Land
Management Program at Archbold Biological Station
P.O. Box 2057, Lake Placid, FL 33862
Phone 863-465-2571 FAX 863-699-1927
E-mail: landmanager@archbold-station.org
Old World Climbing Fern
Because of the aggressive nature of this plant,
treatment and control of Old World climbing fern is a top land
management priority at the Station. Any wet area on the
Station and the Reserve is susceptible to this twining fern.
These areas include bayhead swamps, hydric flatwoods, seasonal
ponds, ditches, and almost any disturbed area that holds water for
extended periods. The approximate location of all know sites
are marked on a G.I.S. map.
Treated area (in brown) of Old World climbing fern
in Martin County, Florida. This vine can change the structure
and composition of cypress and bayhead swamps, and increase the
potential of fire spreading into wetlands destroying large trees
such as cypress and swamp bay that are not adapted to fire.
The vines growing into the canopy act as fuel ladder for spread into
the canopy and kill the trees.
Known locations of Old World climbing fern are
primarily in the northeast corner of Lake Annie and southwest corner
of the Reserve. The heaviest infestation of Old World climbing fern at A.B.S. occurs in the
northeast corner of Lake Annie in a bayhead swamp. Areas around Lake Annie
have been treated with 3% Roundup or 3% Banvil
2,4-D at least twice, not including numerous spot treatments (Treatment
of Old World climbing fern). Monitoring occurs monthly or
bi-monthly to spot treat new growth and resprouting plants.
One small patch (10 ft2) of this fern was discovered in
December of 2002 about 1.25 miles south of Lake Annie and about 0.25
miles from the main grounds along the eastern edge of a ditch that
flows north into Lake Annie, indicating that spores may have been
blown from the population to the north.
Areas highlighted in green with Old World climbing fern at Lake Annie (Hufty tract).
There are several locations of Old World climbing fern at the Reserve and these sites have not been treated. All of the sites in the Reserve are in bayhead swamp or creeks. Treatment of Old world climbing fern at the Reserve will began in the Spring-Summer of 2003.
Photo Credits: Jeff Hutchinson
• Hutchinson, J.T.,
April 2003.
© Archbold Biological Station, 2003 April.
• Webmaster: Fred Lohrer, email: webmaster@archbold-station.org