DSV Facts

Did you know......

Dog-strangling Vine (DSV) spreads by seed.  And, indeed, it most certainly does spread!

DSV can be pollinated by insects, but it has the handy little skill of self-pollinating.   It turns out, this is the best of both worlds.  When insects are around to pollinate, this increases the genetic diversity of the plants, making the DSV stronger and more resilient as a group.  Alternatively, when there are no insects to help it pollinate... well, no worries, it will do the job itself.  This plant will not be denied!

Several studies have shown that DSV plants growing in the shade produce fewer seed pods and fewer seeds per pod than DSV plants growing in sunny conditions.   This is something we have noticed at Fletcher Wildlife Garden also.   DSV has a habit of finding sun though.  In a wooded area, it will grow up through tree branches and find the sun that way.  Oh, and in ideal partial-sun conditions, around 30,000 seeds per square metre can be produced.

Polyembryony has been found to be "strongly evident" in DSV.   This means that the seed has two shots for success.  If the seed does not germinate because of weather conditions, it gets to try again with its spare embryo.  Did I mention that this plant will not be denied!

Most DSV seeds fall close to the parent plant, but some research has shown seeds spreading as far as 60 metres from the parent plant.  Not surprisingly, it is a pretty flexible germinator, too.  It tends to germinate after stratification (over-wintering), but some DSV seeds germinate just fine in the same season before winter even hits, and others can germinate two or three (perhaps more?) years later. 

Source:  Dog-Strangling Vine: A review of distribution, ecology and control of this invasive exotic plant


DSV at Fletcher Wildlife Garden

So what does it all mean?  Well, of course, it means that we do not expect to eradicate this plant.  We are however doing what we can to contain its spread.  The Tuesday Invasive Species Group (TISG) is focused on cutting down DSV plants before viable seeds are produced and cutting and removing plants with viable seeds.  It's a big job, but remarkably satisfying!

Visitors to FWG are reminded to brush off their clothing and their dogs' coats before leaving the site, to prevent bringing seeds home with them.