THE JAPANESE ANGELICA-TREE RAPIDLY INVADES MORRIS PARK

ARALIA ELATA. THE JAPANESE ANGELICA TREE HAS EMERGED AS AN INCREASING THREAT.  NUMEROUS, RAPIDLY GROWING INFESTATIONS ARE BEING DOCUMENTED ACROSS THE PARK. MECHANICAL REMOVAL IS DIFFICULT AND PROBLEMATIC. AREAS IN IMMEDIATE NEED OF RE-FORESTATION ARE INSTEAD EXPERIENCING ECOLOGICAL DEGRADATION BECAUSE OF THIS SPECIES.

 Aralia elata, THE JAPANESE ANGELICA TREE, SPINES ON THE TRUNK
Aralia elata THE JAPANESE ANGELICA TREE, SPINES ON THE TRUNK

An Angel or the Devil?  There has been so much confusion over this species because of its resemblance to the native North American species Aralia spinosa, or the Devil’s Walking Stick also called  Hercules’ Club.  For the longest time we thought it was the native tree growing in Morris Park, and being that it does have very interesting qualities we embraced this plant.  Its beautiful bi and tri-pinnately compound leaves give a sense of refined elegance to the plant world, in that there is a degree of replication and logical order in a single leaf arrangement.  Also the flowers, which bloom in late August throughout September have a commanding presence and pleasing white and subtle pinkish color.  The dark berries it produces are quickly gathered by birds, furthering the plant’s range as the birds deposit the seeds elsewhere.

Of course we looked it up in The Vascular Flora of Pennsylvania, the Annotated Checklist and Atlas by Anne Fowler Rhoades and William McKinley Klein Jr., published 18 years ago in 1993.  What is called The ‘Devil’s Walking stick’ was listed as native and our county of Philadelphia was included in its native range. This is a clear example of how confusion quickly arises from the usage of common names which is why we use and repeat the Latin names, often to the point that the common name is secondary in our discussion.

Being satisfied with our information we did not investigate the plant further, just left it at that for the time being.  We did notice how aggressive this tree was.

The similarities to the native Hercules’ Club (Aralia spinosa) had us fooled, along with many others throughout the twentieth century. In the meantime, this species, the Aralia elata, introduced into Fairmount Park in the early Twentieth century  according to the Trees Of Pennsylvania (Rhoades and Block, 2005) was  for  this whole time invading forests, ever increasing in size and expanding its territory to outside of Philadelphia and beyond. Now Aralia elata is considered an emerging invasive by the New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team , and was featured on their 2010 list of plants to watch. The New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team  has a sophisticated online map of the  most problematic emerging invasive plants (see interactive map  feature).  It is disturbing to view the prevalence of  Aralia elata on this map. Populations are found throughout the state. It is also rapidly invading forested sections of Long Island in New York State.

Aralia elata, looking up at an infestation of the trees in the winter sky
Aralia elata, looking up at an infestation of the trees in the winter sky

The Staff of Fairmount Park (now Parks and Recreation) alerted us to the non-native status of this species. They had by this time already made a ‘first-pass’ effort at controlling a large and disturbing colony in Morris Park, in what is our area of scope.

The learning curve went from there. There is nothing better than being pointed in the right direction. We consulted The Plants of Pennsylvania by Rhoads and Block, the second edition, printed  4 years ago in 2007. Here this ‘Asian Native’ plant was listed as being “naturalized in disturbed woodlands” especially in the “southeast” portion of our state.  Reading The Trees of Pennsylvania, we got a more complete story. We can now distinguish between the native to Pennsylvania (but not Philadelphia County) Hercules Club, Devils Walking Stick, (Aralia spinosa) and the invasive exotic Japanese Angelica Tree, (Aralia elata).

Both plants are in the Ginseng Family, Araliaceae.  The botanical differences? First of all, we have not ever seen a native to North America but not Philadelphia Aralia spinosa, ‘Hercules Club’. Hopefully that will change, and our horizons will someday be expanded on this front. The natural range of the Aralia spinosa in Pennsylvania is further west in the state.  If one was found in Philadelphia, it would be considered introduced. Aralia spinosa lacks historical origins in Philadelphia county, and Morris Park. A native species that lacks the local provenance of an area it is introduced to, has the potential to become problematic.

