Essay About Good Wildlife Coverage And Multiflora Rose

Multiflora Rose-Invasive Plant-West Va Info Included-With References
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“Multiflora rose is a multi-stemmed thorny, perennial shrub that grows up to 15
feet tall. The stems are arcing canes which are round in cross section. Small
white-red flowers or rose hips (fruit) occur in clusters abundantly on the plant.
Leaves are pinnately (“Resembling a feather; having parts or branches arranged
on each side of a common axis”. Definition from
easily distinguished from other wild roses by the feathery, fringed bract located
at the base of each leaf”. Description of the Multiflora obtained from
The Multiflora Rose was brought over to the eastern U.S. from Japan in 1866 as
an ornamental rose. In the 1930s, the U.S. Soil Conservation Service encouraged
its use for erosion control. In the late 1960s, state conservation departments
in many states were giving away the Multiflora Rose to property owners as they
felt it made good wildlife coverage and as food for birds. The plant was also used
as a “living fence” by farmers to keep their livestock in a confined area. More
recently, it has been used as a crash barrier on highways and planted in the
median to reduce the glare from oncoming headlights.
The Multiflora Rose reproduces by seed, root sprouts and layering, meaning the
stem is covered with soil for rooting while still being part of the living plant.
The flowers bloom from May to July, with colors ranging from white to pink. The
rose hips develop in September and October, which become leathery in the
winter and remain on the plant. Its seeds are eaten and carried away by birds
and other animals. The seeds develop within 60 days as long as the temperature
is above freezing. Seeds are capable of surviving up to 20 years in the soil. It
is estimated that an average Multiflora Rose plant can produce a million seeds
in one year.
The plant is an aggressive grower in woodlands, prairies, meadows, pastures,
forest edges, hayfields, fence lines and unplowed land. It has a vast tolerance for
different kinds of soil, moisture and light conditions but it grows best in deep,
moist uplands. It does not grow well in standing water. Multiflora Rose can form
dense growth that is impossible to penetrate. It crowds out and can kill
existing flowers, vegetation, crops and other plants because they compete for
nutrients. Because the Multiflora Rose grows aggressively, they can take over
the entire area. The native plants quality declines which has a negative impact
on the wildlife as it has little use for the exotic plant.
The Chief of the USDA Forest Service has identified invasive species as one of
the four critical threats to our nations ecosystems. The introduction of invasive
plants changes the natural ecosystems by taking the place of native plants,
impacting native wildlife habitat, and increasing soil erosion. About 400, of the
958 species that are listed in the United States as threatened or endangered
under the Endangered Species Act are at risk because of competition with or
predation by exotic species. Vince DAmico, research scientist at the University of
Delawares Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology said “Lets say an
area is taken over by multiflora rose, and the native caterpillars have nothing to
eat but multiflora rose and they cant eat that. What happens to their numbers?
They go down. And these caterpillars form a very big part of the diet of
songbirds. So, you see how theres another level. There are fewer of these
insects that birds rely on to feed their young. The food chain gets disrupted by
invasives coming into the landscape.”
About 400, of the 958 species that are listed in the United States as threatened
or endangered under the Endangered Species Act are at risk because of
competition with exotic species.
To date, the best way of controlling the Multiflora Rose is the use of herbicides.
It can be applied to regrowth or freshly cut stumps. It works best if applied late
In the growing season. Another good method is frequent cutting or mowing,
three to six times per growing season, for two to four years. Also, the use
of goats, or goats and cattle, seems