Members of AYLUS Syosset participated in invasive plant species removal at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum with AYLUS Roslyn and the Stewardship Saturday Program. Members removed three species today: mugwort, phragmites and porcelain vine. For Syosset AYLUS members, mugwort is a plant we commonly deal with. Mugwort is commonly used as a traditional medicine and tea, however in New York it is a prevalent invasive plant that prevents the native plants from receiving ample sunlight. As it originates from Europe and Asia, it spreads its seeds rapidly through its rhizomes and outcompetes native species. Similarly, phragmites reduce native species’ success, reduce native wildlife populations and provide habitats for mosquitoes. When in water, phragmites reduce wild fish populations. When members pulled large amounts of phragmites out of the garden beds, the plants were often connected to each other via their strong and thick roots, which span large areas and are difficult to completely get rid of. However, it is important to note that even though it is close to impossible for us to completely eradicate these invasive species and their root systems, it is still weakening these plants and giving time for native species to repopulate the area. Similarly, porcelain vines spread across areas of moderate to high light and prevents native species from receiving sufficient sunlight.
Members who participated include:
Alyssa Huang (2.5 h), , Suiying Li (2.5 h), Suiwai Li (2.5 h), Canwei Wen (2.5 h), Haoyu Qiu (2.5 h), Xihan Zhang (2.5 h), Matthew Lin (2.5 h, Stuyvesant HS), Sophia Liu (2.5h), Sophie Ren(2.5 h), Thea Chen (2.5h), Nichole Huang (2.5h), Sonia Huang (2.5h), Ramona Rathbun (2.5 h, Plainview), Guangli Yang (advisor, 2.5h).
