InFlorida,invasiveexoticplantsmakeupasmuchas31percentofthetotalplantspecies.Aninvasiveexoticplantisaspeciesthatisabletoreproduceonitsown,hasmovedbeyondtheinfluenceofinsectsanddiseasesinitslandoforigin,andwhichdestroysnativelandscapes.Theseplantscanjustkeepgrowingandreproducing,out-competinganddisplacingnativeplantsandanimalsanddisruptingnaturalprocessessuchasfireandwaterflow.AlltheinformationtodateshowsthatinvasiveexoticplantshavetakenanaggressiveholdinFloridaandthattheyarecontinuingtospreadatanalarmingrate.Florida’slocal,stateandfederallandmanagersarefightingaconstantbattletomanageinvasiveexoticplantsonFlorida’spubliclyownednaturalareas.

OldWorldclimbingfern,Lygodiummicrophyllum,isnativetoAsia,AustraliaandSouthAfrica.ItwasintroducedinFloridapriorto1965.OldWorldclimbingfernwasfirstfoundinthewildinthelate1960snearJonathanDickinsonStateParkalongthePalmBeachandMartinCountyline.Today,thefernhasinvadedawidevarietyofhabitatsfromcypressdomestopineflatwoodsacrosssouthernandcentralFlorida.OldWorldclimbingfernhastheabilitytogrowovertreesandshrubsand

spreadhorizontally,eventuallysmotheringwholecommunitiesofplants.Thisfernclimbsintothecanopyoftrees,carryingfireintothecrowns,andallowsfiretoburnintocommunitiessuchascypressswampsandotherbottomlandswampswherenaturalfiresarerare.

BeontheLookout!

South Florida Water Management District3301 Gun Club RoadWest Palm Beach, Florida 33406561-686-8800 • 1-800-432-2045www.sfwmd.gov

MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 24680West Palm Beach, FL 33416-4680

LYGODIUM

Suggested Herbicides*Dry areas: Herbicides like Brush-B-Gone (triclopyr amine 8%),Brush Killer (triclopyr amine 8.8%), “Ready-to-use” Roundup(glyphosate .96%), Roundup Pro (glyphosate 41%) andRoundup Super Concentrate (glyphosate 41%) are effectiveand can be purchased at retail garden supply stores.Theseherbicides should only be used in dry areas.They maynot be applied directly to water. Repeat applications maybe necessary.

Wet areas: The herbicide Rodeo (glyphosate 53.8%) can beapplied directly to the plant when it is growing over water.Repeat applications may be necessary. (Read and follow allherbicide label directions. It is illegal to use a herbicide in amanner inconsistent with the label’s instructions.)

Follow up is essential:Visit treated areas periodicallyand look for regrowth. Regrowth should be sprayed witha herbicide.

Non-target damage: These herbicides are not selective. Becareful not to contact desirable plants with these herbicides.

Disposal: Careful disposal of climbing fern yard waste isimportant. Nearly invisible, fern spores are easily spread bywind. Fern material should be bagged immediately. Neverdiscard climbing fern in natural areas. Mulching orcomposting are not recommended because spores mayremain viable for long periods of time.

Physically removing the browned climbing fern after aherbicide treatment can be time consuming and costly, but thethick mats of dead fern can inhibit the growth of other plants.The remaining fern material can also provide a medium forgermination of remaining climbing fern spores, a trellis forgrowth of new plants, and a fuel for fire.

Report all new occurrences in natural areas and provideherbarium voucher specimens as described on the FloridaExotic Pest Plant Council’s web site (http://fleppc.org).

For more information about OldWorld climbing fern, visit FloridaEPPC’s web site at http://fleppc.org. For additional photographs see:http://fleppc.org, http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu, or Identification & Biologyof Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas (1998, University ofFlorida, 1-800-226-1764).

SCIENTIFIC NAME: LYGODIUM MICROPHYLLUM; COMMON NAME: OLD WORLD CLIMBING FERNDESCRIPTION: VINE-LIKE FERN; CLIMBING, TWINING FRONDS TO 90 FEET LONG!

IMPACT: COVERS AND SMOTHERS OTHER PLANTS; CARRIES FIRE; DESTROYS WILDLIFE HABITAT*Mention of a trade name does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of theproduct.There is no express or implied warranty as to the fitness of any productdiscussed. Any product trade names that are listed are for the benefit of the readerand the list may not contain all products available due to changes in the market.

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In Florida, invasive exotic plants make up as much as 31percent of the total plant species. An invasive exotic plant is aspecies that is able to reproduce on its own, has moved beyondthe influence of insects and diseases in its land of origin, andwhich destroys native landscapes.These plants can just keepgrowing and reproducing, out-competing and displacing nativeplants and animals and disrupting natural processes such asfire and water flow. All the information to date shows thatinvasive exotic plants have taken an aggressive hold in Floridaand that they are continuing to spread at an alarming rate.Florida’s local, state and federal land managers are fighting a constant battle tomanage invasive exotic plants on Florida’s publicly owned natural areas.

