AAWR Classroom Training

1. AAWR Classroom Training Kerry Wixted

2. Anne Arundel Weed Resistance History • Developed in Montgomery County in 1999 by Carole Bergman, Forest Ecologist with MD National Park and Planning. • Urging of various conservation groups such as the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Scenic Rivers Land Trust, South River Federation, as well as the Watershed Protection and Restoration Program of AA DPW • Weed Warrior program was adapted to Anne Arundel County by County forester Bud Reaves in 2017. • Treated 118 acres of county land in its first year.

3. Volunteer Programs Weed Warrior Training Events • Learn basic plant ID skills, invasive plant ecology, invasive plant ID, invasive control methods, tool use and safety, field reporting and outdoor safety! Weed Warrior Workshop Events • Learn field ID skills and how to remove invasive plants. • These events will take place all over Anne Arundel County! Weed Warrior Squad Leader • Develop an invasive species management plan, event planning, basic first aid and record management. Planting Events • Learn how to plant native vegetation, planting design, monitoring and management of replanted site.

4. How You Contribute! • Certification: • First we encourage you to attending WW Training Events. • Must attend bothWW Training Event and Workshop Event to receive a certification card to remove invasive plants in AA County park land. • Report on invasive plants you have removed and time spent on removal efforts in your own in AA County. Use the websites report system at least once a month. • Feedback helps us understand our impact improving environmental quality in AA County and reporting the value you as volunteers provide to the county. • Teaching others

5. Plant Terms 1: • Native species: a species or lower taxon living within its natural range (past, present) including the area which it can reach and occupy using its natural dispersal systems. • Non-native species: is a species living outside its native distributional range (past or present) excluding the area which it can reach and occupy using its natural dispersal systems. • Invasive species: non-native species to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. • Invasive: tending to spread prolifically and undesirably or harmfully. • Weed: is a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation.

6. Plant Terms 2 • Annual: occurs once a year. • Biennial: two-year biological cycle. • Perennial: enduring or continually recurring. (3 years or more) • Herbaceous: are plants that have no persistent woody stem above ground. • Forb: is an herbaceous flowering plant that is not a graminoid (grasses, sedges and rushes). • Deciduous: sheds leaves annually. • Evergreen: retains green leaves throughout the year.

7. Keys to Invasive Plants Success • Adaptation to disturbance • Broad tolerance for environmental conditions and extremes Ph, space, temperature, moisture regimes, light levels, oxygen level and nutrient availability • Production of large number of seeds • High seed germination success Seed longevity, germination rate and requirements • Ability to spread by vegetative reproduction • Lacking forms of biological control Predators, disease and parasites

8. Overview of Invasive Plants Impacts • Outcompete natives species • Degrade habitat quality and quantity • Reduce biodiversity • Cost of damage and control • Spread disease & pest • Change hydrology & soil chemistry • Alter natural succession • Impede recreational activities • Change wildfire frequency • Decrease property values • Alter development options

9. Land Plants • Multicellular and carry out photosynthesis to make food • Complex structure: • Leaves with proper roots and stems • Simple structure: • Leaves have no veins, • no proper roots or stem • Reproduce using seeds • Reproduce using spores: • Ferns • Reproduce using spores: • Mosses • Flowering, seeds in fruit • No flowers, seeds in cones: • Conifers • Parallel leaf veins, • seeds in one part • Monocotyledons • Branching leaf veins, • seeds in two parts: • Dicotyledons

10. Plant Growth Forms Vine Herbaceous or woody plant with a climbing or twining stem Tree Large, woody plant having secondary branches supported on a main stem or trunk Forb Herbaceous, broad leaved plant often with showy flowers Shrub/Bush Smaller, woody plant with multiple stems Grass Herbaceous plant with slender leaves (blades) and inconspicuous flowers Woody Plants Herbaceous (non-woody) Plants

11. Simple Leaves Compound leaves Palmately Compound Leaflet Bud Bipinnately Compound Pinnately Compound

13. Leaf Arrangement Alternate Opposite Whorled

14. Leaf Venation Single Major Vein Several Major Veins

16. Flower and Fruit Types

17. How to Start Plant Identification. • General Morphology: • Annual or Biannual or Perennial • Woody or Herbaceous • Deciduous or Evergreen • Growth Form • Leaf Morphology: • Simple or Compound • Alternate or Opposite or Whorled • General Leaf Shape • Leaf Margin Type • Flower or Fruit Type • Any other unique features • Thorns, Color, Texture

18. Ocreae Most Wanted List Asiatic tearthumb (Polygonum perfoliatum) Leaves: Alternate simple, triangular, light green, barbed undersurface, circular fused stipules (ocreae) at base of petioles. Curved Thorns Leslie J. Mehrhoff Leslie J. Mehrhoff Flower: Inconspicuous, small, white to light green, clusters, emerge from ocreae. Stem: Covered in tiny curved thorns, delicate, green to reddish, highly branched. Thorns Leslie J. Mehrhoff Fruit: Segmented, metallic blue. Leslie J. Mehrhoff Annual, herbaceous vine, height 25 ft. native to eastern Asia, have rapid growth of up to 6 in. a day. Leslie J. Mehrhoff

