DACS-P-00124 Volume 51, Number 6, November - December 2012 DPI’s Bureau of Entomology, Nematology and Plant Pathology (the botany section is included in this bureau) produces TRI- OLOGY six times a year, covering two months of activity in each issue. The report includes detection activities from nursery plant inspections, routine and emergency program surveys, and requests for identification of plants and pests from the public. Samples are also occasionally sent from other states or countries for identification or diagnosis. Highlights Following are a few of the notable entries from this volume of TRI-OLOGY. Section Reports These entries are reports of interesting plants or unusual pests, some of which may be problematic. See Section Reports for complete information. Botany 2 Aphodius distinctus (a dung beetle) — a new Entomology 5 Florida State Record. This beetle is abundant and Nematology 8 widespread in much of the United States, but not reported previously from Florida. Plant Pathology 10 Sipha maydis (a spiny cereal aphid) — a new Georgia State Record. This Eurasian cereal pest has a broad host range among grasses and cereal crops and can transmit at least one of the viruses in Aphodius distinctus (a dung beetle) Photograph courtesy of Dr. Paul E. the barley yellow dwarf complex. This colony was Skelley found on wheat in a greenhouse in Griffin, Georgia. Meloidogyne incognita (the southern root-knot nematode) has been reported to be pathogenic to numerous plant species in several parts of the world. In Florida, this nematode species parasitizes many crops of agronomic and horticultural importance as well as weed plants. Recently, the noxious weed, Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum), was found to be parasitized by this nematode. Nelsonia canescens (blue pussyleaf), previously known as both Justicia canescens and Justicia brunelloides before recent taxonomic revision, was collected from the same county park where the original Florida population was discovered. No other locations with wild populations have been found. Although several other tropical relatives Nelsonia canescens (blue pussyleaf) of this plant have become widely naturalized, this Photograph courtesy of Alan R. Franck, species does not appear to be a pest plant. Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants Dracaena mottle badnavirus (Dracaena mottle) was found on Dracaena sanderiana (Belgian evergreen, lucky bamboo) in an Alachua County nursery. This is the first United States record of the viral pathogen. Dracaena mottle can integrate into the host genome and cause no symptoms, posing a How to cite Tri-ology: Dixon, W.N. and P.J. Anderson. (Editors). year. Section. regulatory dilemma. Tri-ology Volume(number): page. [date you accessed site] website address For example: Dixon, W.N. and P.J. Anderson. (Editors). 2012. Entomology section. Tri-ology 47(5): 8. [accessed July 5, 2012] http://www.freshfromflorida.com/ content/download/12542/151552/triology_5101.pdf Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Adam H. Putnam, Commissioner 1 Botany Section Sample Submissions Compiled by Patti J. Anderson, Ph.D. Nov/ Year to This section identifies plants for the Division of Plant Industry, as well as for Dec date other governmental agencies and private individuals. The Botany Section Samples 1,174 8,404 maintains a reference herbarium with over 11,000 plants and nearly 1,400 vials submitted of seeds. Some of the samples received for identification are discussed below: by other DPI sections Aglaia odorata Lour. (peppery orchid-tree, Chinese perfume plant), from a genus of about 120 species found in China, the Indo-Malayan region and Pacific Samples 157 859 islands. Meliaceae. This evergreen shrub or small tree has scattered, tiny, submitted stellate scales on new growth, but is otherwise glabrous. The compound leaves for botanical are alternate, with three to five glossy green leaflets that are 3.5 to 7 cm long. identification The petiole and rachis are narrowly winged. Inflorescences are axillary, up to 14 only cm long, with panicles of tiny (about 2 mm across), fragrant, five-parted, yellow Total Samples 1,331 9,263 flowers. The fruits are yellowish berries, about 1 cm wide. At first glance, this Submitted species is similar in appearance to Murraya paniculata in the Rutaceae (citrus Specimens 18 226 family), but Aglaia leaves have no pellucid glands as do those of Rutaceae. added to the This species could be a useful addition to the landscape as a fragrant hedge herbarium plant that is not subject to diseases of Citrus species. Aglaia odorata is used in traditional Chinese medicine. The flowers are used to scent tea and in linen closets. Other more common members of the Meliaceae or mahagony family in Florida include the weedy chinaberry tree, Melia azedarach, and the Florida endangered West Indian mahagony, Swietenia mahagoni. (Sarasota County; submitted by the general