OldWorld climbing fern, Lygodium microphyllum, is native to Asia, Australia andSouth Africa. It was introduced in Florida prior to 1965. OldWorld climbing fern wasfirst found in the wild in the late 1960s near Jonathan Dickinson State Park along thePalm Beach and Martin County line.Today, the fern has invaded a wide variety ofhabitats from cypress domes to pine flatwoods across southern and centralFlorida. OldWorld climbing fern has the ability to grow over trees and shrubs and

spread horizontally, eventually smothering whole communities of plants.This fernclimbs into the canopy of trees, carrying fire into the crowns, and allows fire to burninto communities such as cypress swamps and other bottomland swamps wherenatural fires are rare.

Be on the Lookout!

SouthFloridaWater Management District3301GunClubRoadWestPalmBeach,Florida33406561-686-8800•1-800-432-2045www.sfwmd.gov

MAILINGADDRESS:P.O.Box24680WestPalmBeach,FL33416-4680

LYGODIUM

SuggestedHerbicides*

Dryareas:HerbicideslikeBrush-B-Gone(triclopyramine8%),BrushKiller(triclopyramine8.8%),“Ready-to-use”Roundup(glyphosate.96%),RoundupPro(glyphosate41%)andRoundupSuperConcentrate(glyphosate41%)areeffectiveandcanbepurchasedatretailgardensupplystores.Theseherbicidesshouldonlybeusedindryareas.Theymaynotbeapplieddirectlytowater.Repeatapplicationsmaybenecessary.

Wetareas:TheherbicideRodeo(glyphosate53.8%)canbeapplieddirectlytotheplantwhenitisgrowingoverwater.Repeatapplicationsmaybenecessary.(Readandfollowallherbicidelabeldirections.Itisillegaltouseaherbicideinamannerinconsistentwiththelabel’sinstructions.)

Followupisessential:Visittreatedareasperiodicallyandlookforregrowth.Regrowthshouldbesprayedwithaherbicide.

Non-targetdamage:Theseherbicidesarenotselective.Becarefulnottocontactdesirableplantswiththeseherbicides.

Disposal:Carefuldisposalofclimbingfernyardwasteisimportant.Nearlyinvisible,fernsporesareeasilyspreadbywind.Fernmaterialshouldbebaggedimmediately.Neverdiscardclimbingferninnaturalareas.Mulchingorcompostingarenotrecommendedbecausesporesmayremainviableforlongperiodsoftime.

Physicallyremovingthebrownedclimbingfernafteraherbicidetreatmentcanbetimeconsumingandcostly,butthethickmatsofdeadferncaninhibitthegrowthofotherplants.Theremainingfernmaterialcanalsoprovideamediumforgerminationofremainingclimbingfernspores,atrellisforgrowthofnewplants,andafuelforfire.

ReportallnewoccurrencesinnaturalareasandprovideherbariumvoucherspecimensasdescribedontheFloridaExoticPestPlantCouncil’swebsite(http://fleppc.org).

FormoreinformationaboutOldWorldclimbingfern,visitFloridaEPPC’swebsiteathttp://fleppc.org.Foradditionalphotographssee:http://fleppc.org,http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu,orIdentification&BiologyofNon-NativePlantsinFlorida’sNaturalAreas(1998,UniversityofFlorida,1-800-226-1764).

SCIENTIFICNAME:LYGODIUMMICROPHYLLUM;COMMONNAME:OLDWORLDCLIMBINGFERNDESCRIPTION:VINE-LIKEFERN;CLIMBING,TWININGFRONDSTO90FEETLONG!

IMPACT:COVERSANDSMOTHERSOTHERPLANTS;CARRIESFIRE;DESTROYSWILDLIFEHABITAT *Mentionofatradenamedoesnotconstituteaguaranteeorwarrantyoftheproduct.Thereisnoexpressorimpliedwarrantyastothefitnessofanyproductdiscussed.Anyproducttradenamesthatarelistedareforthebenefitofthereaderandthelistmaynotcontainallproductsavailableduetochangesinthemarket.

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Overview of ProblemTwo species of exotic climbing fern (Lygodium)

have become invasive in Florida since the early1900s. OldWorld climbing fern (L. microphyllum) isnative to wet-tropical and subtropical regions ofAsia, Australia and South Africa. It has become aserious weed in South Florida, where it is rapidlyincreasing in density and range. Japanese climbingfern (L. japonicum) is native to temperate andtropical Asia. It occurs from easternTexas throughthe southern states to North Carolina and Florida.Both species are recognized NoxiousWeeds in theState of Florida, and are therefore illegal to possess,transport and/or cultivate.

