Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC)

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We need your help! Have you seen this plant?

Posted on August 10, 2018 by Franny Brewer

Photo by: Forest and Kim Starr

We are in the final stages of eradicating one of Hawaii’s most pervasive horticultural invaders, and are asking for your help in locating any remaining plants. Pampas grass, an aggressive invader, is considered a significant threat in Hawaii as a fuel for wildfires. In Maui, it has spread widely, growing in heavily vegetated marshes to sparse dry forests, even on the slopes of Haleakala. Two species of pampas grass occur in Hawaii, Cortaderia jubata and Cortaderia selloana, and both are targeted on the state’s Noxious Weeds list.

Popular in the Victorian era for the showy plumes used in fashion and decor, the South American plant was shipped around the world in the late 1800s. In places like New Zealand, California, and Maui, pampas grass slowly became a problem as it spread far beyond its planting sites. Each clump of pampas grass is capable of producing thousands of lightweight seeds which are carried by the wind, reaching recorded distances as far as 20 miles from the parent plant.

Locations where BIISC has found pampas grass since beginning eradication efforts in 2007.

 

In 2007, BIISC undertook the effort to remove pampas grass from the Big Island. An exhaustive search over several years revealed pampas grass in over two dozen locations around the island from Volcano to Kona. Despite the razor sharp leaves, pampas grass is still sold throughout the world as an attractive plant for homeowners, and many of the plants were found on private property, including golf courses. Joel Brunger, field operations supervisor for BIISC, explains that obtaining permission is always a challenge to any eradication plan. “We don’t have the authority to enter private property to look for or remove a plant, so we have to try to find the property owners and sometimes they are off-island or out of the country,” he notes. “This process can take months to years.”

Brunger explained that when an invasive plant is found in an area, the BIISC team must do a thorough survey of the surrounding area to find additional plants. With a potential seed Pspread of up to 20 miles, pampas grass required a significant investment of time. Most homeowners, says Brunger, are cooperative and eager to support the removal of an invasive plant from their property. “After the adult plants are removed, we have to return and conduct sweeps regularly for new sprouting keiki for as long as the seeds are viable. For pampas grass, that’s six years, so we can’t say the plant is eradicated until we haven’t seen any new plants in that area for at least six years.”

BIISC is asking the public to report any sightings of pampas grass. The grass grows in large clumps as high as 13 feet, with feathery plumes ranging from white to lavender in color. Pampas grass looks similar to sugarcane, but the leaves are narrower and form a corkscrew shape, and the plume is longer and fuller than cane blooms. Residents are asked to refrain from buying or planting pampas grass, as seeds can be purchased online and have twice been found in stores since the eradication effort began. “It took us quite a while to get here,” says Brunger. “We would really hate to see all of that work undone because of one garden planting.”

Report sightings to BIISC at 933-3340 or email biisc@hawaii.edu. Individuals are encouraged to send pictures of suspect plants via email or Facebook for quick identification.

Click here to view/print our Pampas Rack Card

Filed Under: Active Eradication Targets, News

Barbados Gooseberry


(Pereskia aculeata)

Family: Cactaceae

Description:

  • Woody shrub when young, grows into climbing, leafy cactus, with branches are up to 11m (33 ft) long
  • Fragrant flowers (can be lemon, sweet, or repulsive smelling) and round yellow-red berries
  • Native to the West Indies and the northern coast of South America, introduced intentionally for horticulture (as an ornamental or for its fruit)

Harm:

  • Forms dense, thorny thickets in low elevations, overgrows and replaces other plants
  • Spread by birds and animals that eat the fruit
  • Has become a major weed in South Africa where it is an escaped ornamental

In Hawaii:

  • Big Island – Found in only one location in North Kohala near Hawi. The single population is currently being treated.