The botanical differences are distinct , but to the discerning eye.  For now, two differences to start with: the flower on the native Hercules’club (Aralia spinosa) is borne on a distinct stalk, where the inflorescence radiates from a vertical spine.  The non-native Aralia elata has either an extremely short stalk or none at all. The inflorescence radiates out from one distinct bottom point.  The leaf is the next to look at:  In the native Spinosa, there is a border around the leaf, much like Arisaema triphyllum (Jack in the pulpit), whereas the non-native elata has the leaf veins extending to the very edge. (However this is not the most reliable difference in making a definitive distinction between these two closely related species)

AN INFESTATION OF JAPANESE ANGELICA TREE NEXT TO AMERICAN CHESTNUT
AN INFESTATION OF JAPANESE ANGELICA TREE NEXT TO AMERICAN CHESTNUTÂ

Having studied the published data on the Aralia, we then decided to check for ourselves the field data.  We chose multiple populations in Morris Park to examine as well as ones in The Wyndale Woods in Cobbs Creek Park, multiple populations in the Wissahickon Valley Park and West Park near Memorial Hall.  The field data examinations were performed during the blossoming of the flowers and the setting of seeds, which occurred between August and October of 2010.

Botanical Descriptions are the most valuable and appreciated in the field, where we are confronted first -hand with the plant in question. We  hang-on to every word of the description and look carefully at the plant, more than we ever have before.  Out of context a botanical description is useful only to a degree, but on site, every aspect is important in positively identifying the plant.

All of our analysis of the botanical features that differentiate Aralia elata from Aralia spinosa were found to be congruous with the conclusions of  the multiple written sources we consulted.

Aralia elata
Aralia elata

The 12 year old Fairmount Park Master Plan (Volume 2 Cobbs Creek 1999 see ‘park specific’ plans for Cobbs Creek) does not  mention the invasive Aralia elata at all. Why this is could be of two reasons:  That it had  not yet spread into Cobbs Creek and Morris Park (considered part of Cobbs Creek) or, the confusion of its non-native, invasive status was unknown at the time.  Most illustrative of this is the description of the Wyndale Ave Forest, site name ‘Wyndale High Quality Woods’ (v105).  In the description, this area, which is very close to Morris Park, reads:

“This is a high quality area which is considered to be one of the nicest stands of woods in Cobbs Creek Park. Identifying this as a high quality woods and protecting this area against invasion by exotic vegetation and human disturbance is recommended. A survey to identify rare native flora and fauna should be performed to ensure protection of this contiguous parcel of of woods, as it could serve as habitat for various species which are not found in disturbed sites. This area should be maintained by routine exotic removal on the fringes and trash removal by volunteers.”

This beautifully written, concise statement by those who were tasked to assess the whole of the Cobbs Creek/Morris park portion of Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park, has become words cast in bronze, and carved in stone for us at the Sanguine Root. What could better describe our day-to-day life in preserving Morris Park than this eloquent statement written twelve years ago?

The Fairmount Park Master plan, written in the last millenium, over 1/10th of a century ago, is still relevant, and for us, still is a goal to be achieved, especially in what it has to say about Morris Park. In the Sanguine Root Office we have a printed out copy of the pdf in a three ring binder.

However, what is not said in this soon becoming ancient but  still relevant document is the status of the Japanese Angelica Tree (Aralia elata). This species is not even mentioned in the list of Invasive species in Cobbs Creek Park. This was 12 years ago. Was the species not prevalent 12 years ago or was there still confusion about its status and it was overlooked as a problem?   These are our questions, and hopefully they will be answered in time. So, we decided to visit our neighbor, the Wyndale High Quality Woods, V105, and this is what we found: We were so happy to see such a beautiful forest! Oaks, Beeches, ferns, even in late autumn, this place was  the real Pennsylvania through and through. We found an American Chestnut, Castanea dentata. Just about one mile from Morris Park.  However, we  found a significant infestation of Aralia elata, the Japanese Angelica tree. Hundreds of specimens.  This is an alarming situation. First and Foremost, we need to alert the authorities, The Parks and Recreation department of the City Of Philadelphia.  We did this already.   While Morris Park is our Focus and area of Scope, we would be ready at almost any time to also help out with our neighbor, the  Wyndale Ave High Quality Woods, site V 105.

