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<p>Hi Angie,<br>
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. <br>
<br>
Best,<br>
Cynthia<br>
<br>
Cynthia Boettner, Coordinator<br>
Invasive Plant Control Initiative<br>
Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge<br>
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service<br>
103 E. Plumtree Rd.<br>
Sunderland, MA 01375<br>
Phone: 413-548-8002 ext. 115<br>
FAX: 413-548-9725<br>
Email: Cynthia_Boettner@fws.gov<br>
<br>
<img width="16" height="16" src="cid:1__=0ABBF0CFDFCE33B88f9e8a93df938690@fws.gov" border="0" alt="Inactive hide details for Angie Shelton <anshelto@indiana.edu>">Angie Shelton <anshelto@indiana.edu><br>
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<ul><b><font size="2">Angie Shelton <anshelto@indiana.edu></font></b><font size="2"> </font><br>
<font size="2">Sent by: apwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org</font>
<p><font size="2">08/16/2012 09:37 AM</font></ul>
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<font size="2">[APWG] early-flowering stiltgrass</font></td></tr>
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<font size="4">Hello all, </font><br>
<br>
<font size="4">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. </font><br>
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<font size="4">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. </font><br>
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<font size="4">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. </font><br>
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<br>
<font size="4">Angie Shelton<br>
Department of Biology<br>
IU Research & Teaching Preserve<br>
Indiana University<br>
Bloomington, IN 47405<br>
812-855-1674</font><u><font size="4" color="#0000FF"><br>
</font></u><a href="mailto:anshelto@indiana.edu"><u><font size="4" color="#0000FF">anshelto@indiana.edu</font></u></a><tt><br>
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