Invasive Plant Species Spotted in the Township of Brock
Invasive plant species are present within the Township of Brock, and a survey has been done to assess the severity of the problem.
The most common invasive plant species within the Township of Brock are Common Buckthorn, Dog Strangling Vine, Wild Parsnip, Phragmites, Garlic Mustard, and Tatarian Honeysuckle.
Some of these plants should take priority as they are either harmful to humans or very close to spreading to a level that would be very difficult to manage. These being Wild Parsnip and Dog Strangling Vine.
Wild Parsnip
https://www.ontario.ca/page/wild-parsnip
Impacts
- Can form dense stands that out compete native plants and decrease biodiversity.
- The stem, leaves, and flowers contain chemicals that cause sensitivity to sunlight. This can lead to severe dermatitis and serious burns.
- The chemicals in the plant are known to reduce the fertility and ability to gain weight of livestock who consume it.
How to Identify Wild Parsnip
- Grows up to 1.5 metres tall.
- The single green stem is two to five centimetres thick and smooth with few hairs.
- Compound leaves are arranged in pairs, with sharply toothed leaflets that are shaped like a mitten.
- Yellowish green flowers form umbrella-shaped clusters 10 to 20 centimetres across.
- Seeds are flat and round.
Black Swallowwort / Pale Swallowwort (Dog Strangling Vine)
Dog-strangling vine | ontario.ca
Impacts
- Forms dense stands which overwhelm and crowd native plants and young trees preventing growth.
- Difficult to traverse through, it can interfere with recreational activities and forest management.
- Deer and other grazing animals avoid DSV, increasing the pressure on their preferred native plant diet.
- Can spread and grow into agricultural fields and compete with crops.
How to Identify Dog-Strangling Vine
- Grows one to two metres high by twining onto plants, trees or other structures.
- Leaves are oval with a pointed tip, seven to 12 centimetres long, and grow on opposite sides of the stem.
- Pink to dark purple star-shaped flowers have five petals about five to nine millimetres long.
- The plant produces bean-shaped seed pods four to seven centimetres long that open to release feathery white seeds in late summer.
While the Township of Brock is implementing a management plan to prevent these invasive species from becoming fully established, it is important to be aware and monitor your property closely.
Go to Invasive species action plans | ontario.ca to find out how you can help!