Evaluation of 14 Butterfly Bush Taxa Grown in Western and Southern Florida: II. Seed Production and Germination
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VARIETY TRIALS Evaluation of 14 Butterfl y Bush Taxa Grown in Western and Southern Florida: II. Seed Production and Germination Sandra B. Wilson1, 3, Mack Thetford2, Laurie K. Mecca1, Josiah S. Raymer2, and Judith A. Gersony1 ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. exotic plants, invasive, ornamentals, but- terfl y bush, Buddleja davidii, Buddleja japonica, Buddleja lindleyana, Buddleja ×weyeriana SUMMARY. Because of its weedy nature, extensive use in the landscape, numer- ous cultivars, and history as an inva- sive plant in other countries, butterfl y bush (Buddleja) was an appropriate candidate to evaluate for seed pro- duction and germination in Florida. Seed production was quantifi ed for 14 butterfl y bush taxa planted in western Florida (Milton) and central southern Florida (Fort Pierce). Each of the 14 taxa evaluated produced seed. In Fort Pierce, japanese butterfl y bush (B. japonica) had the greatest capsule weight and ‘Gloster’ butterfl y bush (B. lindleyana) had the second greatest capsule weight as compared to other taxa. In Milton, ‘Gloster’ had the greatest capsule weight and japanese butterfl y bush and ‘Nanho Alba’ butterfl y bush (B. davidii var. This project was funded by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the University of Florida–IFAS Invasive Plant Working Group. Authors gratefully thank Patricia Frey for technical support. Florida Agricultural Experiment Station journal series R-10029. 1University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Department of Environmental Horticulture, Indian River Research and Education Center, Fort Pierce, FL 34945. 2University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Department of Environmental Horticulture, West Florida Research and Education Center, Milton, FL 32583. 3To whom reprint requests should be addressed; e-mail: [email protected]fl .edu 612 ● October–December 2004 14(4) Oct2004HT.indb 612 9/15/04 12:32:07 PM nanhoensis) had the second greatest functionality, it is not appropriate to is becoming increasingly problematic capsule weights as compared to other label a wild type species as invasive (Staples et al., 2000). Having evaluated taxa. The shape and number of seed without evaluation of cultivars. Wilson 50 butterfl y bush taxa for seed produc- capsules per infructescence varied and Mecca (2003) evaluated eight tion and germination at Longwood with cultivar. Seeds were cleaned and cultivars and the wild type form of Gardens (Kennett Square, Pa.), Anísko germinated in germination boxes with and without light at 20/10, 25/15, mexican petunia (Ruellia tweediana), and Im (2001) recommended nursery 30/20 and 35/25 °C (68.0/50.0, a FLEPPC Category I invasive, and professionals to consider species other 77.0/59.0, 86.0/68.0 and 95.0/77.0 found that seed production, germi- than B. davidii. In Florida, there are no °F). Regardless of temperature or nation, and relative growth rate were vouchered specimens that document cultivar, light was required for germi- highly variable among cultivars. the escape of B. davidii into natural nation. At each temperature, ‘Nanho While it is important to evaluate areas (Wunderlin and Hansen, 2003), Blue’ butterfl y bush (B. davidii var. species that are considered invasive in although it is commonly utilized in nanhoensis) and ‘Moonlight’ butterfl y a given state, it is also important to landscapes of the northern and central bush (B. ×weyeriana) had highest ger- evaluate species that show potential part of the state. A related species, mination rates (63-74%) as compared to become invasive. Williamson and lindley’s butterfl y bush (B. lindleyana) to other taxa. Fitter (1996) suggest that the prob- has escaped cultivation in two counties ability of an established or naturalized in Florida (Wunderlin and Hansen, species becoming a pest is one in ten. 2003) as well as eight other states lorida is the second largest pro- In a survey of 235 invasive and 114 (USDA, 2003). The current study ducer of ornamental plants in non-invasive, woody non-indigenous was conducted to determine how 14 Fthe U.S. with estimated $9.908 species in North America, Reichard and butterfl y bush taxa perform in western billion total industry sales during 2000 Hamilton (1997) found that 54% of the and southern Florida with relation to (Hodges and Haydu, 2002). While successful invaders were also invasive seed production, seed germination, most intentionally introduced species in other places. History of prior inva- and seed viability. remain in their cultivated settings, some sive habit in combination with other escape cultivation and invade natural invasive traits can be used as warning Materials and methods areas. An invasive plant is defi ned as signals for the threat of potential invad- PLANT MATERIAL AND SITE CONDI- a non-indigenous species that has ers. Some of the similar properties that TIONS. Selection of butterfl y bush taxa the ability to establish