Indiana Invasive Species Week, April 19-25, 2020
Thursday: Happy Post Earth Day
I am still stuck on what an amazing planet we are on so I
can’t relinquish celebrating Earth Day yet. I admit that not only do I enjoy
learning about organisms on this planet, but I also enjoy learning their names,
both Latin and common names, but especially common names. Common names are often ripe with local flare
and tell a story all by themselves. I admit I can barely keep up with Latin
names, much less all the common names a species may have, but it’s fun to try.
It’s certainly enjoyable when you get the chance to learn from the very folks
who use those common names. And it’s not just plants, it’s all species. The snot otter is a great common name for
Eastern hellbender, shypoke seems fitting for American bittern and custard
apple is perfect for a Pawpaw tree. You must admit Pawpaw is a cool name too.
It pops through your lips and makes you feel like you are speaking a secret
code. Words (languages) are fun. They not only allow us to communicate with
each other, but they add spice to life, entice us to seek and enjoy the find
and help us celebrate our local native species. Go native!
Today’s plants:
Regulated terrestrial invasive plant: Blunt leaved privet (Ligustrum
obtusifolium)
Non-regulated terrestrial invasive plant: Shrubby lespedeza
(Lespedeza bicolor)
Native alternatives for your landscape in Indiana:
Shrubs:
Silky and gray dogwoods (Cornus
amomum and C. racemosa) – pollinator connection: bees and are host to
larvae of Summer azure butterflies.
New Jersey tea (Ceanothos americanus)
– pollinator connection: bees, butterflies, moths, flies, wasps and is larval
host to both Summer azures and Mottled duskywings.
Additional
resources:
Southern Indiana
Cooperative Invasives Management (SICIM): http://www.SICIM.info
Indiana Wildlife
Federation: https://www.indianawildlife.org/wildlife/native-plants/
Indiana
Department of Natural Resources: https://www.in.gov/dnr/
Indiana
Invasive Species Council: indianainvasivespecies.org
The Nature Conservancy in Indiana:
https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/indiana/
Purdue Extension: https://extension.purdue.edu/subcategory/16
The Indiana Invasive Species Council
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