Download: Barbados Gooseberry Flyer, Pereskia aculeata brochure

For more information, see:

  • Pereskia aculeata information from HEAR
  • Pereskia aculeata information from PIER

Filed Under: Active Eradication Targets, Target Pests

Wax Myrtle

(Morella cerifera)

Family: Myricaceae

Description:

  • Large, densely foliated upright shrub to small tree
  • Can grow up to 35’ tall but usually found between 15’-20’ tall
  • Has thin, alternate olive green leaves to 4” long
  • Leaves are aromatic when crushed
  • Flowers are small, inconspicuous pinkish catkins, followed by rounded green to grayish blue fruits found densely clustered along stem
  • Fruit is coated with wax

Harm:

  • Wax myrtle grows rapidly and easily invades to become a weedy pest
  • It is a tough plant, adapted to many climatic conditions which can displace native vegetation
  • Produces numerous bird dispersed fruits that can easily germinate under many conditions
  • Has the ability to colonize and dominate disturbed areas in a variety of habitats

In Hawaii:

  • Big Island – Found spreading in Hilo including Mohouli Street extension and Stainback Highway

Download: Wax Myrtle Flyer

Filed Under: Active Eradication Targets, Target Pests

Cotoneaster


(Cotoneaster Pannosus)

Family: Rosaceae

The Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources has designated this species as one of Hawaii’s Most Invasive Horticultural Plants.

Description:

  • Multi-stemmed, woody shrub with arching branches up to 10’ tall
  • 1/2″ to 1” long oblong gray-green leaves with matted hairs on the undersides
  • Produces clusters of 1/4” long, five petaled white flowers followed by round dull red fruit which contain 1-4 seeds

Harm:

  • Forms dense monotypic stands in dry or wet open areas including pastures and roadsides
  • Prefers cooler climates and poses a risk to native mid-elevation forests since its fruit is bird dispersed and can readily germinate under most conditions

In Hawaii:

  • Big Island – Found in Paauilo, Puu Makaala, and Ocean View

Download: Cotoneaster Flyer

Filed Under: Active Eradication Targets, Target Pests

Smoke Bush


(Buddleja madagascariensis)

Family: Buddlejaceae

Smoke bush, known also as butterfly bush, is an aggressive shrub that is on the Hawaii Department of Forestry and Wildlife’s list, “Hawaii’s Most Invasive Horticultural Plants”. This species is rated “HIGH RISK” for invasiveness, with a score of “7” by the Weed Risk Assessment for Hawaii and Pacific Islands. Smoke bush is recognized as an invasive species in Florida, Australia, South Africa, and in the Caribbean.

Description:

  • Viney shrub with dense, sprawling habit
  • Clusters of small, orange, attractive, fragrant flowers
  • Gray-green leaves 3-5″ long
  • Seeds born in pulpy fruits on terminal clusters
  • Native to Madagascar, introduced to Hawaii as an ornamental plant

Harm:

  • Aggressive invader of disturbed areas at mid to low elevations, including open range, stream beds, and gulches
  • Forms dense stands that crowd out and compete with native plants
  • Plant produces numerous fruit that are attractive to birds, which disperse the seeds.
  • Mechanical and chemical control of this species is difficult.

On the island of Hawaii:

  • Infestations in Volcano, Puna, Waimea, Paauilo, South Kona. Targeted for control by the Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC)

Download: Smoke Bush Flyer, Buddleja brochure

For more information, see:

  • Buddleja madagascariensis information from HEAR
  • Buddleja madagascariensis information from PIER

Filed Under: Active Eradication Targets, Target Pests

Axis Deer



Download: Axis Deer Alert

Axis deer was first illegally introduced in December 2009, but the first confirmed sighting wasn’t until February 2011. Four deer were transported from Maui where axis deer was previously introduced in 1959. BIISC immediately began monitoring the area and confirmed axis deer had made its way to the Big Island. Surveys were produced with the use of FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared Radar) equipment, helicopter flights, and other methods. The BIISC vertebrate team was able to quickly and successfully eradicate the deer. There have been no more confirmed sightings of axis deer since.

But that is not the end of the problem. Because the first confirmed sighting was a little more than a year after the initial introduction there is a possibility that the first deer had already begun breeding increasing the total amount of deer that was speculated to be on the Big Island. The BIISC vertebrate team is still conducting some surveys but relies heavily on sighting reports from the public. One of the main ways to ID and axis deer is by the white spots on its body.