self-sustaining, constitute a great landscape plant (i.e., (Table 1) was based on availability, expanding populations and may cause long fl owering period, adaptability to popularity, and performance in the economic and/or environmental harm a range of environmental conditions, landscape. Specifi c botanical descrip- (National Invasive Species Council, ease of propagation, and high vigor) tions and experimental conditions 2001; Vitousek et al., 1995). Of the often predispose it as a potentially were previously reported (Wilson 124 plant species listed as invasive by invasive plant in certain geographical et al., 2004). Briefl y, each cultivar the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council locations. was clonally propagated, transferred (FLEPPC), 67% were introduced as Butterfl y bush is a widely culti- to 3.8-L (1 gal) pots, and fertilized ornamentals (FLEPPC, 2003). The vated, extremely popular, fl owering with 15N–3.9P–10K Osmocote Plus Tampa Bay Wholesale Growers, Florida shrub with attractive foliage and a range (Scotts Co., Marysville, Ohio) prior Nurserymen and Growers Association, of fl ower colors. Wilson et al. (2004) to planting. The experiment was con- and American Nursery and Landscape assessed landscape performance of 14 ducted at Fort Pierce (USDA Zone 9B) Association Boards of Directors were butterfl y bush taxa planted in western and Milton (USDA Zone 8B) where among the fi rst in the nation to adopt and southern Florida and found visual nine uniform plants of each cultivar voluntary codes of conduct (invasive quality and fl owering to vary by month, were planted (4 June 2002) 2.4 m (8 plant best management practices) for cultivar and location. Several cultivars ft) on center on raised beds covered the nursery industry (Baskin, 2002; maintained high visual quality and fl ow- with polyethylene mulch. Plants were Missouri Botanical Garden, 2001). The ering throughout the study. However, watered by seep (Fort Pierce) or drip codes of conduct involve adoption of before recommending specifi c cultivars (Milton) irrigation as needed. risk assessment methods that consider for the Florida landscape or before DATA COLLECTION. Plants were plant characteristics and prior obser- selecting specifi c cultivars for breeding harvested after 25 weeks by severing the vations or experience with the plant programs, additional studies are war- primary shoots at crown level (base of elsewhere in the world. This requires ranted since the species Buddleja davi- the soil). Infructescences were isolated nursery professionals to work with dii has escaped from gardens in other from the shoots. Seed capsules were regional experts to determine which parts of the world and is considered separated from panicle infl orescences species in a given region are either a serious weed in New Zealand (Kay and weighed. Capsule to fl ower ra- currently invasive or may become in- and Smale, 1990), Australia (Csurhes tios were calculated by dividing total vasive. Prolifi c seed production, short and Edwards, 1998) and Great Britain capsule weight by total fl ower weight. juvenile periods, and aggressive growth (Crawley, 1987). In the U.S., it has To estimate total seed production per rates are several of a suite of traits that escaped cultivation in 19 states and plant, 10 representative capsules of each invasive plants characteristically may Puerto Rico [U.S. Department of cultivar were selected, from which seeds share (Reichard, 1997; Rejmánek and Agriculture (USDA), 2003) and can were isolated and counted. Richardson, 1996). Still, since many be found commonly along roadsides, SEED GERMINATION AND VI- ornamental species are hybridized and streamsides and other disturbed areas of ABILITY. Germination studies were selected for an array of color, form and its growing range. In Hawaii, B. davidii conducted on seed collected from 14 ● October–December 2004 14(4) 613 OOct2004HT.indbct2004HT.indb 661313 99/15/04/15/04 112:32:072:32:07 PPMM VARIETY TRIALS Table 1. Fruit and seed morphology and seed quantity of 14 butterfl y bush taxa evaluated after 25 weeks in western Florida (Milton) and southern Florida (Fort Pierce). Avg no. Avg approx seeds per no. of seeds Common Fruit and seed capsuley per plant name Species Cultivar morphologyz (n = 10) (1000x)x Pink delight Buddleja Pink Delight Seed capsules elliptical, elongated with 18.4 144–555 butterfl y bush davidii pointed ends; light to medium brown in color; 5.5 mm long × 1.4 mm wide. Seeds rounded inside winged sheath, very fi ne. White profusion B. davidii White Profusion Seed capsules slender with pointed ends; 51.5 282–1094 butterfl y bush reddish medium brown in color; 8.4 mm long × 1.3 mm wide. Seeds rounded inside winged sheath, fi ne. Black knight B. davidii Black Knight Seed capsules slender with pointed ends; dark 41.6 281–973 butterfl y bush brown in color; 5.6 mm long × 1.2 mm wide. Seeds rounded inside winged sheath, very fi ne. Nanho white B. davidii var. Nanho Alba Seed capsules slender with pointed ends; 39.5 236–2116 butterfl y bush nanhoensis brown in color; 8.0 mm long × 1.1 mm wide.