Logan Senack, CT Invasive Plant Coordinator at the UCONN Department of Plant Science, reports that there have been two confirmed locations in Glastonbury with infestations of "mile-a-minute" vine. This is an extremely invasive vine that originated in Asia and was first reported growing in the wild in Pennsylvania in the 1930's. It has been creeping its way northward ever since.
This vine grows extremely rapidly, as the name implies. It will quickly cover native plants, depriving them of light and killing them.
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| Mile-A-Minute (MAM) vine. Note triangular leaf and distinctive round ocrea where the main leaves attach to the vine. The vine also has small thorns. These 3 characteristics (triangular leaf, existence of ocrea, and thorns on the vine are the identifiers of mile-a-minute vine. (Renee Sullivan photo) |
Detailed information on how to identify the plant is at the following: Mile-A-Minute Species Identification Page. The Connecticut Invasive Plants Working Group (CIPWG) Fact Sheet provides further information.
A mile-a-minute web site has also been established which provides detailed information on spotting the vine and how to report it if you see it: CT Mile-A-Minute Vine Web Site
Here is a link directly to the Early Detection Reporting Form
Together we can work to limit the damage potential of invasive plants in our town!
