The Orange County Environmental Protection Division together with Orange County Parks and Recreation, as partners of the Central Florida Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area, will hold an Air Potato Raid, an exotic species removal* effort. Volunteers are invited to join in the activities to gather air potato tubers.
When: January 22, 2011
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Where: Orlo Vista Park, 1 N. Powers Drive, Orlando
Trimble Park, 5802 Trimble Park Drive, Tangerine
Carl T Langford Park, 808 E Central Blvd, downtown Orlando
Oakland Nature Preserve, 747 Machete Trail, Oakland
& multiple sites throughout Seminole County
For more information or to volunteer: contact Beth Jackson by email beth.jackson@ocfl.net or call 407-836-1400.
*Dioscorea bulbifera, commonly known as “Air Potato”, is a member of the yam family, producing abundant inedible, bitter potato-like growths (tubers). Air Potato vines grow quickly, up to 8 inches per day, engulfing native shrub and trees, shading them out and eventually killing them. New air potato plants develop from the many tubers produced along the length of the vine. These tubers are the primary means of “air potato” dispersal. Pick up and proper disposal of the potatoes help control the spread of this plant. The Air Potato Raid is planned to be annual event to further manage this persistent exotic species.
For more information about the impacts of invasive exotic species contact Orange County Environmental Protection Division (EPD) by calling 407-836-1400. For information about EPD or Parks and Recreation (Parks) visit http://www.orangecountyfl.net. You can contact Parks by calling 407-836-6200.