Each month, we offer a fun scavenger hunt-style EcoQuest challenge to help us document invasive species in New York State and New Jersey. The scavenger hunt utilizes an easy-to-use mobile app, iNaturalist, to take and upload photos of (a) focal species of the month. This month, our theme will be “Mile-a-minute Mania!”, and focus on mile-a-minute vine (Persicaria perfoliata), an herbaceous annual vine also known as devil’s tearthumb or Asiatic tearthumb. The name “mile-a-minute” fits the characteristics of the plant, as its quick spreading nature allows it to cover ground very rapidly - it can grow up to six inches a day in the proper environment! Mile-a-minute vine (MAM) readily colonizes disturbed areas along forest edges, wetlands, stream banks and roadsides, preferring high soil moisture. The leaves of MAM are light green and have a triangular shape. They grow in an alternating pattern, with each leaf isolated along the vine, rather than being paired with another leaf immediately opposite it. Its vines have a green color and smooth texture when young, but become red and hardier over time. Distinctive, cup shaped ocreae surround the stems from which flowers and fruit bud. Once pollinated, the small white flowers form clusters of berry-like fruit that contain a singular black seed called an achene. The seeds of this plant usually germinate in the early spring and flower in early June. Small, curved barbs line the stem and underside of the leaves which allows it to climb over other plants and grow up to 25 feet tall in a single season. To join the Ecoquest, all you need to do is 1) register to participate here (no need to reregister if you've already done so for a previous challenge) 2) visit our EcoQuest webpage for more ID tips and to link to the full Mile-a-minute article 3) download the free iNaturalist App, 4) hit the trail, head to a park or look around your property for the target species, and then 5) point, click, and upload photos of this month's species! Graphics courtesy of bugwood.org and lhprism.org
|