An Angel or the Devil.  The question pricks at our consciousness at every turn, as morality is a human concern and for good reason. However, in the plant and animal world this is irrelevant. Lucky we, that we have the luxury of making distinctions. We are a versatile species, us  Homo sapien sapiens. we can create the problem as a species and we can work to reverse the problem, and care passionately about it on top of that, for whatever that is worth in our estimation.  We, as a species brought the Japanese Angelica tree to our forests.  We thought it was pretty, or it was completely overlooked, introduced  along with some other introduced tree or flower, during the craze of the Centennial Exhibition or in the aftermath.  Regardless, we have to deal with it now.

Aralia elataThe Japanese Angelica tree,  Aralia elata crowds out native species, Morris park philadelphia
Aralia elata  The Japanese Angelica tree, Aralia elata crowds out native species, Morris Park Philadelphia

DEALING WITH ARALIA ELATA

Aralia elata, the Japanese Angelica tree, grows quickly and has a habit of growing in clumps, that increase in size exponentially . The beautiful bi- and tri-pinnately compound leaves are very large, and they shade out the sun preventing other species from growing. On the soil side of things, Aralia elata grows underground runners every which way interfering with any native species at the site.  The clump becomes a monoculture as other species decline in population and become extirpated.

Removing them by hand can be done, but only in certain situations.  If they can be gently enough teased out of the ground (to disturb the soil as little as possible) but all of the plant must be removed.  Any root fragment left behind will grow into a new tree.  As a temporary step, even just cutting the tree will at least prevent it from going to seed and will slow down its growth of runners.  If there are other young  native tree saplings nearby, hand-pulling can disturb the soil and threaten the native plants.  The runners and roots of Aralia elata often wrap around and penetrate the root systems of other plants. From a hand-control perspective, cutting it down, and then monitoring that one specimen season after season after season, along with any others could work in eradicating it.

Isabelle makes an assessment of the largest infestation  Aralia elata,  Morris Park Philadelphia
Isabelle Dijols makes an assessment of the largest infestation.  Aralia elata, Morris Park Philadelphia

Our situation in Morris Park is beyond a few specimens that we could manage by repeated cutting, even though we are on the site every day.  In one area there is an estimated 1000 specimens, ranging in trunk size from 8 inches thick, to mere whips. This is a monstrous infestation, and is a great challenge.  The Environmental Stewardship Division of Fairmount Park has, as mentioned earlier, started to address this one problematic patch.  Also growing at the site are Beech and Oak saplings that are the future of the forest, if the Aralia elata can be eliminated.

On this Friday, February 18, 2011, the staff of the Sanguine Root , in partnership with the Environment and Stewardship Division of Parks and Recreation will be taking steps to eliminate the Aralia elata at this site.  We will be getting an early start at 10 AM, so as many trees as possible can be eliminated.  Qualified Fairmount Park Restoration Field Technicians will be working with us, applying herbicide to the stumps as we cut them. We are not sure which one, but possibly triclopyr, which is recommended by the New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team (see the Control Methods pdf).  The Sanguine Root Staff is not qualified, certified or authorized to use any herbicides. It is unfortunate we have to have them used at all, but the situation is that difficult and serious.

We are also racing the clock with this project because once the trees begin to exit dormancy they will start producing sap which flows upwards, and would push out any herbicides applied to the cut stumps. Also to be considered is the spring wildflowers such as Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) and Mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum) will be coming up on this site and we don’t want to accidentally crush them. In light of this, we have fast-tracked our planning and were able to take a day off of work to facilitate this much needed project.

 

WALL OF INVASIVES TOPPLED

SUNSET AT OUR WORK SITE IN MORRIS PARK
SUNSET AT OUR WORK SITE IN MORRIS PARK

DECADES OLD ORIENTAL BITTERSWEET INFESTATION BROUGHT DOWN; MULTIFLORA ROSE AND JAPANESE HONEYSUCKLE BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL

Morris Park-  A dramatic turn of events unfolded this afternoon in this Beech-Oak upland forest of Morris Park, where the problematic “wall of invasives” was finally pulled down and bagged by a determined duo of local citizens.  This momentous act that took 5 hours of hard work and filled 11 bags of material, completely changed the landscape.  It was the first time this area looked like an eastern deciduous piedmont forest in years.  The “wall of invasives”  was an oppressive and impenetrable thicket of Oriental bittersweet, (Celastrus orbiculatus), Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) and Burning Bush (Euonymous alatus).

young Tulip Poplars suffer from the oppressive vines
Young Tulip Poplars suffer from the oppressive vines

Today was the culmination of 6 months of activities that led up the climactic fall of one of the most challenging groupings of invasives in the area.  In August of 2010, many of these vines were cut at ground level.  In November of 2010, work commenced removing all of the invasives around the wall, allowing full access to the site.

