ALand 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

Treatment Old World Climbing Fern

• Methods
   
  1. Small patches are spot-treated with herbicide using a hand-held or backpack sprayer.
  
  2. Larger patches are cut about 3-4 feet above the ground (see photo below) and the lower portion of the vine is foliar sprayed with herbicide.  All living portions of the vine that are still rooted in the ground need to be thoroughly soaked with herbicide.  The parts of the vine growing up into shrubs and trees is not sprayed and will die. 
  
  [FrontPage Image Map Component] "Petticoat treatment"
  
  
  
  

• Herbicide (label information on each herbicide can be obtained by the specific herbicide)
  
  1. Upland Areas: 3% solution of Roundup UltraMax or Banvil 2,4-D with surfactant.
  2. Wetland Areas: 3% solution of Glyfos Aquatic with surfactant.
  
• Monitoring
  Revisit site every 1-3 months throughout the year treat new growth.  During the rainy season from about May to October, sites visits should be conducted more frequently to treat new growth.
  
• The Biology Of Old World Climbing Fern:  Spreads primarily by wind blown spores.  One of the few invasive plants along the Lake Wales Ridge that invades intact or undisturbed natural communities. This plant is typically associated with wetlands (bayhead swamps, cypress strands, etc.), hydric pine flatwoods, and antropogenic areas such as ditches and canals.  Actively grows and produces spores throughout the year at the Station.  In the bayhead swamp at the Station, most spores appear to germinate and sprout in the base of dead ferns such as royal fern and cinnamon fern and decaying stumps.  During colder periods when the temperature drops below 40F, there is slight decline in the growth rate and sometimes top-kill of the fern.  This species has a rapid growth rate and an individual vine can grow > 1 foot in length per week during the rainy season.  Periods of prolonged drought also appear to limit growth rates and spread of the fern.  Older patches often form dense mats both vertically and horizontally that can become greater then 3 feet thick, shading out all native plants.
  

Treated Old World climbing fern in Martin County, southeast Florida.

Photo Credits: Jeff Hutchinson

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• Hutchinson, J.T., April 2003.
© Archbold Biological Station, 2003 April.
• Webmaster: Fred Lohrer, email: webmaster@archbold-station.org