Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) or silktree is native to the Middle East and Asia. It was introduced to the United States in the 1700’s, and since then it has invaded most of the southern half of the United States and some of the North Eastern states. Mimosa has been planted as an ornamental tree along roads and in yards because many people enjoy its summer time appearance. People are drawn to its pink pom-pom shaped flowers that appear from May to July and their fern-like leaves. Mimosa can be very large, growing as tall as 40 feet. It will produce green pods in the summer that will stay on the tree until the winter. mimosa, Albizia julibrissin, Flower(s), photo by James H. Miller, forestryimages.org Threat to our Native Species Mimosa spreads very easily, it produces many seeds that can be dispersed by animals or water, and the seeds remain viable for many years. It prefers direct sunlight, so it tends to grow along road sides, on forest edges, vacant lots, old fields, and other open areas. Mimosa out competes our native flora for sunlight and resources. It grows very fast so it is able to outgrow our native plants easily. It can grow individually or form a dense colony and can create a monoculture disrupting our native species diversity. How to Eradicate Young saplings can simply be pulled out of the ground, but for larger trees the best way is to cut down the tree and treat the outer 2 inches with undiluted glyphosate concentrate. If the pods are on the tree they need to be collected and bagged so that they are not able to sprout. If you are looking to plant or replace mimosa trees, two native alternative species are Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia) and Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis). Red Buckeye Eastern Redbud red buckeye, Aesculus pavia, Tree(s), Photo by John Ruter, Forestryimages.org eastern redbud, Cercis canadensis, Cultivar, Photo by James Chatfield, forestry images.org References
Meyer, Rachelle. 2010. Albizia julibrissin. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/albjul/all.html [ 2020, October 29 ]. NC Forest Service. (2010, January 3). Invasive Species Leaflet: Alibizia julibrissin (Mimosa). https://www.ncforestservice.gov/publications/Forestry%20Leaflets/IS13.pdf NCSU Extension. (n.d.). Invasive, Exotic Plants of the Southeast: Mimosa. https://projects.ncsu.edu/goingnative/howto/mapping/invexse/mimosa.html
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The air is crisp, leaves are turning brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red, and pumpkin spice is everywhere. This is also that time of year when Autumn olive, Elaeagnus umbellata is exploding with ripe red berries. Once a plant reaches 2-3 years of age a single shrub can produce up to 80 pounds of fruit annually. These red berries are highly desired by much of our native wildlife including raccoons, skunks, opossums, black bears, and songbirds such as thrushes, cardinals, cedar waxwings, sparrows, and northern bobwhite, consequently aiding in the dispersal of seeds through their excrement. Growing best in full sun, Autumn olive, also referred to as Japanese silverberry, can persist in the low light conditions of the forest canopy. It is drought tolerant and well adapted to grow in sandy, loam, or clay-based soils. Because of its versatility of growing conditions and the aid of seed dispersal from our native wildlife, Autumn olive has been able to become well-established throughout the Eastern U. S., ranging from Maine and Wisconsin in the North to Florida and Louisiana in the South, and as far west as Nebraska. It has successfully invaded grasslands and woodlands, though it is most prevalent in recently disturbed areas, pastures, and fields. How did autumn olive get here?It’s important to note that the concept of alien or invasive species didn’t take hold until the mid-1900s. In the 1800s severe erosion, sedimentation, and landslides were significant concerns in the United States. Autumn olive, a deciduous shrub native to eastern Asia, seemed to be the perfect solution as it is drought, disease, and insect resistant and can grow in a variety of environmental conditions. Additionally, it had the potential to restore deforested and degraded lands, provide windbreaks and highway barriers, and served as wildlife cover and food. Although Autumn olive was first introduced into the United States from Asia in 1830, the real expansion of its spread occurred between 1940-1970 when soil conservation districts introduced it through their spring plant sales. They released a variety called ‘Cardinal’ that was known for its prolific red berries, which is the one most commonly encountered today (Voyle 2011). Why is Autumn olive a threat?The USDA categorizes Autumn olive as a problematic invasive plant species. As mentioned above Autumn olive thrives under a wide variety of environmental conditions, and a single plant can produce up to 80 pounds of viable seeds dispersed by wildlife annually. Additionally, it is a fast-growing shrub that can often reach up to 20 feet tall in as little as a few years, shading out and ultimately outcompetes our native wildflowers and tree