Invasive Glance-Alike of Satan’s Strolling Stick

2 October 2023

In September birders lurk close to satan’s strolling stick in Frick Park for the reason that crops draw in birds on migration. Crawling with tiny bugs and stuffed with fruit, satan’s strolling stick is frequently swarmed with visiting warblers, cedar waxwings and robins. However is it actually satan’s strolling stick (Aralia spinosa)? Or is it the invasive look-alike Eastern angelica (Aralia elata)? And even worse, is it a hybrid?

I didn’t find out about this chance till Dave Brooke posted pictures of 2 warblers on satan’s strolling stick. The primary used to be a Tennessee warbler, at best, adopted via a Cape Might warbler, under, that landed at the similar perch in the similar pose simply 25 seconds later.

Anne Swaim replied to Dave’s publish announcing “Almost certainly Aralia elata, the Eastern Angelica. Nice hen attractant (however actually invasive.) Similar genus because the local Satan’s strolling stick.”

Local to japanese Russia, China, Korea and Japan, Eastern angelica (Aralia elata) used to be dropped at the U.S. as a decorative plant. It’s widely known in japanese Pennsylvania and New York state as a result of the ones spaces are out of doors Aralia spinosa‘s local vary. Pittsburgh is at the border although, so I all the time assumed I used to be taking a look on the local plant.

It’s so laborious to inform them aside that New York Botanical Lawn posted this information to invasive look-alikes. Right here’s a screenshot from the Aralia sp pages:

Their Fast ID is beneficial for non-botanists like me.

Fast ID of Aralia elata (invasive alien):

1. Leaf veins: Primary lateral veins operating all of the technique to the guidelines of enamel on the leaf margin.
2. Inflorescence: Inflorescence shorter, generally 30–60 cm lengthy, and WITHOUT a definite central axis (frequently wider than lengthy, with base generally surrounded via or even overtopped via foliage).

Fast ID of Aralia spinosa (local):

1. Leaf veins: Primary lateral veins branching and diminishing in measurement sooner than attaining the leaf margin (smaller branching veins would possibly run to the guidelines of enamel)
2. Inflorescence: Inflorescence longer, frequently 1–1.2 m lengthy, WITH a definite central axis (generally longer than vast, base generally increased above foliage).

— Fallacious Identification? Invasive Vegetation and Their Local Glance-Alikes, A Information for the Mid-Atlantic (posted via NY Botanical Lawn)

I attempted to spot the crops at Frick via taking a look on the leaves but it surely’s very laborious to do. The best way is via taking a look on the inflorescence — the tower of flora.

Eastern angelica’s (Aralia elata) inflorescence mainly lies flat. It does now not have a central stem and the leaves would possibly duvet one of the vital flora. Right here’s Eastern angelica at Frick.

Satan’s strolling stick’s (Aralia spinosa) inflorescence stands tall above the leaves on a central stalk.

Now I’ve began taking a look at all of the Aralias and asking: Which one are you?

Chances are you’ll know of a stand of a satan’s strolling stick you’d like to inspect too. To determine its id obtain the Fallacious Identification information at nybg.org ==> https://www.nybg.org/information/scientists/rnaczi/Mistaken_Identity_Final.pdf

Additionally see Tom Potterfield’s Flickr album with pictures of each species.

In the meantime, for the sake of the warblers I’ve made up our minds to not care that those crops are alien. The birds love them and I like birds so …

(pictures via Dave Brooke, nybg.org, Kate St. John and Tom Potterfield. Click on the hyperlinks within the captions to peer the originals)