The new interpretive sign for Montauk County Park is planned for delivery to Vicki Bustamante and volunteers of the Third House Nature Center in Montauk on August 31. The sign will draw attention to the wonderful and rare native species and communities of the Montauk Peninsula, as well as the threat of a recent invasion by Arthraxon hispidus, commonly known as small carpetgrass, hairy jointgrass, or simply arthraxon.
The sign was designed by the Third House Nature Center under contract with LIISMA and the Long Island Native Plant Initiative (LINPI), with contributions from LIISMA’s graphic designer Jackie Briggs and the LIISMA staff. An installation date has not been set, but hopefully it will be sometime in September. The sign is being produced by Fossil Industries in Deer Park.
Mowing and other forms of cutting will control arthraxon if conducted at flowering onset and just before setting seed, but not sooner. For the two Long Island infestations, the time for mowing would likely be from early to mid September. LIISMA is working with the Third House Nature Center to determine a recommendation for the precise dates to mow this particular infestation at Montauk County Park. The only other known infestation on Long Island is located next to Gabreski Airport in Westhampton.
Arthraxon is a low-growing, sprawling annual grass that grows up to 1 ½ feet in height. During flowering, arthraxon produces a several fingered inflorescence with up to 10 flowering spikes. Arthraxon prefers moist soils in sunny areas. Infestations can be found in riparian areas, around lakes, in wet meadows, or in any open, moist disturbed area. As an annual, arthraxon produces copious amounts of seed each year, which is why mowing at the right time is so important. Carefully-timed mowing should be continued until the seed bank is worn out, which could be five years or more.
We offer special thanks to Nick Gibbons and Diana Lynch of Suffolk County Parks for their support for this project. Funding for the sign is provided by the New York Environmental Protection Fund as administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, with additional volunteer hours provided by the Third House Nature Center.
Top photo by: Jonathan Irons, Maryland Biodiversity Project
