WANTED: AIR POTATO - City Gears Up for 2nd Annual Air Potato Exchange Day – Sunday, January 15, 2012
The City of Sanibel is gearing up for its 2nd Annual “Air Potato Exchange Day”.
News Release-For Immediate Release
December 7, 2011
City of Sanibel, FL
Contact: Natural Resources Department (239) 472-3700
WANTED: AIR POTATO - City Gears Up for 2nd Annual Air Potato Exchange Day – Sunday, January 15, 2012
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The City of Sanibel is gearing up for its 2nd Annual “Air Potato Exchange Day”. Participants can begin now to collect air potato bulbils and then bring them to the City’s booth at the Sanibel Farmer’s Market on Sunday, January 15, 2012. Participants who bring in at least 25 air potato bulbils will receive a free native plant (while supplies last, limit one per household), courtesy of the SCCF Native Plant Nursery. Plus, additional prizes will be awarded for the biggest, smallest, and weirdest air potatoes and the most collected. The program is funded by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC).
Air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera), a member of the yam family, is native to Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Some speculate that it was brought into the Americas with slave ships from Africa. It is a vigorously twining herbaceous vine that sprouts from underground or aerial tubers. It is easy to recognize by its large, green, heart-shaped leaves. The tuber (also called a bulbil) may be dark coffee colored and warty or light tan and smooth. Air potato can grow extremely quickly (roughly 8 inches per day) and can rapidly climb to the tops of tree canopies forming a thick mat that shades native vegetation. While it can be found from the east to the west end of Sanibel, the commercial and residential areas between Dixie Beach Road and Tarpon Bay Road are continuing to experience the worst infestations.
You can make a difference and help fight this exotic invader. Last year, the citizens of Sanibel collected nearly 500 pounds of air potato bulbils. Unfortunately, there are still plenty more ready to wreak havoc on our native plant communities. Please get involved and be part of the solution. For more information, click here.
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