Knights Give Back
UCF students and alumni spent several hours at the Seminole County Environmental Studies Center helping in the battle to eradicate non-native invasive plants from Seminole County.
There were two additional teams of volunteers who joined in the fray.
The effort netted 75 trash bags full of Air Potato vines & seeds; Wandering Jew & Caesarweed.
More Photos and higher quality are available a;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/onebigbarr/2952691281/in/photostream/
Air Potato (Dioscorea bulbifera) is a yam species.
It is a perennial vine with broad leaves and two types of storage organs. These tubers are like small, oblong potatoes, and they are edible and cultivated as a food crop, especially in West Africa. It is important to note that uncultivated forms, such as those found growing wild in Florida can be poisonous.
In some places, such as Florida, it is an invasive species because of its quick-growing, large-leafed vine that spreads tenaciously and shades out any plants growing beneath it. The bulbils on the vines sprout and become new vines, twisting around each other to form a thick mat. If the plant is cut to the ground, the tubers can survive for extended periods and send up new shoots later.
Wandering Jew (Tradescantia fluminensis)
is a species of spiderwort. zebrina. Though often grown in the United States as a garden plant or houseplant, it is considered an invasive species, noxious weed, or pest plant and is consequently targeted for eradication.
The seriously invasive qualities Wandering Jew result from a combination of attributes. Forming a dense mat underneath forest tree cover (facilitated by a remarkable shade tolerance), it smothers ground-level plants and prevents the natural regeneration of taller species; if left unchecked, it can lead to the destruction of native forests. Constant deployment of weed-control agents may have a negative effect upon the local environment, so the only option remaining is manual clearance. With repeated efforts, each at intervals of a couple months, complete eradication is possible. Regular monitoring of invasion from neighboring areas is indicated.
Caesarweed (Urena lobata Linnaeus)
is a member of the Malvaceae, the mallow family, having pink flowers like miniature hollyhocks. Caesarweed grows to 2 meters (6 feet) in height. The lobed leaves are covered in stellate trichomes (star-shaped plant hairs) which give the leaves a grayish color and raspy feel.