Work on to control invasive creepers |13 July 2016
After making significant gains in the control of several introduced plant species in the Vallée de Mai, the Praslin invasive species team of the Seychelles Islands Foundation have now focussed their attention on the virulent Philodendron creepers.
The team conducted a small trial on control methods for this species earlier this year. Based on the results, the team have started controlling the creepers inside the Vallée de Mai by cutting the stalk at the base of each creeper plant and inserting it in a bag of herbicide. The herbicide used is readily biodegradable in the local environment. It is also a selective translocating herbicide which means that it doesn’t affect other surrounding plants and is moved to all other parts of the creeper through the plant’s vascular system.
The team have so far treated 20 individual Philodendron creepers. The 10 plants were cut and their stems placed in 3% diluted herbicide solution in a plastic bag. To make sure there are no non-target effects, the herbicide is triple bagged around the cut stem and secured tightly with elastic bands to the stem, and finally sealed with tape so there is no leakage or spillage, and no animals can accidentally enter the bag.
The team will be checking the health of these plants every week to monitor the progress and effectiveness of the control method.
They hope that this method will show promise as a large-scale control method for these plants.
Applying the herbicide to a Philodendron creeper © SIF
A Philodendron creeper before treatment (left) and after (right) with the health of the plant visibly decreasing © SIF