JAPANESE CHAFF FLOWER (ACHYRANTHES JAPONICA)

Chris Evans

River to River CWMA

www.rtrcwma.org

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

BACKGROUND Perennial Forb

Up to 5-6 feet in height Young plants single

stemmed, older plants have multiple stems

First located in 1981 in eastern KY and southwestern WV

Rapid spread throughout the Ohio River Valley and other regions

Form extensive infestations along riverine systems

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

IDENTIFICATION

Leaves opposite, entire, smooth edged Smooth to lightly pubescent Petioles vary in length, sometimes very long,

sometime near sessile

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

IDENTIFICATION

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

IDENTIFICATION

Flowers occur in terminal spikes, diverge at right angles

Start very compact and elongate as the progress

Lack petals Brush like, dull green

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

IDENTIFICATION

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

IDENTIFICATION

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

IDENTIFICATION

Terminal spike continues to elongate as flowers mature into fruits

Fruits deflex along the stem 2 stiff bracteoles on each fruit Remain on dead stalk throughout winter Easily attached to clothing, fur, etc.

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

IDENTIFICATION

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

IDENTIFICATION

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

IDENTIFICATION

Dense stands Flower or fruit spikes very noticeable

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

TIMING

Initiates growing in late spring ‘Comes on’ in mid-late summer Flowering late summer Rapid seed set (late summer – early fall) Seed maturation – early fall Plant senescence – late fall

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

SPREAD

Water Animals Humans

Produces thousands of seeds per plant per year

Appear to be very viable based upon initial attempts to grow in greenhouse

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

CURRENT DISTRIBUTION

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

HABITAT

Does best in moist, rich soils in partial shade – full sun Sandy to loamy to silty soils

Does not tolerate annual flooding or long periods of inundation On big river systems, often found just above the

driftwood line Can grow in deep shade

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

HABITAT

Riparian areas Bottomland forests Roadsides Ditches Old fields Waste areas

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

IMPACTS

Forms very dense thickets Near monoculture Seems to exclude many other species

Even displacing stiltgrass Preferred forage for deer Lots of evidence for insect feeding

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

MANAGEMENT

Early Detection Rapid Response Monitoring and controlling this species in new

areas Spread prevention techniques and adoption

of BMPs in areas where this species is present

Further education about this species*Very few people currently know about

this plant or know to look for it*

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

MANAGEMENT

Spread prevention Clothing cleaning Equipment sanitation

Targeted surveys in and around hiking areas and campgrounds

High use areas

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

MANAGEMENT

Research on control efforts underway Foliar sprays before flowering(mid summer)

2% Glyphosate 2% Triclopyr

Large roots and brittle stems seem to limit hand pulling

2012 Invasive Species Workshop – St. Louis, MO

SUMMARY

This new species has rapidly spread throughout the Lower Ohio River Valley and into other portions of the SE and has recently been found in Missouri

It is spread by flood waters and by humans and animals

It can form dense stands that appear to potentially heavily impact riparian areas and bottomlands

Spread prevention and EDRR should be implemented

Control with foliar sprays of glyphosate or tricopyr seem to be effective

Much more research is being started on this plant