saplings. As a nitrogen-fixing plant (plants that have bacteria living around their roots used to extract nitrogen from the air and convert it into a form required by plants for their growth), Autumn olive can also adversely affect the nitrogen cycle of the native plant communities that depend on infertile soils. How to identify Autumn OliveAutumn olive is easily identified during the spring because it develops leaves while most of our native vegetation is still dormant. Its bell-shaped, cream to pale yellow flowers bloom in early spring through late summer. Late summer through fall (August- November) offers another optimal time to identify Autumn olive by their fruit which ripens to a showy bright red. Autumn olive is a large shrub growing 3.5 to 5m tall and up to 6m across. The leaves are dark green on top with a silvery-white underside. They are oval to lance-shaped and arranged in an alternate pattern on the stem. The leaves also have a wavy appearance, which is much different from any of our other native foliage. New growth stems typically have a rusty colored appearance, while older branches sometimes develop thorns. You can also email a photo to your local university extension office or use a plant app like LeafSnap or iNaturalist to help you confirm an identification if you’re unsure. |
Lemon Autumn Olive Berry TartePrep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Yield: Makes 1 pie Ingredients 1 cup unbleached all purpose flour 1/2 cup softened butter1/4 cup icing sugar 2 large eggs 1 cup organic cane sugar 1/2 tsp baking powder 2 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice 1 to 1 1/2 cups of autumn olive berries Instructions 1. Heat oven to 350°F 2. Thoroughly mix the flour, butter and icing sugar. Press in an ungreased pie plate or 8x8x2 baking pan. Build up the edges so that there is a half inch edge. 3. Bake pie crust for 15-20 minutes, remove when lightly golden brown. 4. Beat remaining ingredients except the berries until the mixture is light and fluffy. Fold in the berries. Pour over the cooked hot crust. 5. Bake about 20 minutes until set, or no imprint remains when lightly touched. Autumn Berry Fruit LeatherYield: 2 fruit roll trays in an average dehydrator Ingredients 6 cups of Autumn olive berries, rinsed & strained 2 tablespoons honey (or to taste) Instructions 1. Stir berries in pot over medium-high heat until berries have burst and begin to bubble in their own pulp. Some berries will still be unbroken but burst easily when pressed between the side of the pot and a spoon. 2. Remove from heat and ladle into a food mill, passing them through the food mill into another pot or container. Put the seeds and pulp from the food mill aside. (You can use these to feed chickens or wildlife, the seeds are no longer fertile since they have been boiled. Use in your compost if you like.) 3. Add honey to the pulp to taste. If you harvested your berries early in the season you may have to add more honey. Be sure to put in at least some honey or your fruit leather will not be very flexible and will stick to the tray when dehydrating. 4. Oil your fruit roll trays with vegetable or olive oil (thin coating). Dehydrate at 57°C (125-135°F). If you do not have a dehydrator, a cookie sheet with parchment on it will do; dry in the oven at 57°C (135°F) for 6 hours or until fruit roll is no longer sticky. 5. Cut roll into serving-sized slices (or bits to be used as salad topping, etc.) and store in an airtight container. If still tacky/sticky in some areas you can store in the refrigerator or freeze for long-term storage. | Autumn Berry CookiesPrep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Yield: 12 servings Ingredients 1/2 cup butter 1/4 cup organic cane sugar 1/3 cup light or dark brown sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 tbsp milk 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 1/4 cups unbleached flour 2 cups autumn olive berries Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. 2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 3. Cream sugars with the butter. Add the egg, vanilla extract and milk then mix well. 4. In a separate bowl combine all dry ingredients. Then, slowly add the wet mixture into the dry mixture and continue to stir until completely mixed. 5.Once all ingredients are blended fold in the autumn olive berries. 6. Drop by spoonfuls onto the baking sheet leaving about 1” between cookies. 7. Bake 12-15 minutes until thoroughly baked (test with a toothpick to ensure the centre is dry). |
Recipes courtesy of ediblewildfood.com & thecookscook.com
Resources
Autumn olive control. Missouri Department of Conservation (n.d.). Retrieved from https://mdc.mo.gov/trees-plants/problem-plant-control/invasive-plants/autumn-olive-control
Black, B. L., Fordham, I. M., & Perkins-Veazie, P. (2005). Autumnberry (elaeagnus umbellata): A potential cash crop. Journal of the American Pomological Society, 59(3), 125-134. Retrieved from https://proxying.lib.ncsu.edu/index.php/login?url=https://www-proquest-com.prox.lib.ncsu.edu/docview/209776248?accountid=12725
