Just got back from Robert Wehle State Park in NY for a first look at the invasive Swallow-wort problem, and beginning to think about how to interpret to visitors how they can help in preventing the spread of the plant using proposed seed check stations and other strategies. Thought you might like to see what the plant does to any habitat it gets a root-hold in. Besides growing up to 6 feet a year and shading out native plants, it also produces a chemical that prevents other plants from growing near it. Everything that is brown in this photo blanketing the forest floor, is the Swallow-wort. It is "everywhere" here except in fields where it is mowed. In the fall (in the photo) it produces tons of seeds that look like milk-weed fluff. It even out competes other invasive plants, like garlic mustard!!
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