19. Most Wanted List Amur Peppervine (Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata) Perennial woody vine, deciduous, climbing, branched tendril and are opposite of leaves, height 25 ft., width 25 ft., native to northeast Asia. Leslie J. Mehrhoff Flower: Inconspicuous, clusters, greenish to white. Leslie J. Mehrhoff Stem: Woody, white pith, bark is ridged and furrowed. Leaves: Alternate, simple, variable shape, generally heart shaped with course teeth on the margins, may be deeply lobed to dissected. Leslie J. Mehrhoff Branched tendril Leslie J. Mehrhoff Leslie J. Mehrhoff Fruit: Small berries, ranging in color, from yellow to blue to purple, ¾ inch, Aug. to Nov. Leslie J. Mehrhoff Leslie J. Mehrhoff

20. Most Wanted List Burningbush (Euonymus alatus) Leaves: Opposite, simple, dark green, rounded shape that tapers to a tips, in fall they turn bright crimson to purple. Leslie J. Mehrhoff Stem: Corky ridges on new growth, bark is thin and smooth with ridged or plated. Leslie J. Mehrhoff Flower: Inconspicuous, greenish yellow, four petals. Richard Gardner Leslie J. Mehrhoff Fruit: Reddish capsules that split to reveal an orange fleshy seed. Perennial, woody shrub, deciduous, height 20 ft., native to northeastern Asia. Leslie J. Mehrhoff Leslie J. Mehrhoff

21. Most Wanted List Bush honeysuckles (Lorencia sp.) Chris Evans Stem: Hollow pith (center), light gray to brown, ridged or plated bark that peals as it ages. Leaves: Opposite, simple, ovate, entire margin, underside is pubescent, one of the first shrubs to leaf out in the spring. Annemarie Smith Flower: Paired, white, ½ to ¾ inch. Richard Gardner Leslie J. Mehrhoff Perennial, woody shrub, deciduous, height 20 ft., width of 10 ft., native to northeastern Asia. Chris Evans Fruit: Dark red, spherical, inch. Leslie J. Mehrhoff

22. Most Wanted List Common Periwinkle (Vinca minor) Leaves: Opposite, simple, glossy, dark green, oval to lance shape, variegated (displays different colors in patches or streaks. Stem: Somewhat “woody” on older plants, produces milky sap. Dan Tenaglia Flower: Five petaled, spiral, blue to purple or white. USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. Fruit: Very rare on plant, pods. Evergreen, perennial herbaceous vine, height 1 ft., width 3 ft., native to Europe. James H. Miller Robert Vidéki

23. Most Wanted List English Ivy (Hedera helix) Leaves: Alternate, simple, dark green, waxy, mature and immature leaf forms are highly variable, can be unlobed to 3 to 5 lobed; typically green with whitish veins. Jan Samanek Flower: Clusters, greenish-yellow, 1 to 2 inch. David Stephens Stem: Climbs using aerial roots. Leslie J. Mehrhoff Randy Cyr Evergreen, perennial herbaceous to woody vine, ground cover to climbing, able to reach heights of 100 ft., native to Eurasia and North Africa. Robert Vidéki Fruit: Purple to black, berry, remain on the plant in winter. Robert Vidéki

24. Steven Katovich Most Wanted List Garlic Mustard (Alliariapetiolata) Herbaceous, biennial forb, height up to 4 ft., native to Europe. Bruce Ackley Stem: Each plant typically produces one stem in its second year Chris Evans Flower: White, four petaled, ½ inch. Richard Gardner Chris Evans Leaves: Crushing produces a garlic odor. First year: Heart shaped, rosette (circular arrangement). Second year: Triangular shape, strongly toothed as it matures. Fruit: Slender pods, green to pale brown. Chris Evans

25. Most Wanted List Japanese Barberry (Berberisthunbergii) Leaves: Alternate, simple, entire, spatulate, many shades of green, various shades of dark reds in fall. Leslie J. Mehrhoff Leslie J. Mehrhoff Stem: Thorns, bark colors brown, red, purple. Leslie J. Mehrhoff Flower: Pale yellow flowers, dropping. James H. Miller Herbaceous, deciduous shrub, height 6 ft., native to Asia. Leslie J. Mehrhoff Fruit: Bright red, fleshy, oblong, dropping. Richard Gardner

26. Most Wanted List Japanese Hops (Humulus japonicus) Leaves: Opposite, rough, 5-9 lobs, toothed, simple, leaf bracts at base of petiole. David Cappaert Flower: Inconspicuous, green with 5 petals. Leslie J. Mehrhoff Stem: Have small thorns line the green stem. Thorn Leslie J. Mehrhoff Bracts Chris Evans Annual herbaceous trailing or climbing vine, 35 ft. of growth per season, native to native to eastern Asia. Leslie J. Mehrhoff Fruit: Yellow-brown ovoid achene.

