Management
Betsy Purdum
Killed invasive Old World climbing fern
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Invasive non-native plants are a serious problem on Corbett as
they are on many public lands throughout the state. The number
one enemy on Corbett is Lygodium microphyllum-Old World
climbing fern, followed by melaleuca and Brazilian pepper. Lygodium
is a thicket-forming, climbing, and extremely invasive fern found
in swamps, along river banks, wet disturbed sites, pinelands,
and cabbage palm hammocks in central and south Florida. According
to Gil Nelson in The Ferns of Forida, it was rare in Florida
just 30 years ago. In 1978 it was found only on a few acres in
the eastern third of Martin and Palm Beach counties, but by 1997
had invaded more than 39,000 acres. Biologists and managers on
many of south Florida’s public lands, including Corbett,
spend much of their time and resources attempting to control this
noxious weed. Volunteers at Corbett work to attack isolated patches
or to do follow ups after commercial contractors.
Return
to Natural Communities
