A population of Cypress Spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias L.) was spotted today by Susan MiHalo and Laura Thompson, just inside the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore boundary from Ogden Dunes.
This plant can be very aggressive in areas such as the dunes, where it poses a threat to numerous species. It also has very little wildlife value since it exudes a toxic latex when you break the stem that irritates the eyes, mouth, and gastrointestinal tract; and causes dermatitis upon contact in some people.
Laura plans to return soon to begin controlling it. It is best controlled during early budding (it flowers mid-summer) or in the early fall.
Unfortunately, this is an area where a lot of people walk their dogs, which may help spread it even more.
Following is a fact sheet with more information:
Have you seen much of this on your properties? If so, what kind of success have you had in controlling it?
The following Google Earth Map shows where the population exists. The plants have not been counted yet.
Posts
2 comments:
This is sort of disturbing, as reported on:
http://www.dot.state.wi.us/library/research/docs/tsrs/tsrinvasiveplants.pdf
"Cypress spurge has been a big problem at Illinois Beach in sandy areas
even though it is not generally considered a big problem in black soil prairies. It will invade open and partially
shaded sites and seems to be impossible to eradicate."
Apparently this is not new to the dunes, according to Natureserv:
http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Euphorbia+cyparissias
Comments: Easily spreading and becoming a weed in disturbed areas (Voss 1985). A highly successful competitor in Colorado State and at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (APRS Implementation Team 2001). Euphorbia cyparissias overgrows other species (Jordan and Jacobs, not dated).
If you were to see it at the location on the map, you can clearly see how it can take over a whole community very quickly.
Post a Comment