Mile-a-Minute CONFIRMED in Livingston County

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Press release (pdf) mile-a-minute_9_29_16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

7 October 2016

Mile-a-minute CONFIRMED in Livingston County

Mile-a-minute vine in Livingston County. Photo credit: Hilary Mosher

On September 29^th 2016, NYS DEC Forester, Garrett Koplun, Finger Lakes Community College Professor, Dr. Bruce Gilman, and the FL-PRISM investigated a property in the Town of Geneseo, Livingston County, based on a report of the plant onsite. The plant was confirmed in hedgerows along the property and the family of the homeowner reported having manually pulled the vine over several seasons.

Garrett Koplun (NYSDEC) and Dr. Bruce Gilman (FLCC) hold the invasive vine. Photo credit: Hilary Mosher

Mile-a-minute is native to India and Eastern Asia and was brought to the United State through contaminated holly seed in 1930. This is the first known observation of mile-a-minute vine outside of the Lower Hudson region of NY and is a high priority, Tier 1 invasive species for the Finger Lakes.  The potential for expansion of this vine is great because of the seed’s requirement of eight weeks of cold for the plant to flower. It is estimated that the current range of mile-a-minute is only 20% of the potential for invasion.

Mile-a-minute weed (Persicaria perfoliata) is an herbaceous, annual, trailing vine that grows rapidly and to outcompete native plants. The vine is barbed and can grow up to 6 inches per day to form dense mats that covers and stresses other plants while weakening by smothering and physically damaging them.

Mile-a-minute vine has alternate, light green, triangular-shaped leaves. The underside of the leaves and the vines contain recurved barbs that aid in its ability to climb. There is an ocreaa that surrounds the stem at each node where flowers and fruit grow and aid in the identification of this plant. Mile-a-minute is self-fertile and can produce viable seeds from June until October. Seeds can be viable up to six years in the soil.

Mile-a-minute vine in Livingston County. Photo credit: Hilary Mosher

Together we can #stoptheinvasion. Know what to look for and how to report any suspect invasive species. Check out the fingerlakesinvasives.org website for this invasive or others. Be an invasive detector!Seeds are carried a great distance by birds, which is thought to be the primary vector for spread, while other animals such as deer, squirrels, etc. can eat fruit and also aid in the spread of the plant. Mile-a-minute seeds can float for 7-9 days which allows for it to travel long distances across waterways. While it is hard to determine how the infestation first came to Livingston County, the threat of spread by birds and other animals is extremely high and additional survey of surrounding areas needs to be conducted to determine if other populations exist.

More information:

New York Invasive Species Information: http://nyis.info/index.php?action=invasive_detail&id=31