fbpx

SLELO PRISM

ABOUT SLELO

SLELO PRISM

ST. LAWRENCE EASTERN LAKE ONTARIO PARTNERSHIP FOR REGIONAL INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT

Mile a Minute Vine

Persicaria perfoliata

                                                             mile-a-minute vine, Persicaria perfoliata (Polygonales: Polygonaceae) - 1237070

 

Mile-a-minute vine, a weed native to Asia, forms dense mats that can cover anything in its path. The main veins and petioles of the leaf are armed with recurved prickles which makes walking through mats an uncomfortable experience.  It can be found in a variety of habitats but especially in disturbed areas such as railroads, utility rights-of-way, and roadsides.

Impacts

Mile a minute can cause ecological and economic damages. Its fast growth and ability to out-compete other native species make mile a minute a threat to forest regeneration and commercial forest areas. Agricultural areas such as orchards are also vulnerable.  In addition, mile-a-minute is a habitat generalist meaning it can germinate in many locations, as long as they are in full sun, allowing the weed to infest recreational and residential areas.

Identification

In open areas, mile-a-minute forms dense mats that cover everything including native vegetation. Height is variable depending on location but along forest edges plants can reach 8 meters in height.

Leaves are perfectly triangular and have long petioles with thin blades that grow alternately on the stem. They are bright green in color and about 4 to 7 cm long and 5 to 9 cm wide.  Stems are woody at the base and change from light green to red with age and are armed with recurved prickles. Fruits are clustered in cone-shaped groupings. Individual fruit is about 1.55 mm across and are blue and fleshy when mature.

mile-a-minute vine, Persicaria perfoliata (Polygonales: Polygonaceae) - 5273091

 

Management and Control

Prevention: Prevention of the sale and transport of mile a minute is the most cost-effective means of management.

Biological Control: A weevil (Rhinoncomimus latipes Korotyaev) is a host-specific to mile a minute and is an approved biological control (USDA-APHIS, 2004). Adult weevils feed on foliage causing suppression in growth and seed production.

Harvesting: Mechanical as well as hand-harvesting can also be used to reduce seed reservoirs but should be done before seeds are developed to prevent further spread.

For more information visit:

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/pepe1.htm

http://www.mam.uconn.edu/

www.invasivespeciesinfo.go

Photo credits: Title photo, Britt Slattery, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bugwood.org. Leaf photo: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org.

 

Facebook

PREVENTION
Prevent the introduction of invasive species into the SLELO PRISM.

EARLY DETECTION & RAPID RESPONSE
Rapidly detect new and recent invaders and eliminate all individuals within a specific area.

COOPERATION
Share resources, including funding personnel, equipment, information, and expertise.

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
Collect, utilize, and share information regarding surveys, infestations, control methods, monitoring, and research.

CONTROL
Control invasive species infestations by using best management practices, methods and techniques to include: ERADICATION (which is to eliminate all individuals and the seed bank from an area), CONTAINMENT (which is reducing the spread of established infestations from entering an uninfested area) and SUPPRESSION which is to reduce the density but not necessarily the total infested area.

RESTORATION
Develop and implement effective restoration methods for areas that have been degraded by invasive species and where suppression or control has taken place.

EDUCATION & OUTREACH
Increase public awareness and understanding of invasive species.

INNOVATION
Develop and implement innovative technologies that help us to better understand, visualize, alleviate or manage invasive species and their impacts or that serve to strengthen ecosystem function and/or processes.

Rob Williams
PRISM Coordinator

Megan Pistolese
Outreach and Education

Brittney Rogers
Aquatic Invasive Species

Robert Smith
Terrestrial Invasive Species

CONTACT US »