invasive exotic vines

[Andrew Bishop]

On 2 Aug 1995, Scarf Lady wrote:

> in south florida, we have invasive exotic vines commonly known as potato
> vine, sewer vine and grape vine.  these vines became very prominent after
> hurricane andrew.  they are strangling many of the native pinelands.  does
> anyone know the scientific names of these three vines? (i believe that the
> potato or air potato vine may be known as dioscorea bulbifera)
> 
> 
We've been contending with Dioscorea bulbifera (air potato) in our back 
yard since moving to Fort Myers in mid-1991.  It is a bad'un, but if 
youare dealing with a small area infestation (e.g. our yard), dedicated 
weeding will do the trick.  PICK UP EVERY TUBER YOU SEE ON THE GOUND< AND 
WHEN YOU PULL A PLANT, BE SURE TO GET THE TUBER IT SPROUTED FROM, OR IT 
WILL JSUT RESPROUT.  I did get a lot of knocks on the head as the 
larger tubers fell out of the trees while I was yanking down vines, but 
after a couple of seasons it is no longer in our patch.  Now if the 
neighbors (including the rather unkempt back garden of the Thomas Edison 
estaate) would clean up, we would be in the clear.  It keeps trying to 
get back over our fence, but some Round-up and vigilance at picking up 
fallen tubers keeps it at bay.

Those of you contending with kudzu have  my sympathy.  This one is 
different- it makes tubers up in the trees ranging up to 200 g in our 
yard.  I filled a 30 gallon can with the fall from one oak!  

A. Bishop
Fort Myers, FL