A fascinating aspect as a Texas Master Naturalist is learning about invasive species. Prior to my beginning TMN classes, I didn’t realize it was a branch of study in and of itself.
Sure, I knew about kudzu in Georgia.
During the 1930s and 40s, Kudzu was encouraged as a way for farmers to control erosion. For more info on this large-leafed plant in the pea family that can grow four feet a day and overtake small forests, Google Kudzu.
All the while I was laughing about Georgia and its kudzu, I didn’t realize something similar was happening here on my home lands — although not with kudzu.
Texas has its own problems. Here’s a list of the “South Texas Plains Dirty Dozen” invasive species. (www.texasinvasives.org)
Giant reed – Arundo donax
Salt cedar – Tamarix ramosissima
King Ranch bluestem – Bothriochloa ischaemum var. songarica
Guineagrass – Urochloa maxima
Water lettuce – Pistia stratiotes
Chinese tallow tree – Triadica sebifera
Brazilian peppertree – Schinus terebinthifolius
Popinac – Leucaena leucocephala
Common water hyacinth – Eichhornia crassipes
Buffelgrass – Pennisetum ciliare
Hydrilla – Hydrilla verticillata
Chinaberry tree – Melia azedarach
I’ve highlighted those that I can find within a mile of my house, but for now I’ll concentrate on Brazilian peppertree – Schinus terebinthifolius.
I discovered Brazilian pepper during my first Christmas Bird Count shortly after moving to San Benito. While looking through our kitchen window with binoculars, I spied large shrubs with deep green leaves and bright red berries across the Resaca. They were beautiful. So Christmassy. From the distance, it looked like holly. I set up my scope, described the trees in detail to someone “in the know” on the phone and was told it was probably Brazilian Peppertree.
An exotic name and a beautiful tree. I looked in my book, Plants of Deep South Texas, by Dr. Al Richardson and Ken King, page 67.
That’s where my discovery excitement ended. The only good thing about Brazilian pepper is that it is great bird food. That also is the bad thing about it. Birds and mammals are the primary agents dispersing the seeds.
These beautiful plants are invasive, toxic and devastating. As mentioned in PDST, they overtop and shade out other vegetation. The leaves produce a chemical that inhibits germination and growth of other plants. Contact with the plant can cause dermatitis.
The trees are insidious along Resacas, killing all other plants by crowding them out and obstructing the view. Flowing water also transports the seeds, which can be viable for about two months.
The Brazilian peppertree crop I spy through my window is not on our property. Unfortunately, I can’t do anything about it.
What I can do is pull it up as soon as I see it in on our acreage. Young growth can easily be pulled up, roots and all.
It’s easy to recognize. The most noticeable eye-catcher is a hint of red either on the young stems or new leaf growth.
The leaves are different than most of our native trees. They are larger, have serrated edges and the veins are prominent on the top of the leaf. Mature leaves may have a reddish mid-rib.
Brazilian pepper is in the Anacardiaceae family which includes poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac, which is why these leaves may remind you of something if you’ve lived anywhere near the Midwest.
Respiratory problems have been associated with the fall and winter bloom period of the tree.
Brazilian peppertree is native to Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. It’s a shrub or small tree that can grow 30 feet or taller and can live more than 30 years.
The best thing we can do for our native habitat is to try to eradicate this species – yes, like we’re ever-trying to eradicate Guinea grass, I know. It’s easier when they are wee little things.
A friend and her husband moved onto a property along a Resaca outside of San Benito a couple of years ago. They have the added privilege to be adjacent to a nature preserve.
However, bordering their property were several large Brazilian pepper trees. It took them weeks to cut them down and remove the debris. Their weekly tales kept us entertained. Having researched the plant and knowing the toxicity possibilities, I believe at least one of them took enough protective measures to replicate face and body armor.
The suggested best way to eradicate Brazilian pepper is to remove the entire tree, root system and all. — Yes, I’m also laughing. Tree stumps, especially of a mature tree, can outlive most tools.
Since stumps can seem nearly petrified before they begin to decay, if possible, cut the Brazilian pepper stump as close to the ground as possible and immediately treat with an herbicide. The stump will form an impenetrable seal over the cut so it is important to use the herbicide soon after cutting.
An herbicide containing glyphosate or triclopyr is recommended stump treatment, or a triclopyr with a penetrating oil applied to basal bark (the lower 18 inches of a woody stem or tree trunk). The herbicide soaks through the bark and into the cambiam — the tissue between the inner bark and the wood, if you visualize a cross section of a tree trunk.
Bonide Stump & Vine Killer is available online via Amazon. We use this around Ebony Loop when we cut down aggressive growth of granjeno trees. Granjeno, although native and producing great food for birds, is quite prevalent in Ramsey and will strangle other species that we want to showcase. When we rescue rarer species that are entangled with granjeno, we paint the fresh-cut granjeno stems with this stump killer. Without an application of poison, many trees, like Brazilian pepper, granjeno and mesquite, will begin sprouting all around the stump cut.
It’s also suggested to try to dispose of the cut branches so that the berries and seeds are destroyed and not spread.
Sometimes a Brazilian pepper will play tricks on me, disguising itself in other shrubs so that it isn’t noticeable until it’s too large to pull out by hand — like the surprise I got this week hidden among my nice hummingbird-attracting Mexican Honeysuckle, Justicia spicigera.
(Yes, Mexican Honeysuckle is native to Mexico, not the Lower Rio Grande Valley, but it is an excellent hummingbird and butterfly nectar plant, blooms nearly all year and loves filtered shade. The leaves remain green through the winter.)
Brazilian pepper will pop up anywhere. Vigilance is a must.
A good resource to have is www.texasinvasives.org. A free newsletter is available. Periodically, they bring workshops to the Valley.
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