New plant added to Michigan’s invasive species program watchlist

Lesser celandine, an invasive species | Courtesy photo

The Michigan Invasive Species Program is putting residents on notice for another invasive plant, calling on Michiganders to report sightings of lesser celandine.

The non-native plant characterized by its heart-shaped leaves and glossy yellow flowers has been spotted in floodplain forests in mid-Michigan, creating a threat for the native habitat, including native plants like spring beauties and trilliums.

The plant spreads through its seeds, underground stems and bulbils — small bulb-like structures where the leaf meets the stem — allowing them to spread rapidly in areas with disturbed soils, including banks scoured by flooding, paths and open areas.

The plant sprouts in early spring, flowers, seeds and then completely dies disappearing well before the start of summer.

Lesser celandine can be confused with the native marsh marigold, but the marigold is often two to four times the size of lesser celandine, growing up to two feet tall, with larger flowers and leaves that last through the summer.

“Lesser celandine isn’t a regulated species in Michigan, and it’s not commonly sold today, but it was first brought here as a spring interest species for gardens,” Susie Iott, invasive species program specialist for the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said in a statement.

The plant has also been spotted in some areas of the Grand River Watershed, and may be in other parts of the state as well.

“With the prioritization afforded by the watch list, we’re hoping reports by partners and the public can help us understand how far the invasion extends so we can make the best decisions about how to steward our resources – both financial and natural,” said Katie Grzesiak, terrestrial invasive species coordinator with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Sightings of lesser celandine in the early spring can be through the Midwest Invasive Species Network (MISIN) website or through the free MISIN app.

The invasive species program is also updating the common names of five invasive terrestrial plants:

• Asiatic sand sedge, which is not known to be present in Michigan will now be referred to as calligraphy sedge.
• Japanese chaff flower, an invasive floodplain plant not known to be present in Michigan, will now be referred to as chaff flower.
• The plant previously referred to as Chinese yams will be referred to as cinnamon vine. The fat growing vine which has potato-like tubers is found in several locations in the state.
• Himalayan balsam, a flowering plant found in parts of the Upper Peninsula, will now be referred to as purple jewelweed.
• Japanese stiltgrass, an invasive grass found in parts of southern Michigan will now be referred to as stiltgrass.

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