Management of Old World Climbing Fern (Lygodium microphyllum)

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Management of Old World Climbing Fern (Lygodium
microphyllum)

• Jeff Hutchinson and Ken Langeland
• U.F. Agronomy Dept.
• Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants

Lakeland Restoration Workshop 2008
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"Pops" up in very isolated natural areas

• A.R.M. Loxahatchee NWR
• Palm Beach County

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Percent Cover (pre-trt)
Native Plant Cover
?
Initial Invasion
Lygodium Cover
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Dense Infestation DuPuis Reserve, Martin County
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Infestation being treated
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Re-growth from rhizomes
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New growth from spore germination
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Management
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Herbicide Translocation

• Occurs up (acropetal) and down (basipetal) in
  OWCF
• Limited horizontal movement in the rhizomes of
  OWCF

? Complete spray coverage is essential
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Rhizome Example
Fronds
Rhizome
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Growth Characteristics (4 months)
Height (cm) Fronds per m2 Fertile Leaflets
Rhizome 126 821 9.3
Sporophyte 66 1536 17.3
Sporophyte 26 595 5.6
Re-sprouts from rhizomes grow ca. 3.8 meters per
year New Sporophytes grow ca. 1.9 meters per year
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1) Fronds grow vertically and horizontally 2)
There can be gt 600 / m2 in dense infestations 3)
Treatment can be difficult - Overlapping foliage
blocks herbicide
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Sporophyte Development from Soil Samples
(6 Months)
Site Sporophytes per m2 Fertile Leaflets
1 3051 1.2
2 1811 4.2
3 (treated site) 2885 13.7
4 1694 7.7
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Spore Germination

• Germination rates can be as high as 96
• Spores can remain viable for at least 8 years
• ? This means that even if you kill the mature
  ferns, there will be re-growth from spore
  germination

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Non-Target Damage
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Change in Native Vegetation
Loxahatchee N.W.R. tree islands

• (1 year post-treatment)

Aerial Application Swamp Fern Wild Grape
Escort 2 oz / 20 gal - 94 147
Escort 4 oz / 20 gal - 88 148
Rodeo 3.75 pints / 20 gal - 81 15
Rodeo 7.50 pints / 20 gal - 91 105
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Escort (2 oz / 100 gal)
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Rodeo (2 product)
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Dense Rachis Mat
Gaps in Rachis Mat
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Recommended RatesGround Treatments

• Glyphosate (1-3 product)
• Metsulfuron methyl (2 oz / 100 gallons)
• Triclopyr (2 product)
• Imazapic (1 product)
• Tank Mixes
• Glyphosate (1.5 product) metsulfuron methyl (1
  oz / 100 gallons)
• Glyphosate (1.5 product) triclopyr (1.5
  product)

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Conclusions

• It is important to get complete spray coverage
  when treating OWCF
• Re-treatment will be required especially in dense
  infestations
• Re-treatment should be conducted at 4-6 months
• Fertile leaflets begin to develop in lt 4 months
• Spores remain viable for at least 8 years and
  germination rates can be as high as 96
• Perpetual management problem!? One shot of
  herbicide wont kill it

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Acknowledgements FLDEP, SFWMD, SJRWMD, USFWS,
and FLEPPC
Questions