Ridge Riders Mountain Bike Association

[Marke]

I was out at LHP today cutting back Brazilian Peppers. Here's some info on them:Origin: Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay

Impact: Brazilian Pepper was originally brought to the United States as an ornamental plant for people's yards.

It is a fast growing, large plant that has no predators in this country. As a result, it easily and quickly moves to nearby natural areas and displaces native species.

It reduces the diversity of the ecosystem and excludes plants important to the survival of other inhabitants of that ecosystem.

Of all exotic plants in Florida, Brazilian Pepper is the most aggressive and widespread, covering more than 700,000 acres in south Florida.


Schinus terebinthifolius
LHP Park has the dubious honor of harboring large quantities 2 of the 3 top Florida invasive plants, Brazilian Pepper and Cogan Grass. The Cogan is what you see in the field after Sprinkler Hill and other areas. If you notice, there's no other flora around Cogan, it snuffs everything out. It's voted Floridas number 1 invasive plant.

[kurt]

Thanks Marke - you are a well edumacated man and an asset to us all.

[Virge]

no bikini wax 4 sure! Thanks for the trimming, That's really some nasty stuff. good info too!!!!

[Cape]

Marke, you are a wealth of information! Are Brazilian Peppers what you go through at the start of Little Blue and the Spector Sector? If there you, you're right they are big time invasion. It's Cogon Grass, right? Ya wanna ride sometime soon?

[Marke]

Yeh, that's the Brazilian stuff, it's all over the place. The only positive deal is they can be trimmed for arbors over the trail and provide shade. I cut back any branches that will grow below 7 to 8 feet through the trail area and leave the upwards seeking branches alone. Shady spots come in handy when it's a bazillion degrees in the summer. I'm going to be riding this Sat. at 1 PM. It'd be great to try to follow your rapid pace.

[Cape]

Hey Markie - Road throught the Spector Sector Horitcultural Area last night Gotta keep those pepper trees trimmed! As soon as we get some rain, they're going to explode!