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In a publication put out by the Delaware Department of Agriculture, we are told that “invasive” Porcelain Berry forms “dense mats, climbing over other vegetation and reducing light availability to other plants”, as if our native grape vines are better behaved. But, as can be seen in this photo (taken on a road one-half mile from where I live), our wild grape species can grow in the exact same manner. |
ALL TEXT AND PHOTOS © Marlene A. Condon
A publication of the Delaware
Department of Agriculture, Mistaken Identity? Invasive Plants and Their
Native Lookalikes, illustrates perfectly how the “invasive” plant movement
deviously manipulates people.
https://extension.psu.edu/invasive-weeds-wild-grape
The guide has a great layout,
with the introduced (alien) grape plant pictured and described on the left page
and the native grape-lookalike pictured and described on the right page. You
are told when the plants flower and bear fruits; where the plants are native; the
types of habitats in which they grow; and when the nonnative plant was
introduced to the United States and its range in the Mid-Atlantic states. It’s
all good to this point.
But, when we get to the next
section, which discusses ecological services, the sections are entitled differently.
We find that so-called invasive plants cause “Ecological Impacts
[emphasis mine]” while native plants provide “Ecological Value [emphasis
mine]”.
This wording difference subtly
influences the reader’s mind, manipulating him into viewing nonnative plants as
BAD while viewing native plants as GOOD—even though both kinds of plants
provide the same ecological services to wildlife because both are in the Grape
Family!
What are ecological services? When
speaking of plants, this term refers to such things as cleaning the air,
filtering water, holding soil in place to prevent erosion, supporting wildlife by
providing food, shelter, and nesting sites (though not necessarily to all
species), and assisting replenishment of groundwater.
It should be obvious that all
plants provide the benefits listed above, with possibly the exception of food
for certain species of wildlife. Nativists (people who generally favor—but not
always—native plants) often express concern that the problem with nonnative
plants is that they do not feed caterpillars (a type of creature once reviled
by the majority of gardeners, but now the favored wildlife organism for
those who profess to be environmentalists).
In the case of the alien
Porcelain Berry, however, we are talking about a plant closely related to our
native wild grapes, so it does feed our native caterpillars that feed
upon grapes, such as the larvae of the Eight-spotted Forester, Abbott’s Sphinx, and
Achmon’s Sphinx moths.
Still, Porcelain Berry is
labeled “invasive”, even though it behaves no differently than our wild grapes
in its growth pattern and provides every one of the ecological services listed
above. Getting rid of this plant simply destroys yet more wildlife habitat.
Does that make sense? No, and I think we should label this concern with alien
plants that respond to current environmental conditions by growing well as
xenofloraphobia—xeno[alien]flora[plants]phobia[illogical fear of].
NATURE ADVICE:
It’s sad to say, but you really need to scrutinize your sources of information regarding the environment if you truly want to do what’s best for wildlife.
You might have thought you could trust the Delaware Department of Agriculture, but the subtle wording of their titles (“impact” vs. “benefit”) is absolutely meant to unscrupulously influence your thinking. And when you read the information about Porcelain Berry vs. Wild Grape, there’s yet more deception.
The guide tells us that, “The seeds [of Porcelain Berry] are dispersed by birds and small mammals that eat the fruit...”, suggesting this situation is a problem. But, of course, birds and small mammals also spread the seeds of wild grapes when they consume those fruits.
Yet, we are told that native grapes are “[o]ne of the most important summer wildlife foods” and the animals are even delineated to illustrate what a great food source wild grapes are! They “are eaten by at least 45 species of birds” as well as “bears, raccoons, opossums, skunks, and even box turtles relish the fruit.”
Additionally, “The [wild grape] vine tangles provide nesting cover for many birds, and the strips of bark are frequently used in nest construction.” I’d be surprised if this statement isn’t equally true for Porcelain Berry.
The lesson to be learned
is that you need to examine closely and thoroughly anything you are told about
“invasive” plants. If it’s not logical, don’t believe it. What I’ve pointed out
here is just plain common sense.
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