Old World climbing fern invades many habitats inSouth Florida. It reproduces by millions of spores,which can be spread great distances by wind andother physical carriers (i.e. birds). New plantsestablish, which then grow over trees and shrubs,smothering native plant communities. It is nowcommon in cypress strands and domes, pineflatwoods, freshwater marshes, coastal prairies,mangrove communities, tree islands, and someagricultural areas.The fern twines among and overany available structure, completely blanketingother plants. Fern colonies also develop thick matsof old rachis material (dried stems and roots) onthe soil surface.These mats essentially bury nativeplant communities and severely impair wildlifehabitat quality.

Infestations of OldWorld climbing fern alter firebehavior, which is a naturally occurring elementand management tool in many of Florida’s plantcommunities.Thick “skirts” of old fronds wrappedaround trees serve as ladders to carry fire into treecanopies, often killing trees that would normallysurvive periodic fires. Fires that would normallystop at the moist margins of cypress sloughs nowburn into and through areas infested with OldWorldclimbing fern. Portions of the burning fern canalso break free and “kite” fire to new areas onheat plumes.

Previous experience with other highly invasiveplants (such as melaleuca) has shown that plantpopulations tend to reach a “critical mass” ofcoverage and then begin an exponential rate ofexpansion, often spreading faster than managementefforts can be effectively instituted. OldWorldclimbing fern has reached such a critical mass inSouth Florida. Resource managers and privatelandowners are reporting these plants on private andpublic lands in increasing frequency and magnituderegionwide. Particularly alarming is the fact that thisspecies is establishing in extremely remote andundisturbed areas that were previously thought tobe somewhat resistant toexotic plant invasions.The fern’s minutewindblown spores haveallowed the plant toestablish significantpopulations on treeislands in the Everglades,remote cypress domes inthe Big Cypress NationalPreserve, and inbackcountry areas ofEverglades NationalPark. Biannual surveysconducted by theSouth FloridaWaterManagement Districtestimate that OldWorldclimbing fern hasmore than doubled itscoverage in just two years!

How to IdentifyOldWorld climbing fern plants consist of long,

twining fronds to 90 feet long. Rhizomes (undergroundstems), and rachis (main stem of the frond) are darkbrown to black and wiry. Leafy branches off the rachisare 2 to 5 inches long with several pairs of leaflets(pinnules). Fertile leaflets are fringed with tiny lobesof enrolled leaf tissue along the leaf margin, whichcover the reproductive tissues.

Where to LookInfestations of OldWorld climbing fern are most

likely to occur in central and south Florida and havebeen reported as far north as Hillsborough andBrevard counties.This fern commonly invades moisthabitats, but also grows in shallow water and dryareas, and in both pristine and disturbed conditions.Young plants are often found on moist portions (mosscollars) of tree buttresses.

How to Stop the SpreadClimbing fern control options include preventative,

herbicidal, biological, mechanical and physicalmethods. Biological control holds the key to effectivelong-term regional management of this species.Initial overseas searches have been conducted forbiocontrol agents in the fern’s native range. Even afterpotential agents have been isolated, screened, andreleased – which may take more than a decade – itmay take several more years for the agents to buildup effective populations.

In the interim, and during the biological controlintroduction phase, a combination of preventative,herbicidal, mechanical and physical control measureswill be required to reduce infestations and preventcolonization of un-infested areas. It is extremelyimportant to identify and treat small populations ofexotic climbing fern before they become substantialinfestations. Early detection and treatment is key tosuccessful and economical management of this plant.

Treatment of individual plants is the mostconservative and effective approach in natural areas,but locating, accessing and treating individual plantscan be extremely time-consuming.Thus, less time-consuming and costly methods of herbicideapplication are constantly being investigated.

Cutting vines will result in death of the vines abovethe cut location, but will not kill the lower portion ofthe plant. Regrowth will occur after physical removal(hand-pulling) or burning. Flooding does not killestablished vines but seems to prevent germination ofspores on flooded soils. Use of heavy equipment haslimited value because site access is often limited, andequipment can disturb soils and non-target vegetationas well as transport spores to new locations. Controlrequires application of herbicide, which should onlybe applied by those knowledgeable in the use.

Contact the Institute of Food and AgriculturalSciences (IFAS) Pesticide Information Office,(352) 392-4721, for information on pesticideapplicator training. See IFAS Publication SP242,“Control of Non-native Plants in Natural Areas ofFlorida” for specific methods to control climbingferns and other invasive plant species in naturalareas, and SP295, “Natural AreaWeed Management –ATraining Manual for Restricted Use PesticideApplicators” for technical information about the useof herbicides in natural areas.These publications canbe purchased by calling (352) 392-1764 or orderedonline at http://ifasbooks.ufl.edu. A fact sheet withcurrent control recommendations for homeownerscan be found at www.fleppc.org/ly101.htm, and amanagement plan for land managers can be foundat www.fleppc.org/Exotic_Guides/Lyg_control.htm.

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