There was also a degree of planning as to how the execution of the exercise would proceed.  Due to the urgency of the vines on the trees, the local citizens decided on a “first pass” approach, which involves getting the vines off of the trees, first and foremost, and then coming back at a later time to remove the dense ground-layer matte of Japanese honeysuckle.   With a thick layer of snow on the ground, this made the most sense.  The snow also protects the dormant herbaceous plants that have buds close to the surface from being crushed by the feet of the pro-forest activists.

Pro-Forest activist Isabelle Dijols courageously fends off invading Oriental Bittersweet
Courageous pro-forest activist Isabelle Dijols fends off invading Oriental Bittersweet

Isabelle Dijols, co-founder of the popular anti-exotic invasive pro-forest blog The Sanguine Root, was attacked earlier this afternoon by a falling section of the thorny vine Multiflora rose. Her thick winter coat and gloves saved her from possible injuries.  She was asked about the great achievement of finally cutting down the “wall of Invasives”  and where the forest was going to go from there:

” Right now I think it’s important to feel the jubilation and savor the moment. This has been a long and sometimes difficult process.  Alot of work gloves were ruined, clippers worn dull, long hours were put in. Now we feel good about our work, tomorrow we plan for Morris park’s future. “

Sanguine Root’s blogger Sean Solomon was recently released from the tedious confinement of bagging Japanese Honeysuckle and Oriental Bittersweet.  Back out on the open site, cutting down vines from a Dogwood tree, a much more glamourous exercise, he was asked about todays events: Sean waited for the birds to finish tweeting before he spoke.

“It’s great- It’s been a long time coming.  But it’s really just the beginning.  There’s going to be alot of follow-through necessary to effectively control the Japanese Honeysuckle.  We can’t just slap ourselves on the back, congratulate ourselves and have a party  every time we pull a weed. Were going to be going back to this site for a while, monitoring it, pulling more Japanese Honeysuckle, as well as seasonally controlling invasives such as Garlic Mustard  and the dreaded Mile-a-minute, more precisely Persicaria perfoliata, formerly polygonatum perfoliatum, which is growing only 75 feet from here.  I am humbled by this scope of work, and feel a great sense of pride when the neighbors show their appreciation.”

Mr Solomon also  noted that spell checks of all these latin names are very easy using the search engine Google.  He also noted that Facebook had nothing to do with today’s events.

After many days in the thicket, Sean Solomon was able to reach his goal of removing a tangle of Japanese Honeysuckle from this Beech Sapling
After many days in the thicket, Anti-invasive, pro-forest activist and blogger Sean Solomon was able to reach his goal of removing a tangle of Japanese Honeysuckle from this Beech Sapling

A diversity of trees, the understory shrub Spicebush, and a host of herbaceous plants co-exist on the site.  The trees include Oaks (Quercus), Beeches (Fagus grandifolia), Sweetgum (Liquidamber styraciflua), Sassafrass (Sassafrass albidum), Dogwood (Cornus florida), Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), and Black Cherry (Prunus serotina).

The herbaceous plants found in this exact site , to name a few, include Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum), False Solomon’s Seal (Smilacina racemosa), Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum biflorum), and what is believed to be, but not yet confirmed, Twisted Stalk.

Sassafrass under siege from invasive vines-The "before liberation photo"
Sassafrass under siege from invasive vines-The “before liberation photo”

Isabelle wanted to liberate this Sassafrass, but the task was daunting. She considered it for next time, but only for a fleeting moment. In this historical event for this specific site, the transformation is now. The wall must come down!

Well, then, of course, the next question arose: Is that little Sassafrass still alive? After some careful evaluation, sure enough, there was living tissue on the specimen, green shoots with buds on them, ready for spring!  It’s still alive!  Viva la  revolucion!

