Down here in the sunshine state, we all know that we’re no strangers to invasive species. This can mean anything at this point, really. There was even a time in our not too distant past where monkies escaped a research center and are now invasive. That’s right, everything from primates to reptiles has taken root in Florida. From the tegu to the python. But it’s not only animals that cause these issues. No, sir, invasive plants cause just as much of a problem for the sunshine state- if not more, depending on the species. And today we’re going to talk about one of these invasive species, and that’s the Tampa climbing fern.
So we’ll go over a few things, such as the appearance of the plant, how it got here, and what you should do.
Native to Africa, Asia, and Australia, OWCF is a newcomer to Florida that has spread at an alarming rate since its introduction. The first record in Florida was collected from a plant in cultivation at a Delray Beach nursery in 1958.
The Tampa climbing fern was first discovered to be invasive in Florida in1965 and was introduced purposely from Asia as an ornamental plant. Being an aggressive grower, the Old World climbing fern quickly grew out of control. It became established in many states throughout the south and the eastern United States.
Tampa Climbing Fern: Overview
Okay, so calling it the Tampa Climbing Fern is just my own shorthand. It’s really known as the Old World Climbing Fern. The correct name of Old World climbing fern is L. microphyllum, but the species is occasionally referred to as Lygodium scandens. As many as 40 species have been placed in the genus Lygodium, but a recent revision has reduced this number to 26. Lygodium japonicum, another invasive species in the southeastern United States, has leaflets that are more dissected and lobed than those of Lygodium microphyllum.
Old World climbing fern is a fern with climbing fronds. What looks like a stem is actually climbing, freely branching, leaf (frond) which may become as much as 100 feet long. The leafy branches off the main stem are 2-5 inches long. Old World climbing fern has two types of leaflets on its climbing leaf. The leaflet with the simple (unlobed) outline is a normal vegetative leaflet. The more convoluted leaflet has sporangia along its margin, which produces spores leading to the development of gametophytes. Gametophytes are separate small plants that produce sexual cells, which unite to form an embryo and ultimately a new climbing fern. This alternating of vegetative and reproductive plants as separate generations is typical of most ferns. The reproductive plants (gametophytes) are usually very small, and rarely seen without considerable detective work.
Tampa Climbing Fern: Is Found
The Tampa climbing fern is a vascular plant that belongs to the family of climbing ferns. It originates from Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific islands, but it can be found around the world today. Old World climbing fern grows on the moist soil (or even in the standing water), exposed to direct sunlight or in the partial shade. It can be found in subtropical and tropical areas, usually in wetlands, marshes, mangroves, prairies, woodlands, and floodplains. Old World climbing fern is classified as a noxious weed in all countries outside its native range.
Tampa Climbing Fern: Impact
The Old World fern is able to resprout from almost any part of the climbing vine. This function allows for rapid growth and expansion across a tree. There are two types of leaflets that branch off the main climbing vine, the normal vegetative leaflet and the convoluted leaflet with sporangia. The sporangia found along the margin of the leaves forms gametophytes followed by the formation of a new climbing fern. Moreover, typical with most climbing ferns, the Old World fern alternates between vegetative and reproductive forms.
The Tampa climbing fern is found growing in forests where it has become attached to trees. Then, it climbs up the entire length of the tree to reach sunlight at the top. With the ability to resprout from any point along the vine, the Old World climbing fern is able to form dense nets across trees and other vegetation. The dense mat that is formed by the fern creates a high potential for fires. The additional risk for fires can change the natural physical processes that native plants are accustomed to.
The Old World climbing fern is found in warmer southern climates growing on trees and other vegetation. Wet areas such as wet prairies and saw grass marshes are common places that the invasive fern can be found growing on the ground or attached to bald cypress stands.
What To Do?
Honestly, this is a tough thing to do. Especially, if you’re trying this on your own. But, it’s still worth a try to stop this wild invader from coming in and completely choking out Florida. To start with, there’s always keeping your garden free of these vines. The second you see them, pluck them up and put them into some sort of bag. Preventative management is going to be king in stopping this thing’s spread.
You need to monitor and ensure the early detection of invasion with these plants. Especially in new areas. This can help local wildlife authority and the FWC contain the plant quickly and with much less cost. In areas with the little establishment, as I said above, mechanical eradication can work out well. As a result, that’s anything from using a shovel to a backhoe to get down into the base of the plant and destroy its root system. Mowing won’t really work, as the invasive fern can grow back from a very damaged plant.
Remove Old World climbing fern from your property and plant native species in its place. Multiple herbicide treatments are often required to kill Old World climbing fern. The aboveground portion of the plant will die quickly, but herbicides move poorly within the root system so the plants can regrow from the intact roots.
Consequently, report Old World climbing fern in natural areas on IveGot1.org or using the IveGot1 reporting app.
