Bittersweet

Fall means bittersweet berries on the vine. Identifying the oriental invasive weed from the American bittersweet that is endangered in some areas can be difficult for those of us who are not biologists.

Here is a link for those who are curious.(click here)

Invasive Species -- Bittersweet

The Indiana DNR has been spending a lot of time pulling weeds at the Indiana Dunes.

They pull cattails out of the bog. Even though cattails are indigenous to Indiana they do not belong in the bog. They change the landscape of the bog pushing out native plants. Once the cattails are removed, sedges native to the area of the bog are planted. We have so little bog areas left like those at the Dunes. The bogs contain unique ecosystems that harbor endangered plant and animal species.

 Another of the invasive species is a plant that makes it into fall flower arrangements is bittersweet. This invasive is not indigenous to Indiana and is very invasive. The DNR worked hard for a couple of years pulling this plant out of the Dunes and it is now finding it's way back into the ecosystem. Plants like the bittersweet choke out trees and native plants that native animals, birds, and butterflies need to survive.