Axis deer can cause a lot of damage to the Big Islands natural environment as well as the agricultural industry. In the past they have caused millions of damage to golf courses, food crops, ranches, landscaping, and more. Deer are also a carrier of bovine tuberculosis which can have devastating results to the cattle industry. Axis deer reproduce extremely quickly and it would only take a few years for them to become established and uncontrollable.

If you see and axis deer or any other kind of vertebrate that shouldn’t be there please let us know.
Report A Pest or call the Deer Hotline immediately at (808) 443-4036

Summer 2015 “Wildlife Professional” magazine article: Axis Deer Wildlife Professional 2015 (1)

Download: Axis Deer alert

Filed Under: Active Eradication Targets, Target Pests

Rubbervine


(Cryptostegia grandiflora and C. madagascariensis)

Family: Asclepidaceae

The Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources has designated this species as one of Hawaii’s Most Invasive Horticultural Plants.

Description:

  • Fast growing, climbing plant usually with pinkish-purple flowers (sometimes white to pink or light purple). Can also grow as a bush.
  • Shiny, dark green leaves that are about 7 cm (3 in) long, with triangular, 10 cm long (4 in) seedpods that grow in wing-like pairs.
  • Native to Madagascar, introduced to Hawaii as drought-resistant ornamentals.

Harm:

  • Grows over other plants and trees to 13 m (45 ft) high, smothering and killing other vegetation.
  • Twines tightly around other plants and restricts their growth.
  • Extremely poisonous: it contains cardiac glycosides, which interfere with heart operation in humans and animals when the plant is eaten.
  • When the vine is dry, a powdery dust emerges and can cause violent coughing, swelling of the nose, and blistering of the eyelids.
  • Contact with the plant’s milky sap can cause burning rashes and blisters.
  • Each seedpod contains 340-840 seeds, silky hairs on seeds allow them to spread by wind and water, seeds are also known to float and survive for a month in salt water before being washed ashore to sprout.
  • Introduced to Western Australia, now considered one of the 10 worst invasive plants.

In Hawaii:

  • Big Island – Rubbervine is a BIISC early detection target species. BIISC is working to locate and control infestations. Property owners are encouraged to remove this plant (carefully). Cultivated sparingly in Kailua-Kona and Kawaihae from sea level to 2100′ in elevation. Also found naturalized in Kau, near Whittington’s Beach Park.

Download: Rubbervine Flyer, Gorse brochure

For more information, see:

  • Cryptostegia grandiflora information from HEAR
  • Cryptostegia grandiflora information from PIER
  • Cryptostegia grandiflora information from ISSG
  • Cryptostegia madagascariensis information from HEAR
  • Cryptostegia madagascariensis information from PIER

Filed Under: Active Eradication Targets, Target Pests

Pampas Grass


(Cortaderia jubata, Cortaderia selloana)

Family: Poaceae

Considered very invasive and is on the Hawaii State Noxious Weed List.
The Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources has designated this species as one of Hawaii’s Most Invasive Horticultural Plants.

Description:

  • Large, clumping grass that may reach 2 meters (6 ft) with flowering plumes reaching higher.
  • Leaves are narrow and have sharp, serrated edges
  • Showy white to purple flower plumes are sometimes used in floral arrangements
  • Native to South America, introduced to Hawaii as an ornamental

Harm:

  • Seeds are spread long distances by wind. In native forests they outcompete native plants and create a fire hazard.
  • Cortaderia jubata plants are able to produce viable seeds without cross-pollination
  • C. selloana, requires cross-pollination between male and female plants to produce viable seeds, spread primarily by wind. The invasive nature of C. selloana was not recognized in Hawaii in past years because only female plants were cultivated and sold. Male plants are now available.
  • Serious pest in Maui, California and New Zealand

On the island of Hawaii:

  • Pampas grass was planted as an ornamental in Waimea, Volcano and Kona. BIISC has controlled plants in those areas and hopes to eradicate it with all landowners permission

Download: Pampas Grass Flyer, Pampas Grass brochure

For more information, see:

  • Cortaderia jubata information from HEAR
  • Cortaderia selloana information from HEAR
  • Cortaderia jubata information from ISSG
  • Cortaderia selloana information from ISSG
  • Pampas grass information from UC WRIC

Filed Under: Active Eradication Targets, Target Pests

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