[APWG] early-flowering stiltgrass

[Diana Carter]

I am working in and watching a natural area in Reston VA.  My focus right
now is stiltgrass removal - trying to get as much out as I can before the
seeds set.  At this point I have not seen any flowers yet.  I am working
mostly in areas that are about 10 feet higher than stream level in a stream
valley.  Some areas are a bit higher.  

 

We did have the early spring, so I feared that the stiltgrass would mature
early.  But since then we have had many days when the temperature exceeded
95 degrees F.  I am speculating that may have had a retarding effect.  So at
this time it seems to me that we are on a normal track.  I will ask others
in this area what they are seeing.  And when I hear from them, and/or start
to see the flowering myself, I will post again.

 

Diana 
Diana F. Carter 



From: apwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org
[mailto:apwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org] On Behalf Of
Cynthia_Boettner at fws.gov
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2012 1:23 PM
To: Angie Shelton
Cc: apwg at lists.plantconservation.org;
apwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org; telliman at newfs.org;
chris at polatineco.com; dgumbart at tnc.org
Subject: Re: [APWG] early-flowering stiltgrass

 

Hi Angie,
Although here in western Massachasetts we are half expecting an earlier seed
set this year, so far it seems to be on a similar schedule as last year.
Like you, in the past we haven't seen flowering until late August. We still
hadn't seen flowering here as of Aug. 11, the last time we were out doing
control work in Conway, MA. Now that I've seen your email, I will expect
that our events scheduled for later this month may be tricky. I am copying
this message to collaborators in southern MA and southern CT so they can
weigh in as well. 

Best,
Cynthia

Cynthia Boettner, Coordinator
Invasive Plant Control Initiative
Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
103 E. Plumtree Rd.
Sunderland, MA 01375
Phone: 413-548-8002 ext. 115
FAX: 413-548-9725
Email: Cynthia_Boettner at fws.gov

Inactive hide details for Angie Shelton <anshelto at indiana.edu>Angie Shelton
<anshelto at indiana.edu>




Angie Shelton <anshelto at indiana.edu> 
Sent by: apwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org 

08/16/2012 09:37 AM




To


apwg at lists.plantconservation.org




cc






Subject


[APWG] early-flowering stiltgrass

 







Hello all, 

I have noticed that Japanese stilt grass in south central Indiana started
setting seed by the first week of August this year.  Seed set in this area
usually begins in late August to early September. This year's seed set is
almost a full month earlier than usual.  Control efforts on this annual
plant need to be done before seed set to be effective, so an earlier
flowering time reduces the time for late-season management.   

The earlier flowering could be a result of a warm, early spring that caused
stiltgrass and most native spring plants to germinate 3-4 weeks earlier than
usual.  It could also be due to a much warmer than usual summer.  These
causes are not mutually exclusive.  

I am curious if Japanese stiltgrass is also flowering earlier than usual in
other regions.  If so, was germination also earlier than usual?  Summer
temperatures were probably warmer than usual across the entire range in the
eastern U.S.  What are the typical germination and flowering times in more
southern regions where the growing season is longer?  Being able to predict
flowering time across a range of conditions is important to know when the
deadline is to complete management efforts for the year.  


Angie Shelton
Department of Biology
IU Research & Teaching Preserve
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN 47405
812-855-1674
 <mailto:anshelto at indiana.edu> anshelto at indiana.edu
_______________________________________________
PCA's Alien Plant Working Group mailing list
APWG at lists.plantconservation.org
http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/apwg_lists.plantconserva
tion.org

Disclaimer
Any requests, advice or opinions posted to this list reflect ONLY the
opinion of the individual posting the message.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.plantconservation.org/pipermail/apwg_lists.plantconservation.org/attachments/20120816/09806875/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.gif
Type: image/gif
Size: 105 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.plantconservation.org/pipermail/apwg_lists.plantconservation.org/attachments/20120816/09806875/attachment.gif>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.png
Type: image/png
Size: 168 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.plantconservation.org/pipermail/apwg_lists.plantconservation.org/attachments/20120816/09806875/attachment.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image003.png
Type: image/png
Size: 166 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.plantconservation.org/pipermail/apwg_lists.plantconservation.org/attachments/20120816/09806875/attachment-0001.png>