1 Distribution of Japanese Stilt-grass, Concerns, and Potential Impacts in New EnglandLeslie J. Mehrhoff Invasive Plant Atlas of New England University of Connecticut
2 The species…
3 A plant…
4 An incursion
5 Microstegium vimineumPoaceae Annual grass Rich woods, alluvial forests, edges of fields, yards, roadsides, right-of-ways, almost anywhere! Native to Eastern Asia Earliest North American record – Tennessee 1919
6 Taxonomy – Microstegium vimineum (Trin.) A. CamusAdropogoneae Tribe – Poaceae Synonyms: Eulalia viminea (Trin.) Ktze. Andropogon vimineum Trin. Eulalia viminea var. variabilis Ktze. Microstegium vimineum var. imberbe (Nees) Honda Common names: Japanese stilt-grass, Nepalese browntop
7 Current Distribution At least 23 states 2 New England statesConnecticut Massachusetts
8 Microstegium vimineum
9 History First record in US: Knoxville, TN - 1919First records in Northeast: Pennsylvania New Jersey First record in New England Branford, CT
10 Northeastern U. S. First Records 1938
11 Northeastern U. S. First Records 1959 1938
12 Northeastern U. S. First Records 1984 1959 1938
13 Northeastern U. S. First Records 1987 1984 1959 1938
14 Northeastern U. S. First Records 1998 1987 1984 1959 1938
15 New England Records Connecticut Botanical Society HerbariumDaniel Cady Eaton Herbarium (Yale) G. Safford Torrey Herbarium (UCONN) New England Botanical Club Herbarium Gray Herbarium (Harvard) Charles B. Graves Herbarium (Conn Coll.) University of Massachusetts Herbaria Invasive Plant Atlas of New England
16 First New England RecordBranford, New Haven County, Connecticut Date: 13 OCT 1984 Collector: Sterling Parker 84.15 Habitat: Damp, semi-open area
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19 Branford 1984
20 Branford Fairfield 1986
21 East Haddam Waterford Branford Fairlfield 1990
22 Windsor Willington East Haddam Waterford Branford Fairlfield 1991
23 Windsor Willington Kent East Haddam Waterford Branford Fairlfield 1993
24 1998 West Springfield Windsor Willington Kent East Haddam WaterfordBranford Fairlfield 1998
25 2000 West Springfield Longmeadow Pomfret Windsor Willington KentEast Haddam Waterford Branford Fairlfield 2000
26 2003 West Springfield Millville Longmeadow Pomfret Windsor WillingtonKent East Haddam Waterford Branford Fairlfield 2003
27 Concerns More out there; being overlooked Correct identificationEarly detection of new incursions How do we control it Need for long term monitoring
28 Some questions… How did it get here?Are there particularly vulnerable habitats? Are there other incursions that we have not found? How far is it likely to spread? Will it be correctly identified and discovered in time?
29 Pathways & Vectors Recreational sites and hiking trailsRiverine and alluvial woodlands Roadsides and power line right-of-ways Botanist’s yards
30 Pathways & Vectors People – clothing, pets, equipmentespecially hikers who have been in infested areas Trucks and equipment Natural biotic & abiotic dispersers – water, wildlife, birds Field equipment – packs, presses, vehicles (canoes)
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32 Correct IdentificationAnnual Roots – fibrous Nodes – glabrous Sheath summit – hairy along margins Midrib – appears silver Glumes – present Fall color – yellowish to pale purple Flowering initiation – after mid September
33 Mistaken species Leersia virginica – White grass (native)Brachyelytrum erectum (native) Brachyelytrum septentrionale (native)
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35 Annual vs. Perennial
36 Inflorescences
37 Which grass is it?
38 These 2 species often grow together!Leersia virginica AND Microstegium vimineum These 2 species often grow together!
39 Questionable Reports Appalachian Trail, MaineAcadia National Park, Maine Northcentral Massachusetts Various yards around New England
40 What can we do? Learn to recognize Microstegium vimineumDistribute herbarium specimens Train volunteers to recognize and report new incursions Predict potential range and habitats Control incursions
41 IPANE Invasive Plant Atlas of New England300+ trained volunteers in 6 states Website images and information Identification workshops “Early Warning Species” Quick Report buttons Trigger rapid response Predictive modeling
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43 IPANE Early Detection pageList of “Early Detection Species” Table of species’ status in all 6 states Early detection protocols How to report a possible new incursion
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49 Control efforts New England Wild Flower Society VolunteersTown park employees Hand pulling efforts Connecticut DEP and TNC Land owner contacts Monitoring
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51 In Summary Microstegium vimineum is known to occur in Connecticut and Massachusetts Correct identification is possible but confusing Need for vigilance New incursions Not to accidentally move propagules Report new incursions
52 Contact us - http://invasives.eeb.uconn.edu/ipane/ [email protected]Les Mehrhoff