February 7, 2010
Winter Weed Identification - Maynard Ecology Center
A Friends of Fresh Pond Reservation Program
Barbara Strell lead a talk which described how to use identify winter weeds when in the field by using the Winter Weed Finders by Dorcas Miller. With Barbara's instructions and demonstrations the talk focused on "on hands" participation of book usage. After the talk, participants practicedtheir new skills by going to four different tables where thirty-two dried weeds were placed. At the end of the activity attendees were treated to cookies, hot chocolate and tea.
Barbara Strell (left photo) is shown helping a gentleman identify a weed by using Winter Weed Finders.
(middle photo) Four of the thirty-two weeds that participants practiced with are (clockwise from lower left): Common (Blue) Vervain (Verbena hastata), Black Swallowwort (Cynanchum louiseae), Common Mullien (Verbascum thapsus), and Common Milkweed (Ascelepias syriaca).
Elizabeth Wylde (right photo) spoke about Black Swallowwort (Cynanchum louiseae), an invasive Eurasian vine that threatens both flora and fauna at the Reservation. Black swallowwort crowd out native flora, like common milkweed (Ascelepias syriaca)]. This threatens the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) population because the monarch lays its eggs on milkweed. Due to the plants' similarities of swallowwort and milkweed, when black swallowwort has pushed out milkweed, the monarch lays its eggs on black swallowwort instead. Sadly, the larvae do not survive on black swallowwort. Fortunately, there are several volunteer weeders (Elizabeth Wylde included) who have made a significant impact on reducing black swallowwort's presence at Fresh Pond.
Description and Photos by Carol Collura