Invasive SpeciesGiant knotweed

Fallopia sachalinensis
FOUND by Mainer95
2013-07-17
South Portland
ID Confirmed
Quality checked by PurpleCow
Peer reviewed by
Field Notes
There were two main reasons for my trip. First, it was beautiful outside (so why not go out and do a quick VS species observation). Second, I had visited this same plant last year, and I wanted to check back in on its growth. When I first pulled down Mosher St, I was a little concerned because I saw a big construction site and no Giant Knotweed (which, I guess, would have been a good thing). In any case, as I drove a bit further, I found the plant. It has not changed much n size since last year. Looking over my old observation, I almost think it hasn't changed at all. It was a nice excursion on a nice day!! I guess I will need to check in on the plant again next year, too!
Supporting Evidence
Photo of my evidence.
Lets start with the dead give away that this was giant knotweed: the leaf. You could say the giant knotweed is the plant with the biggest heart that is three sizes too large. The leaf is in the shape of a heart and it is GIGANTIC! It is bigger than my shoe (size 10.5). The leaf is also in the heart shape that is characteristic of giant knotweed (Japanese knotweed is not a heart but rather just a triangle).
Photo of my evidence.
The stem is hollow! This picture was a bit tricky to take because it was pretty windy and the stem wouldn't stay still. You can see the dark abyss within the stem...maybe this plant does not have such a big heart after all.
Photo of my evidence.
You can see the zig zag pattern in the stem that both types of knotweed have.
Species Observation: Species Looked For
Did you find it?: 
I think I found it
Scientific name:
Fallopia sachalinensis
Common name:
Giant knotweed
Sampling method: 
Just looking around
Photo of our sampling method.
Place Studied
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Map this species
Latitude: 
N 43.645903 °
Longitude: 
W -70.241764 °
Observation Site Information
A photo of our study site.
Habitat: 
Upland - Developed areas
Trip Information
Name:
Mosher Street (Revisited!)
Trip date: 
Wed, 2013-07-17 14:44
Town or city: 
South Portland
Type of investigation: 
Species Survey
Ecosystem: 
Upland
Watershed: 
Presumpscot

Comments

Submitted by gbh on Wed, 2013-07-17 17:18.

and what about the hairs?

Were there little hairs on the undersides of the leaves?

I really enjoyed your observation! I never thought of the black abyss that is the hollow stem of a F. sachalinensis plant.

And wow, the leaf is the same size as your 10.5 US men's foot? I don't remember my size 9.5 US womens flip being dwarfed by the leaf. Maybe I'll have to go back and look...

Glad you were outside on this beautiful day!

Submitted by Mainer95 on Thu, 2013-07-18 10:17.

Thanks, gbh!

Yes, there were some hairs on the undersides of the leaves. I totally forgot to mention that in my observation!

And, the leaves were even larger than I remembered them being last year. It was crazy! The plant itself was not much larger, but the leaves were giant (the one in the picture shows one of the larger leaves). It's a crazy plant, and those leaves are super cool (even though it's an invasive species).

You should definitely go back and check out the plant! It's a great specimen of giant knotweed.

Thanks for the review, gbh! Keep on doing VS! :)

- Kansas

Submitted by sniffly salamander on Thu, 2013-07-18 10:26.

I feel like one of those

I feel like one of those leaves would make a nice fan on a hot day like today. Did you try it?

~sniffly