Panther #44 - Exotic vegetation Mystery Cache

For as long as settlers and explorers have been coming to Florida, plants and animals not native to our area have been introduced into the local ecosystems, sometimes with disastrous effects. It has been documented that Florida has acquired over 1,500 exotic plants and animals which are reproducing on their own in the wild & apart from human cultivation.

Exotic plants have been brought to Florida for different reasons, some as food sources for early settlers, some introduced years ago by collectors as specimens and shared with friends that in turn shared with others. In more recent times many were introduced as landscape components.

Not ALL exotics are bad, the problem exotic plants are considered "invasive" because a lack of natural controlling factors such as climate, diseases or insect pests can give them enough of an advantage to outgrow and overwhelm Florida's native species. Once established, invasive exotic plants displace our native plants and are difficult to eradicate. Depending on the circumstances and the species, eradication efforts may employ manual removal, chemical sprays, biological controls or more often a combination of these methods.

BRAZILIAN PEPPER - Schinus terebinthifolius

A native of Brazil and Paraguay, this shrub-like tree was first brought to Florida during the 19^th century and has since expanded across south Florida into the central region of the state. It can grow up to 30 feet in height and is the most widespread invasive species in Florida, exceeding more than 700,000 acres.

Brazilian pepper can rapidly develop into a very large shrub or small tree. Apart from being extremely weedy, the pollen is a common cause of allergies and the leaves, fruit or cut surfaces can cause a reaction similar to poison ivy or poison oak, to which it is related. Seedlings first have simple leaves with distinctly toothed margins however subsequent leaves are compound with 3-13 finely toothed, 1-2” leaflets. Crushed leaves have an unpleasant turpentine smell.

To remove established Brazilian pepper, choose a time when it is not bearing fruit or in flower and cut back to as near ground level as possible. This will stimulate many new shoots/root suckers, so apply an approved herbicide to the freshly cut (within 5 minutes) stump usind a paint brush or spray bottle with undiluted herbicide. Control any re-growth or seedling volunteers with additional herbicide. Seeds can remain viable for 6 months so ongoing maintence is required after removal. This same approach can be used to eliminating other nuisance trees and large woody shrubs.

PUZZLE: What do the crushed leaves of Brazilian pepper smell like?

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