Japanese climbing fern

Lygodium japonicum (Thunb. ex Murr.) Sw.

Description from Invasive.org

Appearance
Lygodium japonicum is a perennial climbing fern that can reach lengths of 90 ft. (30 m). Vines are thin, wiry, green to orange to black and usually die back in the winter.
Foliage
The fronds (leaves of a fern) are opposite, compound, usually triangular in shape, 3-6 in. (8-15 cm) long, 2-3 in. (5-8 cm) wide and finely dissected.
Flowers
This plant does not produce flowers.
Fruit
Fertile fronds bear sporangia that produce tiny, wind-dispersed spores. Plants are also spread by rhizomes.
Ecological Threat
Lygodium japonicum often invades disturbed areas such as roadsides and ditches, but can also invade natural areas. It generally is scattered throughout the landscape, but can form dense mats that smother understory vegetation, shrubs and trees. This plant is native to eastern Asia and was first introduced into the United States during the 1930s for ornamental purposes.

Resources

Selected Images from Invasive.org

View All Images at Invasive.org


Infestation July
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Feature(s) September
James H. Miller & Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Infestation July
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Prescribed Fire
Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Dispersal Plant in a pine straw bale
Dennis Teague, U.S. Air Force, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Infestation
Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Infestation Infesting a planted pine stand, GA
Wayne Williamson, , Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Feature(s) Vines and Fronds.
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Plant(s) Tift County, GA
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Infestation
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Control Backpack sprayer, glyphosate treatment. Tift County, GA
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Foliage Spore-producing fronds.
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Foliage Fertile fronds
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Infestation
Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Plant(s) September
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Feature(s) January
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Plant(s)
Ronald F. Billings, Texas A&M Forest Service , Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Plant(s)
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Infestation
Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

Distribution