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Skaneateles Conservation Area/Invasive species/Alliaria petiolata

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Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard)

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Garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata (M. Bieb.) Cavara and Grande (formerly Alliaria officinalis) is often considered to be one of the worst forest invaders of the Northeast and Midwest.[1] It’s a biennial herb that develops a short rosette the first summer and flowering stalk with hundreds (occasionally thousands ) of seeds the following May.

  1. ↑ V.L.Rodgers, K.A.Stinson & A.C.Finzi (2008). "Ready or not, garlic mustard is moving in: Alliaria petiolata as a member of eastern North American forests." BioScience 58(5): 426-436.

Invasiveness of Alliaria petiolata

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Besides shading out native plants, garlic mustard is allelopathic, releasing chemicals that inhibit other herbs and grasses in the forest understory.

Alliaria petiolata produces antifungal compounds, including glucosinalates and cyanide, some of which end up in the soil where they affect the mineral dynamics and nutrient availability in ways that negatively impact the growth of many native plant species.[1][2][3][4]

Large stands of garlic mustard reduce light availability in Spring for species growing on forest floor.[5][6]

  1. ↑ K.A.Stinson, S.A.Campbell, J.R.Powell, B.E.Wolfe, R.M.Calloway, G.C.Thelen, S.G.Hallett, D.Prati, & J.N.Klironomos (2006). "Invasive plant supresses the growth of native tree seedlings by disrupting belowground mutualisms." Public Library of Science (4)5.
  2. ↑ D.Prati & O.Bossdorf (2004). "Allelopathic inhibition of germination by Alliaria petiolata (Brassicaceae)." American Journal of Botany 91: 285-288.
  3. ↑ D.Cippolini & B.Gruner (2007). "Cyanide in the chemical arsenal of garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata." Journal of Chemical Ecology 33: 85-94.
  4. ↑ V.L.Rodgers, K.A.Stinson & A.C.Finzi (2008). "Ready or not, garlic mustard is moving in: Alliaria petiolata as a member of eastern North American forests." BioScience 58(5): 426-436.
  5. ↑ J.F.Meekins & B.C.McCarthy (1999). "Competitive ability of Alliaria petiolata (Garlic Mustard, Brassicaceae), an invasive nonindigenous forest herb." International Journal of Plant Sciences 160(4): 743-752.
  6. ↑ E.M.Jacquart (2012). Invasiveness ranking system for non-native plants of Indiana. Unpublished. Invasive Plant Advisory Committee (IPAC) to the Indiana Invasive Species Council, Indianapolis,IN.

Control of Alliaria petiolata

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Garlic mustard can be easily pulled by hand, but care must be taken to remove the flowering parts from the site as they continue to ripen after the plant is pulled up. Seeds remain viable in and on the ground for up to five years, so continued follow-up is required.

As with other invasive plants, garlic mustard establishes itself in disturbed sites. Limiting grazing and foot traffic can prevent disturbance and subsequent spread of this and other invasive plants.[1]

  1. ↑ Garlic Mustard. New York Invasive Species Information 2021.

Observations of Alliaria petiolata at the SCA

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The following photographs and corresponding iNaturalist observations of Alliaria petiolata were made at or very near the Skaneateles Conservation Area. Click on images to enlarge and read details on Wikimedia Commons or on the "iNat obs" links to view the corresponding observations at iNaturalist.

  • Alliaria petiolata, at the Skaneateles Conservation Area, 19 May 2007. iNat obs
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  • Alliaria petiolata, at the Skaneateles Conservation Area, 21 Apr 2011. iNat obs
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  • Alliaria petiolata, at the Skaneateles Conservation Area, 26 Apr 2011. iNat obs
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  • Alliaria petiolata, at the Skaneateles Conservation Area, 29 Apr 2011.
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  • Alliaria petiolata, at the Skaneateles Conservation Area, 4 May 2016. iNat obs
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