From Friend to Foe: Detecting Invasive Species creeping into Eastern Shore landscapes
- Beth Sheppard
- 20 hours ago
- 2 min read
During the early spring I took a deep dive researching a handful of obscure, hard to identify native plants. Learning the difference between Eupatorium maculatum (Spotted Joe-pye Weed) and Eupatorium perfoliatum (Common Boneset) is one example; Spotted Joe-pye has a reddish stem and pink flowers while Boneset is a white fuzzy perennial whose perfoliate leaves look like they are growing right through the stem. Learning weird facts and identifiers helps me better familiarize myself with Latin names, plant characteristics and pollinator benefits. There is always more to learn, and the details benefit as we collaborate on species we offer during our spring plant sale.
Now that our spring plant sale is behind us, our attention can shift to emerging meadows and blooming gardens. Along with that shift comes an opportunity to introduce a valuable database and to take our work a step further. Beyond increasing pollinator plants in our gardens, we can tap into becoming regional citizen scientists.
The state of Maryland has made the detective work easy. Statewide Eyes is an online resource for identifying Maryland’s most common invasive species mapped by region. The Mid-Atlantic Early Detection Network collaborates with land managers, gardeners and naturalists to observe and make management decisions to keep ahead of plant species that are not beneficial to our ecosystems. Check out this app using the Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System EDD MapS. It’s been in use for over 20 years and was developed at the University of Georgia as a tool for early data collecting and invasive species distribution within the state. As of May, EDD MapS have recorded over 8 million recordings across the US and Canada.
During my restoration site visits I’ve noticed most landowners are comfortable using their smart phones for plant identification. Now we can work toward a larger movement to map and tune into the plant species which are bringing unwanted consequences to native habitats. This is a project we plan to develop at the Chesapeake Forest Tract of Libertytown Branch located outside Berlin. We invite school groups, families and individuals to participate. If you want to learn more, please email me: bsheppard@lslt.org.
