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40-475: The aquatic flowering plant commonly called wisteria or 'water wisteria' is Hygrophila difformis , in the family Acanthaceae . Wisterias climb by twining their stems around any available support. W. floribunda (Japanese wisteria) twines clockwise when viewed from above, while W. sinensis (Chinese wisteria) twines counterclockwise. This is an aid in identifying the two most common species of wisteria. They can climb as high as 20 m (66 ft) above

80-765: A bucket of soapy water or burned. Gloves should be worn. Appropriate pesticides should be applied before early May because that is when the larvae start to develop harmful hairs. For organic garden and farm situations there are sprays that use a strain of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Cicely Blair wrote a paper about the rash caused by the brown-tail moth caterpillar in the British Isles. It, and other descriptions, confirmed that loose hairs can break off and cause very itchy rashes on contact with skin, as well as breathing difficulties similar to asthma if inhaled. Rashes can persist for weeks. The same symptoms have been reported as far back as 1903. The reactions are due to

120-519: A combination of mechanical and chemical stimuli, the barbed hairs in effect becoming lodged in and physically irritating the skin, and also functioning as microtubules to introduce irritating chemical compounds that have hydrolase , esterase and hemolytic activity. This rash reaction may be referred to as lepidopterism . The species should be handled using protective gloves at all stages of its life cycle. Shed hairs blow about, and can be brought indoors on clothing and shoes, so rashes can occur without

160-408: A few years it was seen as a serious, fast-spreading, horticultural and health problem. Through the early parts of the 20th century it was present in much of New England from eastern Connecticut to Maine , and northward into New Brunswick , Canada, but the 1906 introduction of the parasitic tachinid fly Compsilura concinnata to counter spongy moths collaterally impacted brown-tail moths. By

200-408: A few years, as in W. macrostachya (Kentucky wisteria), or nearly twenty, as in W. sinensis . Maturation can be forced by physically abusing the main trunk , root pruning, or drought stress. Wisteria can grow into a mound when unsupported, but is at its best when allowed to clamber up a tree, pergola , wall, or other supporting structure. W. floribunda (Japanese wisteria) with longer racemes

240-529: A great impact on brown-tail moths while not being as effective on spongy moths, the reason being that the fly larvae need to over-winter inside a host larvae. (Brown-tail moths over-winter as larvae, whereas spongy moths over-winter as eggs.) An older review describes other fly species that were confirmed as brown-tail moth larvae parasites, then released in U.S.: Apanteles lacteicolor , Metrous versicolor and Sturmia nidicola . Branch-tip webs can be clipped in winter and very early spring, and either dropped into

280-462: A nutrient rich water and substrate and it benefits from additional CO 2 . It can be easily propagated from cuttings. Hygrophila difformis shows heterophyly which is the occurrence of different leaf morphology in the same plant. Brown-tail moth The brown-tail moth ( Euproctis chrysorrhoea ) is a moth of the family Erebidae . It is native to Europe, neighboring countries in Asia, and

320-402: A population spike and territory expansion in coastal Maine. In Europe, there are multiple parasitic and predator species, yet there is still a history of population outbreaks. Hairs from the caterpillars are toxic for humans, causing a poison ivy -like itchy rash of up to sometimes weeks-long duration due to mechanical and chemical irritation. Direct contact with larvae is not necessary, as

360-545: A tree outside the building. In addition to brown-tail and mistletoe browntail, several other Euproctis species are identified as causing rashes in humans, including Euproctis baliolalis , Euproctis limbalis and Euproctis lutea (all three native to Australia). Urticating hairs , i.e., itch and rash-producing, are also reported for caterpillars of other moth and butterfly species. Brown-tail larvae have been reported as feeding on 26 genera of non-resinous trees and shrubs belonging to 13 different families. This polyphagy

400-677: A year. It has four life stages; egg, larval, pupal, and adult. Eggs are laid in July and hatch in August. The annual cycle is approximately one month as eggs, nine months as larvae, one month as pupae, and one month as imagoes (winged, sexually mature adults). In the United States, many species of birds prey on the winged adults, including English house sparrow and blue jay. A review of mortality causes in England and mainland Europe described

