mile-a-minute weed (Persicaria perfoliata) observed in Rowley Rd, Clarksville, MD, US
iNaturalist: sibecke
Invasive Species
If this vine reaches the edge of your yard or a nearby trail, it can blanket native shrubs and wildflowers under a dense mat within a single growing season — and its barbed stems make removal genuinely painful.
Mile-a-minute weed is a vine originally from Asia that got loose in the eastern United States and spreads incredibly fast — up to six inches a day in warm weather. Someone spotted and confirmed it growing along a road in Clarksville, Maryland, which helps track where this plant is showing up. Catching new sightings early is important because the longer it establishes, the harder it is to remove before it smothers native plants underneath it.
Key Findings
Research-grade observation confirmed in Clarksville, MD (Howard County), extending known local range data
Mile-a-minute weed can grow up to 6 inches per day and produce thousands of seeds per plant per season
The plant's triangular leaves and distinctive circular leaf-cups (ocreae) around the stem make it identifiable to citizen scientists without lab tools
chevron_right Technical Summary
Mile-a-minute weed, an aggressive invasive vine from Asia, has been confirmed at a research-grade observation level in Clarksville, Maryland. Its presence along Rowley Rd signals continued spread of this fast-growing plant into Mid-Atlantic natural areas.
Abstract Preview
Research-grade observation of mile-a-minute weed in Rowley Rd, Clarksville, MD, US.
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
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