Invasion interestingness

[oilbird]

So I have been working out in HMF, and there are a ton of invasive plants there (as some of you may know). Lonicera japonica, Japanese honeysuckle, is a pretty big pest there (along with a ton of other things, but im not getting into that right now). Normally the leaves are round and opposite, growing along the vine. however when the plant is young

Comments

[bookofsecrets]

This site http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/japanese_honeysuckle.htm says that white-tailed deer will eat the plant, but I don't know their relaitonship to the oak... :/ Let me know if you think of anything, 'cause this is pretty neat...

[mineral2]

well, figure the Japanese honeysuckle has only been in America for maybe 200 years give or take. Would a plant develop an anatomical defense so quickly? Or does Japan have white oaks?

[oilbird]

it wouldn't develop a defense in that time you're right. Japan probably has oaks (they have many very similar species, im sure you know). But do grazers hunt for plants visually? i don't think the honeysuckles produce oak-y chemicals. I guess i need to do some more research on this.

[alate]

It's frustrating when invasive plants look like something else. It makes them easier to overlook. Garlic mustard used to be very successful where I grow violets, because when it is very young, it looks (to an English major) like it could be a very young violet and then I don't want to pull it up. Now I can tell the difference.