440-430: Is considered unusual. Non-specific host plant feeding combined with its tendency to reach extreme outbreak densities makes this species a major pest of fruit orchards, ornamental trees and hardwood forests. Partial list of plant species: apple, cherry, beach plum (Cape Cod, Massachusetts), beech, elm, grape, hops, maple, oak, pear, raspberry, rose and willow, and even conifers like spruce and hemlock. An early description of

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480-482: Is debate over whether the concentration outside of the seeds is sufficient to cause poisoning. Wisteria seeds have caused poisoning in children and pets of many countries, producing mild to severe gastroenteritis and other effects. In North America, W. floribunda (Japanese wisteria) and W. sinensis (Chinese wisteria) are far more popular than other species for their abundance of flowers, clusters of large flowers, variety of flower colors, and fragrance. W. sinensis

520-558: Is in spring (just before or as the leaves open) in some Asian species, and in mid to late summer in the American species. The genus Wisteria was established by Thomas Nuttall in 1818. He based the genus on Wisteria frutescens , previously included in the genus Glycine . Nuttall stated that he named the genus in memory of the American physician and anatomist Caspar Wistar (1761–1818). Both men were living in Philadelphia at

560-517: Is not closely related to true wisteria ), is an aquatic plant in the acanthus family . It is found in marshy habitats on the Indian subcontinent in Bangladesh , Bhutan , India and Nepal . It grows to a height of 20 to 50 cm with a width of 15 to 25 cm. Water wisteria is easy to grow and as such it is a very popular plant for the tropical aquarium . It grows best in good light with

600-517: Is the best choice to grow along a pergola. W. sinensis (Chinese wisteria) with shorter racemes is the best choice for growing along a wall. Whatever the case, the support must be very sturdy, because mature wisteria can become immensely strong with heavy wrist-thick trunks and stems . These can collapse latticework, crush thin wooden posts, and even strangle large trees. Wisteria allowed to grow on houses can cause damage to gutters, downspouts, and similar structures. Wisteria flowers develop in buds near

640-577: The Fuji Musume (or 'The Wisteria Maiden'), is the sole extant dance of a series of five personifying dances in which a maiden becomes the embodiment of the spirit of wisteria. In the West, both in building materials such as tile, as well as stained glass, wisterias have been used both in realism and stylistically in artistic works and industrial design. Hygrophila difformis Hygrophila difformis , commonly known as water wisteria (though it

680-594: The Portuguese botanist and geologist José Francisco Corrêa da Serra , who lived in Philadelphia beginning in 1812, four years before his appointment as ambassador of Portugal to the United States, and a friend of Wistar, proposed the name "Wistaria" in his obituary of Wistar. As the spelling is apparently deliberate, there is no justification for changing the genus name under the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants . The genus

720-548: The World Online accepted four species: Wisteria species are used as food by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the brown-tail moth . The seeds are produced in pods similar to those of Laburnum , and, like the seeds of that genus, are poisonous . All parts of the plant contain a saponin called wisterin, which is toxic if ingested, and may cause dizziness , confusion, speech problems, nausea, vomiting , stomach pains, diarrhea and collapse. There

760-425: The back, toward the tail, distinguish these species from other similarly hairy moth larvae. The winged adults have white wings and a hairy white body with a tuft of brown hair at the tip of the abdomen. Females lay one egg cluster, usually on the underside of a leaf of a host plant. The species is polyphagous , meaning that it feeds on many different species of trees, including pear, apple, maple and oak. This species

800-457: The base of the previous year's growth, so pruning back side shoots to the basal few buds in early spring can enhance the visibility of the flowers. If it is desired to control the size of the plant, the side shoots can be shortened to between 20 and 40 cm long in midsummer, and back to 10 to 20 centimetres (3.9 to 7.9 in) in the fall. Once the plant is a few years old, a relatively compact, free-flowering form can be achieved by pruning off

840-861: The brown-tail moth as undergoing periodic population outbreaks, each developing rapidly and lasting for several years, followed by a decline to relative obscurity. In a study conducted in England, egg, larvae and pupae deaths were attributed to several parasites, including microsporidia , cytoplasmic and nuclear viruses, and larvae predation by birds, specifically identifying the common cuckoo ( Cuculus canorus ) and titmice. A more recent review, conducted in Spain, identified 17 species of parasites, viral diseases, unspecified predation and other, unknown, causes of death spanning from eggs not hatching, during summer, winter and spring as larvae, finishing with pupae failing to produce winged adults. Generally, mortality increased with population density, although in outbreak regions there

