March 1, 2008, will be the date of the 2nd Annual First Coast Air Potato Roundup.  The Clay County site will be held at the Crosby Sanctuary, which is owned by the Duval Audubon Society (serving Clay, Duval and Nassau Counties).  The Crosby Sanctuary is an approximately 400-acre nature preserve located west of the North Meadowbrook Terrace subdivision in Orange Park.  The address is 427 Aquarius Concourse, Orange Park, FL 32073.  The roundup will last from 9:00 AM until noon.  Contact site captain Pete Johnson (904-536-4806) for more information, or go to www.crosbysanctuary.blogspot.com [1] for details and directions.  No registration necessary unless you are bringing a large group.  A prize will be given for the largest potato collected!  All ages are welcome to participate.  Come join the fun and help preserve our conservation lands!

Air Potato (Dioscorea bulbifera), a vine native to tropical Asia, was introduced to Florida in the early 1900’s.  Since then it has spread throughout the state.  Air potato can quickly engulf and smother native vegetation in natural areas, covering low level vegetation and climbing high into mature tree canopies.  It produces large numbers of bulbils (potato-like balls), which facilitate its spread and make it extremely difficult to eliminate because new plants sprout from even very small bulbils.  It invades a variety of habitats including pinelands and hammocks of natural areas, as well as previously disturbed areas such as yards, wood lots, and urban/suburban edges.

 This plant is a severe problem in Clay County and should not be spread by careless handling of the bulbils or vines.  The University of Florida Extension, Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences, recommends identification tips as well as a variety of ways to kill the vines and remove the bulbils (see Natural Area Weeds:  Air Potato, SS AGR 164, available on the web at www.solutionsforyourlife.com [2] or at the Clay County Extension office).  The most important thing to do is tightly bag the bulbils and dispose of them in the regular trash bound for a landfill.  Vines can be carefully sprayed with certain herbicides (best to use a certified professional) or hand removed by following the vine to the ground and digging up its underground tuber (root-like structure).