There is a nice publication from the NY Botanical Garden called */Mistaken Identity? Invasive Plants and their Native Look-Alikes /*
www.nybg.org/files/scientists/rnaczi/Mistaken_Identity_Final.pdf Regards, Peter Bookalam On 9/10/2010 3:59 PM, John Askildsen wrote: > I've seen several references recently on the list of late to migrating > warbler flocks feasting on the fruit of 'Devil's Walkingstick', > /Aralia <../data_results_with_common.cfm?genus=Aralia> spinosa,/ and > "Hercules' Club", /Zanthoxylum/ /clava-herculis/ L., both of which are > of course natives to North America. > > And I too made this identification/assumption years ago, until i was > corrected by a very observant friend of mine. he informed that what we > are all referencing to in our region is actually "Japanese Angelica > Tree", /Aralia elata/. Not a very native species. Figures! > > The two aforementioned native species are, as i recall, appalachian or > southeastern USA species which are not too common around here at all. > And yes, i believe that even the stuff up at Doodletown Road in Bear > Mtn SP, is "Japanese Angelica Tree". > > Interestingly, on the internet, several sites reference the name > "Herculese' Club" interchangibly for several different related (at > least in appearance) species, both native and non-native. while i am > not an expert plant person, i strongly believe that "Herculese' Club" > is properly known as a southeastern USA woody plant and not > the non-native look- alike we see in the NYC area. If i am wrong, i > would be quite happy to know that. > > All the best, > > John > > John Askildsen > Millbrook, New York -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