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880-496: The centuries and were a popular symbol in mon (family crests) and heraldry. Wisteria is one of the five most commonly used motifs in the mon , and there are more than 150 types of wisteria mon . Because of its longevity and fertility, wisteria was considered an auspicious plant and was favored as a mon , and was adopted and popularized by the Fujiwara clan as their mon . One popular dance in kabuki known as

920-633: The ground and spread out 10 m (33 ft) laterally. The world's largest known wisteria is the Sierra Madre Wisteria in Sierra Madre, California , measuring more than 1 acre (0.40 ha) in size and weighing 250 tons. Planted in 1894, it is of the 'Chinese lavender' variety. The leaves are alternate, 15 to 35 cm long, pinnate , with 9 to 19 leaflets. The flowers have drooping racemes that vary in length from species to species. W. frutescens (American wisteria) has

960-418: The hairs are shed and can become windblown. Toxins in the hairs remain potent for up to three years. Outdoor activities such as mowing a lawn or raking leaves in the fall can cause exposure. The upper surface of the wings of this species is pure white. Males may have some brown color on the underside of the forewing. Wingspan is 36–42 millimetres (1.4–1.7 in). The body is very hairy and white except for

1000-592: The late 20th century the habitat was reduced to the coast and islands of Maine, and also parts of Cape Cod , Massachusetts. Cold and wet weather hinders re-expansion of the population outside its current territories, although starting in 2015 there has been a population spike and territory expansion in coastal Maine, from Portland to Bar Harbor. In addition to North America, there have been reports of this species appearing in China, Japan and New Guinea. Photographs taken from aerial fly-overs are used to identify areas where

1040-1004: The longest racemes of wisteria species, is decorative and has given rise to many cultivars that have won the prestigious Award of Garden Merit . Wisteria, especially W. sinensis (Chinese wisteria), is very hardy and fast-growing. It can grow in fairly poor-quality soils, but prefers fertile, moist, well-drained soil. It thrives in full sun. It can be propagated via hardwood cutting, softwood cuttings, or seed. However, specimens grown from seed can take decades to bloom; for this reason, gardeners usually grow plants that have been started from rooted cuttings or grafted cultivars known to flower well. Another reason for failure to bloom can be excessive fertilizer (particularly nitrogen ). Wisteria has nitrogen fixing capability (provided by Rhizobia bacteria in root nodules), and thus mature plants may benefit from added potassium and phosphate , but not nitrogen. Finally, wisteria can be reluctant to bloom before it has reached maturity. Maturation may require only

1080-805: The new tendrils three times during the growing season in the summer months. The flowers of some varieties are edible, and can even be used to make wine. Others are said to be toxic. Careful identification by an expert is strongly recommended before consuming this or any wild plant. In the United Kingdom, the national collection of wisteria is held by Chris Lane at the Witch Hazel Nursery in Newington , near Sittingbourne in Kent . Wisteria and their racemes have been widely used in Japan throughout

1120-413: The north coast of Africa. Descriptions of outbreaks, i.e., large population increases of several years duration, have been reported as far back as the 1500s. The life cycle of the moth is atypical, in that it spends approximately nine months (August to April) as larvae (caterpillars), leaving about one month each for pupae , imagos and eggs. Larvae ( caterpillars ) are covered in hairs. Two red spots on

1160-609: The shortest racemes, 5–7 centimetres (2.0–2.8 in). W. floribunda (Japanese wisteria) has the longest racemes, 90 centimetres (35 in) in some varieties and 120 centimetres (47 in) or 200 centimetres (79 in) in some cultivars . The flowers come in a variety of colors, including white, lilac, purple, and pink, and some W. brachybotrys (Silky wisteria) and W. floribunda cultivars have particularly remarkable colors. The flowers are fragrant, and especially cultivars of W. brachybotrys , W. floribunda , and W. sinensis are noted for their sweet and musky scents. Flowering