public; 10 November 2012.) (Mabberley 2008; Walker 1976; http://libproject.hkbu.edu.hk/was40/detail?lang=en&channelid=1288&sear chword=herb_id=D00922 [accessed 14 December 2012].) Gouania lupuloides (L.) Urban (chew-stick), from a genus of about 50 species native to tropical and warm regions. Rhamnaceae. This woody vine or scrambling shrub can grow 7-12 m in length or height. It climbs with coiled tendrils at the base of the inflorescences and can be distinguished from other vines in this family by those tendrils. The alternate leaves have serrate to bluntly toothed margins with glands at the tip of each tooth, ovate to elliptic blades that can be up to 10 cm long and 5 cm wide, and tips that are acute Aglaia odorata (peppery orchid-tree) to short acuminate. The petioles are 0.5 to 2 cm long. Racemes of tiny white Photograph courtesy of Top Tropicals to yellow green flowers produce small, three-winged fruits, containing deep brown seeds that are 3-4 mm long. The native range of chew-stick includes Florida, the West Indies, the Bahamas, Mexico, Central America and northern South America. The species grows on roadsides, in pastures and in forests. In Florida, chew-stick grows in coastal hammocks. Austin (2008) reports numerous common names in several languages that suggest using the vine for teeth cleaning or as a washing soap, including chaw stick, toothbrush tree, limpia dientes (tooth cleaner), liane savon (soap vine) and soap stick. It seems that wherever the plant grows, stem cuttings are used to clean teeth and gums. Even the popular Frommer’s travel guide to Jamaica mentions the attraction of a compounding pharmacy in Kingston that makes a medicinal toothpaste on the premises, called Chew Dent using G. lupuloides; Chew-stick is also used in flavoring Jamaican beers. (Miami-Dade County; B2012-728; Jake M. Farnum; 5 November 2012.) (Austin 2004; Nelson 2011; Porter and Prince 2004; Wunderlin and Hansen 2011; http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pdf/shrubs/ Gouania%20lupuloides.pdf [accessed 20 December 2012].) Melinis repens (Willd.) Zizka. (rose Natalgrass) from a genus of 22 species native to tropical and southern Africa. Gramineae/Poaceae. This is a weedy Gouania lupuloides (chew-stick) herbarium specimen annual or short-lived perennial that is now widely distributed through the tropics Photograph courtesy of New York Botanical Garden and subtropics, but is thought to be native in southern Africa. Introduced to the http://sweetgum.nybg.org/vh/specimen.php?irn=906173 2 United States as a forage grass, it has become naturalized throughout the southern states from North Carolina to California. A field full of rose Natalgrass is a beautiful sight, especially when backlit by the setting sun. Unfortunately, its beauty belies its weedy tendencies, and it has spread to nearly every county in Florida. This grass was brought to Florida about 1875 and is now documented in all but 13 of the state’s 67 counties. The culms are 40-150 cm long, decumbent and usually rooting at the lower nodes. The erect to spreading leaf blades are 4-27 cm long and 2-9 mm wide. Erect, airy panicles, 6-22 cm long and 3-12 cm wide, are borne in late summer or early fall, with distinctive spikelets about 4 mm long, their glumes densely covered in long and silky, pink or red hairs that turn silver with age. It is found in disturbed areas and open grasslands in a wide range of soil conditions. Because this grass is displacing native plants, it has been placed on the Florida Exotic Plant Pest Melinis repens (rose Natalgrass) close view of flower Council’s (EPPC) list of invasive species (Category I). The species was also Photograph courtesy of Patti J. Anderson, DPI known as Rhychelytrum repens (Willd.) C.E.Hubb. and many older references use that name. (Miami-Dade County; B2012-705 and B2012-706; Andrew I. Derksen, USDA/CAPS; 29 October 2012; Orange County; B2012-735; George A. Warden; 7 November 2012; and Alachua County; by the general public; 5 November 2012.) (Langeland et al. 2008; Wipff 2003.) Momordica charantia L. (balsam-apple, balsamito, bitter melon, karela, ku gua), from a genus of about 40 Old World tropical species. Cucurbitaceae. This annual, herbaceous vine to 5 m long is cultivated as a vegetable and has escaped cultivation to grow in disturbed areas throughout much of Florida. The vines have deeply dissected, alternate leaves with five to seven lobes and climb with coiled tendrils that grow from the petiole base of the leaves. The showy, yellow flowers are unisexual with both staminate (male) and pistillate (female) flowers found on the same vine. Male flowers mature before the Melinis repens (rose Natalgrass) in the landscape Photograph courtesy of Patti J. Anderson, DPI female flowers, encouraging cross-pollination. The fruit, used as a vegetable, is oblong to ovoid, with a warty, wrinkled, yellow-orange exterior that bursts open when ripe to reveal a bright red interior.