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Plant Industry - Plant Protection Section
Mile-a-Minute Weed or Tearthumb ( Polygonum perfoliatum) was detected by NCDA&CS Plant Protection Specialist Dan Wall at a nursery in southern Wake County on June 12, 2000. This prickly, annual, climbing vine is listed as a Class A Noxious Weed under our State Noxious Weed Regulations. Because of its rapid, aggressive, scrambling growth, Mile-a-Minute represents a serious threat to nurseries, Christmas tree plantations, reforestation sites, and rights-of-way. The common name "Mile-a-Minute" is testimony to its rapid growth, while "Tearthumb" derives from the recurved barbs found on the stems, petioles, and leaf veins.
The two plants found on 6/12 were growing in pots with Hosta plants in two small shade houses. This is the first reported occurrence of Mile-a-Minute in North Carolina. A native of Asia, the weed was first reported in the eastern United States before 1950, appearing at a nursery in York County, Pennsylvania. It has subsequently spread to other sites in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, and Ohio.
Some identifying characteristics of Mile-a-Minute are shown in the accompanying images.
If you suspect the presence of Mile-a-Minute, please notify your NCDA&CS Plant Protection Specialist or contact NCDA&CS Weed Specialist Rick Iverson at 1-800-206-9333, 919-733-6932, or Rick.Iverson@ncmail.net
Image Gallery of Mile-a-Minute Weed
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The Federal Noxious Weed Tropical Spiderwort (Commelina benghalensis) has been found at the Cherry Research Farm near Goldsboro in Wayne County. This is the only known infestation in North Carolina.
Tropical Spiderwort is a serious threat to crop production in eastern North Carolina. It grows rapidly and competes with crops for light, water, and soil nutrients. Its tolerance of glyphosate makes it difficult to control in Roundup Ready crops, and its prostrate creeping growth habit makes it very competitive with peanuts. Its production of seeds underground makes it difficult to control with herbicides.
Tropical Spiderwort is an herbaceous creeping annual weed with small but showy blue flowers (Figures 1 and 2). White flowers also are produced underground on the ends of burrowing rhizomes (Figure 3), and these underground flowers distinguish it from most other species of Commelina. The plant also reproduces vegetatively by rooting at the nodes of its creeping stems. It grows rapidly, and under favorable conditions can reach a height of at least 3 ft.
Tropical Spiderwort is native to the tropics and subtropics of the Old World. It was introduced into the New World and is found in the United States in Hawaii, California, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. It is now considered to be the most troublesome weed of row crops in the state of Georgia. In 2001, it was identified at the Cherry Research Farm in Wayne County, North Carolina.
We currently are developing plans to eradicate Tropical Spiderwort at the Cherry Research Farm and to prevent its further spread in North Carolina.
Information Brochure:
Benghal Dayflower a.k.a. Tropical Spiderwort: A New Weed in North Carolina
If you find Tropical Spiderwort on your land, please contact NCDA&CS Weed Specialist Mr. Rick Iverson at 1-800-206-9333 or by email at Rick.Iverson@ncmail.net.
Since November 1998, the noxious aquatic weed Giant Salvinia (Salvinia molesta) has been detected in 20 counties in North Carolina. This floating aquatic fern, native to South America, is an aggressive invader of freshwater lakes, ponds, and slow moving streams. It has a very high growth rate and can double its biomass in less than a week under favorable conditions. It forms thick floating mats that clog waterways and interfere with navigation, irrigation, drainage, and recreational water use. When the mats sink and decay, dissolved oxygen levels can be severely depleted, endangering fish and other aquatic life.
Until recently, all detections of Giant Salvinia in North Carolina had been from aquatic plant nurseries and dealers, botanical gardens, ornamental ponds, or retention ponds, and the weed has been successfully eradicated from these sites. However, in September 2000, naturalized infestations of Giant Salvinia were found in New Hanover County and Pender County. NCDA&CS personnel currently are conducting delimiting surveys to determine the extent of these newly-detected infestations.
Please help us limit the spread of Giant Salvinia in North Carolina. If you see this weed, please contact the local NCDA&CS Specialist in your area or Rick Iverson, Weed Specialist NCDA&CS, 1-800-206-WEED.
| For Additional Giant Salvinia Information Contact: |
Mr. Rick Iverson
Weed Specialist
Phone: 919-733-6932, ext. 246
Fax: 919-733-1041
email: Rick.Iverson@ncagr.gov |
Photos & Additional Information:
Salvinia molesta
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Mailing Address:
North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Service
Plant Industry Division
1060 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1060 |
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| Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) has been recently added to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ State Noxious Weed List. With this listing, the sale and distribution of this weed in North Carolina will be prohibited. In the near future, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Plant Protection Section will outline an implementation schedule for the regulation of this species.
Oriental Bittersweet is an aggressive, invasive climbing vine. It is native to eastern Asia and was introduced into the United States as an ornamental vine in the late 1800’s. It has escaped from ornamental plantings and is now established at sites throughout the eastern United States. Oriental Bittersweet invades natural and managed habitats, interferes with forest regeneration, suppresses native herbaceous plants, girdles trees, and increases the likelihood of damage to trees and power lines during ice storms.
In western North Carolina, the dried vines of Oriental Bittersweet with their attractive and persistent fruit are gathered for use in ornamental wreaths and dried flower arrangements. This practice allows Oriental Bittersweet to spread to previously uninfested areas when the wreaths or flower arrangements are discarded. Birds also eat the fruit of Oriental Bittersweet and spread it locally. However, spread of Oriental Bittersweet over longer distances is usually associated with its use by man.
It is anticipated that prohibiting the sale and distribution of Oriental Bittersweet in North Carolina will greatly reduce its rate of spread and its impact on native plants and natural areas.
If you have questions concerning Oriental Bittersweet, please contact Mr. Rick Iverson , NCDA&CS Weed Specialist, at 919-733-6930 ext. 246 or 1-800-206-WEED. |
| For Additional Oriental Bittersweet Information Contact: |
Mr. Rick Iverson
NCDA&CS Weed Specialist
Phone: 919-733-6930 ext. 246
Phone:1-800-206-WEED.
Fax: 919-733-1041
email: Rick.Iverson@ncagr.gov |
Mailing Address:
North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Service
Plant Industry Division
1060 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1060
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