Isabelle proceeded to remove the Oriental bittersweet and Japanese Honeysuckle until the tree was liberated. After careful evaluation, the dead pale yellowish-tan branches were pruned off.

sabelle frees the Sassafrass albidum from the invasive vines
Isabelle frees the Sassafrass albidum from the invasive vines The “after” photo

The most important thing was to get the vines down so the trees can grow, and not be strangled.  Also the vines set leaves that block the sun and compete with the trees access to the needed sunlight for photosynthesis.  Without enough sun, the trees can become weakened and eventually die.  In this one site, there were many dead trees, including Sassafrass, Dogwood, and Spicebush (Lindera benzoin). It is sad when a dead tree is found under a thicket of invasive vines.  As the day progressed and the events unfolded, the blighted urban wooded tract was transformed into a forested woodland area, with alot of interestingly shaped trees. Hopefully they will live and the ecosystem will mature and approximate the normalcy of a forest not infested with invasives.

Sean Solomon with a root fragment of Celastrus orbiculatus
Sean Solomon with a root fragment of invasive Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental Bittersweet)

The vision is that Morris Park will once again be a fully functioning Pennsylvania woodland, a forested piece of the great state and region we live in.  With all of the invasives, Morris Park is at risk of being yet another degraded forest remnant of the urbanized Philadelphia region, an ecologically diminished mess of dead trees and aggressive vines next to a densely populated area.  That would be a shame and hopefully will not happen under the watch of so many concerned citizens in our neighborhood and the city at large.  Morris Park has so many features of a southeastern Pennsylvania woodland still existing and thriving that it is a natural treasure. To be able to walk out of one’s front door and into a bonified Pennsylvania forest, right here in the city of Philadelphia, is something we can still be proud of and we intend to keep it that way.

The Roots of Rosa multiflora
The Roots of Rosa multiflora
 Japanese Honeysuckle climbs up Oriental Bittersweet on their way up to choking the Sassafrass tree Isabelle rescued
Japanese Honeysuckle climbs up Oriental Bittersweet on their way up to choking the Sassafrass tree Isabelle rescued
The areas most distinguishing landmark, this 'snag' which is a dead tree still standing, providing an excellent habitat for birds such as owls and other forest animals
The areas most distinguishing landmark, this ‘snag’ which is a dead tree still standing, providing an excellent habitat for birds such as owls and other forest animals

BEECH TREES RATTLE IN THE MORNING BREEZE

A TALE OF TWO BEECHES; WHY IS THE ONE ON THE LEFT DARKER THAN THE ONE ON THE RIGHT?
A TALE OF TWO BEECHES; WHY IS THE ONE ON THE LEFT DARKER THAN THE ONE ON THE RIGHT?

Fagus grandifolia.  Walking Keeba on Saturday morning, we noticed that these two young Beech trees had different colors in the leaves.

This Monday morning, while walking Keeba, the Beech trees were rattling in the breeze.  The leaves of the Beeches stay on through the winter, and they turn yellow and brownish, and they get brittle.  When the wind blows the leaves rattle. On a quiet winter’s day, while working in Morris Park removing invasives, this rattling sound is the only sound in the forest.

The two beech trees in the photo above were covered with grape vines this fall. The one to the right is still leaning a bit from the vestigial impact of the vines. The Vines have been removed and the trees now have a chance to grow.

The fallen tree behind the Beeches is an oak tree, and its status is considered a log. A log is a fallen tree.

The very dark and thin tree to the left foreground is an American Chestnut (Castenea dentata).  This tree has been reduced to the status of a forest shrub or small tree, from originally the dominant forest tree in the canopy. The American Chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) introduced from Asian chestnut trees is responsible for this condition.  The blight does not effect the tree below the ground, so the root systems are able to grow a new tree after the old one dies.  The thin tree to the left foreground may very well be hundreds of years old.  This specimen has been leafing out and growing taller year after year. However the blight, in the form of a fungus, tears apart the bark, and the tree may not live another year. (however the actual specimen will remain alive in its root system)  The roots have already sent out new shoots, which will grow into a new tree.

In Morris Park, there are a significant number of Chestnut trees in comparison to the rest of the city and county of Philadelphia.  This year, one of them even flowered and produced seeds, for the first time in at least five years (Since we first monitored them).

All of the trees we discussed today are in the same family, Fagaceae.  A family trait they all share is that they all retain some of their leaves throughout the winter.