27. James H. Miller & Ted Bodner Most Wanted List Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) Leaves: Opposite, pubescent, oval, margins are entire, young leaves can be lobed or toothed. Fruit: Shiny, green to black as they age. Woody perennial vine, evergreen to semi-evergreen, can climb or trail for 80 ft., naive to eastern Asia. Stem: Young stems are pubescent and red, older stems are smooth, light brown and peels in long strips. Chuck Bargeron Flower: White to yellow as they age, paired.

28. Most Wanted List Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) Leaves: Pinnately compound, alternate, fringed petiole and stipule, 5-11 leaflets, serrate margins, smooth upper surface, paler short hairs on underside. Down Curved Thorns Leslie J. Mehrhoff Stem: Arching, stiff downward curving thorns. James H. Miller Flower: Clusters, white, 5-petals, ½ to ¾ inch. Chris Evans Leslie J. Mehrhoff Fruit: Red rosehips, small pome, remain on the plant in winter. Petiole Perennial herbaceous to woody shrub, deciduous, height 10-15 ft., width 9-13 ft., native to eastern Asia. James H. Miller Leslie J. Mehrhoff

29. Most Wanted List Nepalese Browntop (Microstegiumvimineum) Midrib Chris Evans Flower: Inconspicuous, a 4-5 millimeters. David J. Moorhead Leaves: Pale green with a shinny midrib, alternate, lanced shaped, slightly pubescent. James H. Miller Sprawling annual grass, stems normally droop, very shallowly rooted, 1-5 ft. in height, native to eastern Asia. Fruit: Plentiful and about 3 millimeters. Node Leslie J. Mehrhoff Stem: Sheath have hair and clear nodes. Sheath Leslie J. Mehrhoff James H. Miller & Ted Bodner Chris Evans

30. Lenticel Most Wanted List Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrusorbiculatus) Leaves: Alternate, simple, oblong, toothed, circular to elliptical, Stem: Twinning, covered in lenticels, smooth with peeling to flaky. Leslie J. Mehrhoff Flower: Small, inconspicuous, green to white. Richard Gardner Perennial, climbing woody vine, deciduous, height 70 ft, native to Eastern Asia. Leslie J. Mehrhoff Chris Evans Fruit: Scarlet, round, yellow capsule.

31. Most Wanted List Wine Raspberry (Rubusphoenicolasius) Perennial shrub with biannual stems, deciduous, stem length up to 9 ft., native to eastern Asia. Hairs Thorn Leslie J. Mehrhoff Flower: Small, white, 5 petaled. Stem: Small spines, covered in red pubescents. Leslie J. Mehrhoff Leaves: Alternate, compound, 3 leaflets, heart-shaped, toothed, underside silvery-white and pubescent. Leslie J. Mehrhoff Leslie J. Mehrhoff Fruit: Berry (Clusters of drupelets), shiny, red.

32. Most Wanted List Winter Creeper (Euonymus fortunei) Leaves: Opposite, glossy, oval, slightly toothed, light colored veins. James H. Miller Chris Evans Stem: Thin, smooth, green or brown, aerial roots. Ansel Oommen Flower: Small, greenish, 4 petaled. James H. Miller Fruit: Red to orange, capsules splits open when ripe. James H. Miller Perennial, evergreen, vine, height up to 70 ft., covers ground, native to eastern Asia. Aerial roots

33. Tools and Safety Pruning Shears Bow Saw Loppers Folding Saw Cutting under inch in size Cutting under 1.5 in. in size Cutting over 3 in. in size Cutting under 3 in. in size • Keep tools by your side • Spread out in the work area to avoid hitting others with tools or plant parts • Follow proper use instruction to avoid strain injury

34. Types of Removal Methods • “Cutting a window.” • Vines • Cut to ground level or high enough to not be a trip hazard. • Vary large vines or shrubs • Digging or pulling plants out. • Smaller plants and shallow rooted vegetation.

35. Policies and Procedures • Inappropriateuse of confidential material is ground for termination. • Volunteer records are confidential, only the director can allow outside access. • Unable to attend a volunteer event? Call or email the Volunteer Coordinator as soon as possible. • Volunteer coordinator is the mediator between the volunteers and forestry board. • Volunteer participation records our collected and hour need to be reported. • Required to wear appropriate field clothing. • Records are kept of loaned out equipment. • Please work in groups whenever possible. • Volunteers under 16 can get certified, but must be supervised by an adult.

36. Questions?

37. Image Citation • Annemarie Smith, ODNR Division of Forestry, Bugwood.org • Bruce Ackley, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org • Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org • Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org • Dan Tenaglia, Missouriplants.com, Bugwood.org • David Cappaert, Bugwood.org • David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org • David Stephens, Bugwood.org • James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org • James H. Miller & Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, Bugwood.org • Jan Samanek, Phytosanitary Administration, Bugwood.org • Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org • Randy Cyr, Greentree, Bugwood.org • Richard Gardner, Bugwood.org • Robert Vidéki, Doronicum Kft., Bugwood.org • Steven Katovich, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org • USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Vol. 3: 20.