In: Van Driesche, R., et al., 2002, Biological Control of
Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States, USDA Forest
Service Publication FHTET-2002-04, 413 p. lived and persistent,
and can occupy a large proportion of suitable habitats in a
relatively short time. The fern is classified as a Category I
invasive species (the most invasive species) by the Florida
Exotic Plant Pest Council (Langeland and Craddock Burks, 1998).
Extent of losses. It is hard to quantify the extent of the
losses due to Old World climbing fern. The explosive growth and
rapid spread of the fern are relatively recent. It was first
collected from Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Palm Beach
County in 1966 (Beckner, 1968), and by 1993, it was present on
493 ha (11%) of the park and the Loxahatchee National Wild and
Scenic River (Roberts, 1998). In 1995, the weed was present on
6,800 ha (12%) of the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (Palm
Beach Co.), where it was undetected in 1990 (S. Jewel, pers.
comm.). The land area infested by this f