Oliphant, A. J., Wynne, R. H., Zipper, C. E., Ford, W. M., Donovan, P. F., & Li, J. (2016;2017;). Autumn olive (elaeagnus umbellata) presence and proliferation on former surface coal mines in eastern USA. Biological Invasions, 19(1), 179-195. doi:10.1007/s10530-016-1271-6
Voyle, G. (December 1, 2011). Autumn olive: one invasive shrub. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/autumn_olive_one_invasive_shrub
Black, B. L., Fordham, I. M., & Perkins-Veazie, P. (2005). Autumnberry (elaeagnus umbellata): A potential cash crop. Journal of the American Pomological Society, 59(3), 125-134. Retrieved from https://proxying.lib.ncsu.edu/index.php/login?url=https://www-proquest-com.prox.lib.ncsu.edu/docview/209776248?accountid=12725
Oliphant, A. J., Wynne, R. H., Zipper, C. E., Ford, W. M., Donovan, P. F., & Li, J. (2016;2017;). Autumn olive (elaeagnus umbellata) presence and proliferation on former surface coal mines in eastern USA. Biological Invasions, 19(1), 179-195. doi:10.1007/s10530-016-1271-6
Voyle, G. (December 1, 2011). Autumn olive: one invasive shrub. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/autumn_olive_one_invasive_shrub
Japanese stiltgrass, Microstegium vimineum, Infestation, photo by John M. Randall
Background
Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) is a grass native to Japan, Korea, China, Malaysia, and India. It first arrived in Tennessee in 1919, when it was used as packing material for porcelain shipped from Asia. It has currently invaded 16 states from New York to Florida and is found throughout North Carolina. It has not only invaded the United States, but it is also established in Mexico, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, and South America. While Japanese stiltgrass can thrive in many different environments, it prefers forest edges, wetlands, disturbed areas, and moist soils with high nitrogen content, but it can also tolerate areas that are dryer and have full sunlight.
Japanese stiltgrass, Microstegium vimineum, Foliage, photo by Bruce Ackley
Identification
Japanese stilt grass is bright green and can grow to be 2 to 3 feet tall. Leaf blades are flat, long, thin, lance-shaped, and about 3 inches long. The mid-vein is white and off center and the leaves are asymmetrical.
Threat
Japanese stiltgrass out competes our native grasses and other understory plants. It is a major threat to the diversity of our native ecosystems. It is a very fast spreader as a single plant can produce 100 to 1,000 seeds, and the seeds can stay in the seed bank for 3 to 5 years. It can be dispersed by machinery, animals, humans, wind, and water. Deer and other foraging animals do not eat it, giving it an advantage over our native forage plants. It has adapted to low light conditions, which gives it the ability to spread in the understory of the forest. Farmers also have trouble with Japanese stiltgrass invading their pastures, because their livestock do not like to eat it and it out competes the preferred grasses.
Prevention
Japanese stiltgrass is a big threat to the diversity of our ecosystem. It can be hand pulled or mowed before flowers are visible in late September, but this will need to be continued for at least three years until it is out of the seed bank. When hand pulling, the entire plant needs to be removed including the roots. Plants can be removed while it is fruiting, but they need to be bagged and disposed of off site. An effective method to reduce the seed production would be to mow once it starts developing seed heads, but before they drop their seeds in August or late September. Another way that has been found to prevent the invasion of an adjacent infestation of Japanese stiltgrass from continuing to spread is to put down a 4-6 inch layer of much, to prevent it from growing. Herbicides need to be applied late in the growing season but before it seeds in October. Roundup Pro, which contains an herbicide called glyphosate, is an effective method for Japanese stiltgrass control. However it can kill any plant that it comes in contact with, so use with caution. If you are treating Japanese stiltgrass in a wetland, use a herbicide that is safe to use in wetlands like Rodeo and ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW THE LABEL.
Sources
Fryer, Janet L. 2011. Microstegium vimineum. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/graminoid/micvim/all.html#225
Invasive.org.(2010,November11).ControlOptions.https://www.invasive.org/alien/pubs/midatlantic/control-grassesandsedges.htm
Invasive.org(2010,November11).JapaneseStiltgrass. https://www.invasive.org/alien/pubs/midatlantic/mivi.htm
NCForestService(2010,March).InvasiveSpeciesMicrostegiumvimineum. https://www.ncforestservice.gov/publications/Forestry%20Leaflets/IS04.pdf
NC State Extension. (2013, February 18). Japanese Stiltgrass Identification and Management. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/japanese-stiltgrass-identification-and-management
PennStateExtension.(2019,October8). Japanese Stiltgrass in Pastures. https://extension.psu.edu/japanese-stiltgrass-in-pastures
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We are a group of NC State University students committed to spreading awareness about the invasive species that inhabit or threaten North Carolina.
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