Myakka River
State Park
Invasive Plants
Park staff treat or remove plants designated as category 1 invasives by Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FlEPPC) upon discovery.
West Indian Marshgrass (Hymenachne amplexicaulis), and paragrass (Brachiaria mutica) are not removed from the river marsh or isolated marshes west of All Weather Road or Cabin Lane. The use of herbicides in this area would be futile at this time, as seed source would continue to invade from upstream of the park. They are removed from other areas of the park. New infestations of Category 2 exotics are removed when practical.
There are also a few plants not currently listed by EPPC that park staff have found to be invasive, and so are routinely removed when encountered. Listed below are plants treated as invasive and the treatment currently used by park staff.
Twining vine with prominent veins on shiny, dark green, heart shaped leaves up to 6-inches or more wide; smooth leaf margins.
Similar plants: Hemp vine and grape vine do not have shiny leaves or smooth margins. Morning glory does not have prominent veins.
Potatoes will sprout into new vines.
All three species of Casuarina found in Florida are large, single-trunked pine-like trees up to 150-feet tall with gray-green, jointed branches that resemble pine needles.
When cut down, Australian pine will resprout unless chemically treated
Multi-stemmed evergreen shrub or tree with compound leaves. Leaves have 7 to 9 oblong, bright green, non-leathery leaflets that smell like pepper or turpentine when crushed. Small berries on female plants change from green to bright red as they ripen.
This obnoxious weed spreads quickly in disturbed areas such as picnic areas and campgrounds. It also spreads in hammock areas. We have not tried any type of herbicide on large patches. It is a good project to assign to younger volunteers as young plants are not too difficult for children to pull up.