nativesColonizer plants: then from outside in to larger infectionsStreams, lakesides, wetlands, roadsides, very windy areas
Colonizer plant
invasiveplantscapebreton
invasiveplantscapebreton
Even a few hours can make a difference.
Think about how many you prevent instead of how many are left.
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Techniques (Angelica only)
Appropriate clothes/gloves/eye protection
A small number of people may react work when overcast shower afterwards
Work 48-72 hours after a good rainTry to pull the whole plantAt least remove all seeds/flowers every year…timing is everything.Don’t leave flowers and immature
seeds on stemsCut rest of plant to flat to the groundSuffocate seedlings or let them compete with each other.
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Pollinated seeds needthe plant’s energyTo mature, so cut the stemand leaves off.
Soft blooms arenot yet fertile and the plant may be Pulled or cut down.
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Bag mature seeds and burn, do NOT send to the landfill.
Seedlings: let them compete with each other. Pull thesurvivors or at least keepthe plant from seeding.
Mowing stimulatesre-flowering. Pull, dig, or cut plant to the ground.
invasiveplantscapebreton
invasiveplantscapebreton
invasiveplantscapebreton
“There is not a moment to lose.”Capt. Jack Aubrey
2007
2013
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BE PERSISTENT
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Follow-up field workshop Sunday Sept. 15th
2pm 1st house on Plaister Mines Road. See the Facebook page InvasivePlantsCapeBreton for more information. Please “like”. A blog of the same name is in development.
invasiveplantscapebreton
invasiveplantscapebreton
Photo credits: 1 Kim Cuddington2 Ontatio Invasive Species Council3 http://www.naturenet.net4 www.pittmeadows.bc.ca5 ctnofa1982.blogspot.com6 www.environetuk.com7 www.invasive.org8 http://www.stewardsofkleinstuck.org9 www.invadingspecies.comAll other photos by MB Whitcomb and David Quimby