1200-476: The species in the tenth edition (1758) of Systema Naturae . The brown-tail moth is an invasive species in the United States and Canada , having arrived in Somerville, Massachusetts , circa 1890 and becoming widespread there and in neighboring Cambridge by 1897. Initial outbreaks were most evident in pear and apple trees. Doctors reported "poisonings" (skin rash) far worse than poison ivy rash. Within

1240-686: The species is abundant, these tents are a familiar sight, and can be seen on a huge range of plants, especially in late fall and winter when unaffected leaves have fallen. This species can be found throughout Europe, except in the most northern countries, also in the westernmost countries of Asia, such as Turkey, Syria and Israel, and the countries across the northern parts of Africa. Charles H. Fernald and Archie H. Kirkland recount historic mentions of brown-tail moths dating back to 1500s, describing outbreaks in Paris, London and Berlin so severe as to completely strip all trees of leaves. Carl Linnaeus described

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1280-520: The tail which is covered in reddish-brown hairs, much more prominent in the females. Males have larger antennae, used to detect pheromones released by unmated females. Females have a larger body. As winged adults, this species is superficially similar in appearance to Euproctis similis (native to Europe) and Hyphantria cunea (native to North America), but female E. similis have a yellow tail tuft and H. cunea lacks tail tuft coloration. The female lays one cluster of 200 to 400 eggs, typically on

1320-616: The time, where Wistar was a professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania . Questioned about the spelling later, Nuttall said it was for " euphony ", but his biographer speculated that it may have something to do with Nuttall's friend Charles Jones Wister Sr., of Grumblethorpe , the grandson of the merchant John Wister . Various sources assert that the naming occurred in Philadelphia . It has been suggested that

1360-508: The trees have been denuded of leaves and where the branch-tip tents are present. The female sex hormone has been synthesized and field-tested in moth traps as a means of monitoring moth populations during the June/July flight season. The white-winged adults are nocturnal and strongly attracted to light; a report from 1903 likened their appearance around streetlights as being akin to heavy snowfall. The brown-tail moth produces one generation

1400-453: The underside of a leaf. The egg cluster is covered with hairs from her anal tuft. The larva is very hairy, brown with white markings, and two prominent red spots toward the tail end. The hairs provide protection from predators; the larva incorporates some into the cocoon within which it pupates . The species overwinters communally as larvae within a tough, silken tent constructed around branch-tip leaves and anchored to twigs. In areas where

1440-506: The victim coming in direct contact with the caterpillars. The toxins in the hairs remain potent for up to three years after being shed. Outdoor activities such as mowing a lawn or raking leaves in the fall can cause exposure. A related species, mistletoe browntail moth ( Euproctis edwardsi ), has been reported as causing a similar rash in Australia, in people working at or visiting a community center, attributed to caterpillars feeding on

1480-450: Was accidentally introduced to the United States in the 1890s. During the early 20th century it was present from eastern Connecticut northward into New Brunswick, Canada, but a subsequent severe population collapse reduced the territory to parts of coastal Maine and Cape Cod, Massachusetts, by the late 20th century. One theory for the decline appeared to be parasitism by a fly introduced to combat spongy moths . Starting in 2015 there has been

1520-483: Was brought to the United States for horticultural purposes in 1816, while W. floribunda was introduced around 1830. Because of their hardiness and tendency to escape cultivation , these non-native wisterias are considered invasive species in many parts of the U.S. , especially the Southeast , due to their ability to overtake and choke out other native plant species. W. floribunda (Japanese wisteria), which has

1560-473: Was previously placed in the tribe Millettieae . Molecular phylogenetic studies from 2000 onwards showed that Wisteria , along with other genera such as Callerya and Afgekia , were related and quite distinct from other members of the Millettieae. A more detailed study in 2019 reached the same conclusion, and moved Wisteria to the expanded tribe Wisterieae . As of September 2023, Plants of

1600-415: Was some compensation by females laying 21.6% more eggs (cause not discussed). Compsilura concinnata , a parasitic fly, pierces the brown-tail moth larva and deposits its own larva inside. This fly was introduced to North America in 1906 in an attempt to counter spongy moth , an invasive species. While not entirely successful for that purpose, one research group concluded that introduction of this fly had

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